Cartoons and common sense

Anyone who is offended by a cartoon or any other form of free expression is simply immature. It's no different than getting into a fight on a playground because someone called you names...If certain muslims can't live in countries with freedom of speech (ALL speech) peacefully then those certain mulsims should be deported.

Good point Chiro, I think I went a little off the deep end there....However, this does relate to a growing problem in Western Europe. Large amounts of muslim immigrants who are having trouble integrating into liberal societies. It's a big problem in Europe and I am not sure what the solution is.So I guess the citizens should go to prison if they are going to be violent (and this goes for fanatics of ANY type who are violent).

Good point, I think I stated what I really felt wrong. It should have been "Anyone who reacts with violence when free speech offends them is immature". The mature response is to of course either ignore it or use peaceful/legal means to respond.I should have been more clear.......It would be pretty hard for someone to offend me through speech (of course action is different). I do get angry and think people are stupid (Bush is a great example) but I'm not sure I would call that offended. I don't have a belief system that speech can offend... only actions.

Chiro, you bring up some good points....I think it's hard for me to understand a lot of these things because I am a white american male from a middle to upper middle class family. I attended college and now have a very good job and live in a nice house in a good neighborhood.Please note, I am NOT trying to boast here! My point is that due to my personal experience I have NEVER been oppressed in my life! It's hard for me to put myself in the shoes of a black american or a muslim in saudi arabia, or a jew in europe, etc. etc.I think the closest I have ever felt to being oppressed is the way Atheists (like myself) are view in the US. But honestly, it doesn't really bother me, because it doesn't impact my quality of life in anyway and there are no severe repercussions. I figure everyone else will get with the program eventually.Sorry if this seemed off-topic, but I guess it's hard for me to relate to people who have to worry about starving everyday. Or who have to worry about some religious law causing them to be stoned to death.I guess being angry at the common man isn't that helpful...... because it's not his fault that he was indoctrinated. It's kind of like how I'm not angry and most christians (even fundies). I figure that outside of the small minority that came to their beliefs on their own it's just a result of parental brainwashing.I guess like some have stated earlier, we need to fight the indoctrinators, not the indoctrinatees. Of course that is easier said than done.

Minor quibble here.... but I'm pretty sure you could take just about any type of imagery and find some group that is offended by it. I mean where do you draw the line? (although obviously, some lines have been drawn since we don't see rape cartoons)... It's an interesting and I think relevant subject

Interesting... However, it seems to me that ANYTHING could be considered to be ridiculing a religion.... which is probably why laws like this are a bad idea. I mean there could be religions that believe the world is flat, up is down or just about anything.I'm assuming there are some sorts of limits on the law..... although it seems like a dumb idea to even have it to me