As you said, the muslims and their dark age religious views don't rule the whole world; they don't even rule Denmark.
Hamlet from New York, it appears.
You pointed out an important argument here: There was no need to publish those (mildly funny) cartoons. No western paper was under any threat or muslim opression against which it had to defend itself. None. It was all about provocation. Nothing less. And by defending this action the media involved abuses the meaning of free press. Just as free speech doesn't mean you can insult anybody just as you please the idea of free press doesn't mean you may use the media for publishing just anything. In the German constitution we have the same paragraphs about free speech and media etc. as most modern countries have - but above all of those stands the preamble wich states that every individual's dignity is untouchable. And that includes people from other religions as well.
And while there is no doubt that the reaction from small but rowdy parts of the world wide muslim community is as bad as it is obviously directed by people in the wings it is as clear that the unprovoked publishing of those cartoons was a deliberate act of provocation. And therefore it doesn't count as the great defense of democracy and freedom in my books.
And I want to believe that a light's shining through somehow
The Prince
