I am not aware of the full circumstances in which a Danish newspaper felt it appropriate to publish cartoons which caused such insult to Muslims.  I am aware of the circumstances in which those cartoons came to be republished elsewhere and doubt the wisdom of them having been so.  I suspect it was less a case of those other newspapers exercising their right of freedom of speech but rather more of a raised middle-finger gesture of defiance.  I can understand Muslim anger, though its depth betrays a lack of understanding as to why the “secular” West behaves as it does.

I do not have any issue with a Muslim possessing the beliefs that he has.  However, for my part I do not accept that The Prophet spoke the words of God any more authoritatively than any of his predecessors.  I find that there are jarring inconsistencies in the theories of Islam, Judaism and Christianity.  I suspect that if I studied the other religions, I should find fault there too.  Persons of religious persuasions other than Islam would not take my heresy as an affront, however.  There lies the difference.  Only a tiny minority of fanatical “Muslims” would seek to annihilate “non-believers”[1] but I perceive that a small but significant part of the decent, law abiding majority of real Muslims still seems to feel uncomfortable about and is unable to accept people who do not subscribe to its views.  They do not have any concept of  “live and let live” and would prefer that we all lived in some form of worldwide Caliphate[2].  They acquiesce in the behaviour of the unacceptable, violent, unprincipled minority[3].

It is this absence of understanding of our point of view and lack of empathy for our feelings that causes our hostility, not Islam.  The rant of each fanatic conjures the spectre of every tyrant who sought to bring this island race to nought. Ordinary Muslims should dwell upon that.  We use our laws to bear down upon our miscreant racist minority.  It is time that they put their house in order and consider how we feel.