Muslim hypocrisy

So far I have identified three major hypocrisies in the Muslim protest against these caricatures:

1. Muslims are always telling us not to assume all Muslims are violent fanatics or bigots just because of a 'few' fanatical elements; and yet they are treating all citizens of a country where a few individuals have published these photos as legitimate targets of protest.
2. Newspapers in Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia have printed scathing representations, in cartoon form and otherwise, of Jews, and of Western countries, which are deeply offensive. Free speech is a valuable commodity when Arab heads of state are denouncing the West, or Muslim clerics are calling on followers to violent action, but Muslims are quick to dispense with it when the boot is on the other foot.
3. The biggest irony of all: responding to caricatures that paint a picture of Islam as a violent religion by threatening violence.
   

As many have mentioned in the past few days, Islam has way bigger image problems than that which might be incited by a few offensive caricatures. Perhaps the so-called moderates should worry first about confronting terrorism, bigotry, and human rights offenses before they turn on those who would comment on it.

Muslims are always calling on the West to treat the root political cause of the problem - the unjust offences against Muslims in Palestine and elsewhere, and Western stranglehold on world trade - and not just react to the result. But in what way are they following the source of these cartoons back to their root cause? The cartoonists view Islam in that way for a reason, and I'm afraid it isn't just because they're all indoctrinated by prejudice. You only have to pick up a newspaper to see who the real 'bad guy' is here.

This is a clash of cultures the Muslims cannot win. Why? Because Europeans hold the concept of freedom of speech just as dearly as Muslims hold their religious convictions. To us, it isn't just a principle we uphold - it's a given. It's so natural to us that taking it away is like trying to strip away part of our identity, just as the Muslims say about their faith. As I have said throughout this thing, I think the cartoons were offensive, and probably ill-advised. But there is no way that is a sufficient excuse for censorship. The right to offend is more important than the good sense not to offend.