Inflammatory Cartoons (Literally)

I had been avoiding the controversy over the publication of the Muhammed cartoons, but I received a copy of them in an email from Stephen who used this form of “publishing” as a show of solidarity. So aside from the generic freedom of expression debate that is raging, here are a few thoughts:

• First off, they’re not even that good. They’re pretty rough drawings and recognising what one guy described as “a stick figure with a beard” as the Prophet is actually a bit of a stretch in some cases.
• Protesting allusions of terrorism by burning down buildings — does that strike anyone as slightly self-defeating?
• Does anyone remember Popetown, that controversial cartoon about corruption in the Catholic Church? No? Do you know why? Because aside from a letter-writing campaign there was very little reaction against it, resulting in very little publicity and it sinking without a trace (well, there is a DVD if you look for it…)
• Every religion has the right to respect. No religion has the right not to be criticised.

My wife and my mistress have been getting on remarkably well since I introduced them a week ago (for those looking slightly perplexed at this point, that would be my college wife Charlotte and my girlfriend Kirsten). They had dinner together on Friday and have arranged a shopping trip soon, it all being slightly disconcerting if not entirely unexpected.