that cartoons back

[kath3]

So you're saying you're happy for some bearded lunatic in Tehran to say what sort of pictures your kid should be allowed to draw

No, no, no, I'm not saying that at all. I clearly said freedom of speech must be absolute. But if you are going to play with fire, and these cartoonist are, then they need to expect (not deserve) to get burned ... they are dealing with extreme radicals.
Should one be allowed to draw, write, sing about whatever they want? Absolutely, but if you choose to spread your thoughts in a disrespectful, and degrading manner then you need to expect strong oppostion. We live in a world full of extremists, angry people, illogical thinkers, crazies ... not everybody is nice here. Because I understand how my world can be sometimes, I would not in all consciousness draw a picture of someones beloved God in such a manner that could have dire consequences for others.
If I go into a rough-end bar carrying my freedom of speech banner and proceed to tell them all what a bunch of low-life degenerates they are then I'm going to take an ass kicking. These cartoonists are operating in the same fashion only in a much larger bar, and the consequences will fall mostly on the innocent.
What I'm talking about is accountability. Now those doing the ass kicking must be dealt with also.
I'm trying to understand the motive of these cartoonists. Is it purely for a laugh? Freedom of speech rights? Are they trying to educate? Or are they arrogant and selfish attention seekers willing to push their idea no matter what the costs?

; because if your kid drew a picture that the loony claimed was "offensive" then he would obviously have no choice but to decapitate him; and if the poor bewhiskered whackjob ended up in jail as a result you would feel guilty for having been such a lousy parent.

Of course not. Even a radical extremeist would understand the source (a child). These cartoonists are not children. They are adults, adults lacking descretsion, and respect towards others imo.
I have raised two children and I'd like to think I instilled in them the need to respect others and to treat others as they would indeed wish to be treated themselves. If they choose to become disrespectful I take no ownership of that ... they are now adults and their accountability lies in their own laps.
I don't for one second believe they did not know what could possibly arise from all this. Would you willingly draw a picture that could put innocent people in harmsway? And we're not talking about innocent buddy/buddy fooling around drawing nasty pictures at a friends house ... we're talking about going huge and publising for all the world to see ... all for what?

I too believe it's ridiculous this whole thing of drawing a picture could ignite such anger ... but we're dealing with very extreme volitile people. Insult their children/wife/customs/religion and you'll piss them off. Insult their beloved God ... they'll go to war over him/her/it.

You may think bullies should be allowed to prosper. We will have to agree to differ.

No, I don't think bullies should be allowed to prosper. They need to be dealt with accordingly.