After the Protests

As I commented yesterday British Muslims held their protest against the publication of “those cartoons” in Denmark. I rather like the way the Pedant General put it yesterday:

“Here’s the deal. It’s very simple.I say something which you find offensive. I have the freedom to do this. In turn, you have the freedom to criticise me for being offensive. There are two possibilties. Either I am right about what I say, but just put it rather tactlessly, or I am wrong (or just gratuitously offensive. This obviously counts as “wrong”).

If I am wrong, and you kick up a stink and demonstrate WHY I am wrong, not only do I look stupid, but the rest of the world will see that I am an offensive bigot.

If I am right, and you kick up a stink, the rest of the world will think that you are denying an unpleasant truth about yourself and that you aren’t really being very honest, regardless of how tactless I may have been.

If you choose to hit me instead, it is pretty clear to everyone that you have no manners and no counter-argument. I win by default. The world will believe me, not you.”

I was going to say something similar. In among the furore – along with conveniently forgetting exactly why Jyllands-Posten published the images anyway, there is an object lesson on free speech. Free speech is not, as the unutterably stupid Guardian columnist Sarah Joseph suggests; a precursor to fascism – and I highly recommend reading the respective demolitions of her asinine and laughable article over at Strange Stuff and the Devil’s Kitchen as there is nothing I can add that they have not already said. No, free speech is our last bastion against fascism. The fascism that would engulf us should we succumb to the desires of those who wish to impose a worldwide caliphate.

Yesterday, British Muslims took full opportunity of their right to free speech – with my blessing. I am pleased to see that they paraded with placards exhorting death and massacre on those who dare to insult Islam. This is a good thing. That is what freedom of speech is all about. Behold; the religion of peace in all its naked intolerance and violence. I mean, on the one hand, some badly drawn, unfunny cartoons and on the other; death threats. Disproportionate or what? To paraphrase Stephen Fry’s now infamous comment; they are offended. So what? Grow up and get used to it. No one has the right not to be offended. If someone says something you don’t like, then rebut it. Or, as has happened here, behave like a spoiled child, have a temper tantrum and show the world just what it is that you stand for.

Bring it on – engage in what you would deny us. Wriggle in a trap of your own making.