Sensitivities

Amis rejects 'anti-Islam' claims (BBC News, Saturday, 26 January 2008)

Every time a sensitive issue comes up, there are battles about such questions as:

"Is this person's purpose to expose wrongs in some sections of society, or is he/she just out to offend? And if so, is this an insult of a deity, of a religion, of a culture, or of a race?"

Instead of asking such pedantic questions, people could save themselves a lot of discussions that lead nowhere and get to the point. The French found this out eventually after the episode with the lawsuit against Michel Houellebecq accusing the acclaimed author of inciting racial hatred. The Dutch found this out eventually after the murder of brilliant film maker Theo van Gogh by an easily offended Muslim. But so much energy was wasted to reach that point. I hope Britain can skip a few steps in the process, and get past the stage of political correctness sooner rather than later.

Then there is:

Satire cleared over McCann sketch (BBC News, Monday, 28 January 2008)

People who are offended by satire should look up the meaning of the word satire, or switch channels.

Why does no one in Britain care as much about children of Madeleine's age who are abducted and killed in Iraq every day? (See www.iraqbodycount.org.) In their case, we know the names of some people who bear part of the moral responsibility. If those who write angry letters about satirical programmes want to turn their attention to more worthy causes, let them take to the streets and demand the incarceration of Gordon Brown and his ilk.