Gary Clement Has an Off Day

Usually, I like National Post cartoonist Gary Clement's wry 'toons. But not today. Today he seems to side with those who would torch free speech for the sake of keeping the lid on the more excitable elements in the Muslim world. A pox on that, I say. Who wants to live in a world where one is forced to tiptoe on eggshells lest one say something that upsets the all-too-easily offended (upon whose sufferance one depends, and who therefore has all the power)? Sorry, I saw that Twilight Zone episode, and don't think it offers us a viable modus vivendi.

In fact, I'd be willing to raise funds for a new permanent exhibit in Canada's "human rights" mausoleum in order to spotlight the most crucial human right of all: the right to offend. Because if we don't have that one right--to blaspheme, to be rude, to say silly and possibly highly insulting things--then my friends we have nada. That is, we have nada but de facto sharia, a recipe for oppressiveness and a small, squalid life.

Update: Groveling General Petraeus says, "It's good you're making it snow, er, that you killed those bad people, Anthony.

Update: I like this comment by "Old Bob":

Over one hundred years ago, Winston Churchill wrote "Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world" In a century nothing has changed save the current willingness of western leaders to tolerate and accept conduct on the part of Moslems that would be monstrously criminal in a civilized society.

Would it be too much to ask the Afghan government to arrest and punish those of its people who slaughter UN personnel and US soldiers? Is religious rage an affirmative defense to murder?

What is "jihad is the way, sharia is the goal" if not religious rage as an affirmative defense to murder?


If you torch the kid's Koran (or draw a 'toon of his Prophet), he'll "think" you into the cornfield