David Aaronovitch seeks some reasonable middle ground in the ever-escalating battle of the caricatures:
Sit back and marvel as a set of pointless doodlings are transformed either into the symbols of the West's ineffable hatred for Islam, or else into the symbols of democratic freedoms under attack from totalitarianism.
As ever there will be elements of truth in both propositions, as the loonies get stuck in. But by and large those of us who manage to get through the week without depicting the Pope as a geriatric paedophile, or the Chief Rabbi as a hook-nosed money-grubber, understand that this discussion should be as much about civility and tolerance, as about rights or blasphemy.
On the subject of giving and taking offence, Iain Dale (still in shock after seeing Jamie Oliver named "Most Inspiring Political Figure" at the C4 awards) has been eavesdropping on the latest songs going around the football terraces:
Apparently this was the chant to Lord of the Dance tune at Man United the other day:
"Park, Park, Where-ever you may be
You eat dogs in your home country
But it could be worse -
You could be a scouse
Eating rats in your council house."
Cue riots in Seoul and flag-burnings on the Mersey.
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