Dames?

"Don't make out that Europeans are any better either, wasn't it a Dame who got himself into hot water by depicting Mohammed?"

I think you may be confusing religion with pantomime. Easy mistake, I know.

RE: O RLY?

There are limits on our freedoms and these include those that maintain 'general welfare' and 'morality'. I would say that that would include offending other religions under certain circumstances:

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 29 (2): In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.

Underpinning all our rights is the notion of tolerance and brotherhood:

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 1: All human beings...should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood

I guess the point I was trying to make in my post was that it would do everyone a huge favour if people stopped and thought about their actions before blundering on. I accept that we all have the right to mock each other's dearly-held beliefs and revered figureheads, but this is not very conducive to peaceful co-existence. In the mostly secular West we are largely ignorant of the strength of religious feeling on a daily basis.

However, this is the way of the world, so Thailand probably should just accept that a large part of the world doesn't care for their beliefs, but it is hardly in keeping with the spirit of brotherhood that underpins all our rights.

Also, don't overlook the fact that murderers and bombers constitute a tiny minority of the world's religious. I agree with your point that killing is far more reprehensible than drawing a picture of a prophet (this is what you and I believe, however, and nothing makes it intrinsically correct) but I fail to see on whose part it indicates the existence of double standards.

O RLY?

I wasn't aware that a stipulation of a person's freedom is "as long as you don't offend anyone." Freedom itself is offensive to oppressors, so really, that argument is completely bogus.

I have the freedom to mock your religious figurehead if I so choose. You too, have the right to mock mine. Am I going to throw a hissy-fit over "Buddy Jesus"?? No. Why? Because I'm not an oversensitive jackass.

Yes, it really is THAT simple.

Thailand should quit crying and get over their self-important asses.

...and don't even get me started on the Islamic world. Let's see, which is more reprehensible...an artist drawing a picture of Mohammad, or people committing murder by blowing themselves up in bus stations and restaurants??? Can we drop the double standard? Please??