Haha. Just kidding. Maybe.

I just want to point out a few things before I go.

I'm all for political cartoons and irreverent humor in general. I like the way it can keep us from taking ourselves too seriously. Sometimes it makes me uncomfortable - but usually on behalf of someone more reverent than I am.

I am NOT for methodically "testing the limits of free expression" by intentionally lampooning one group's religious leader in a 12 cartoon spread just to see if you can get away with it. Do I think that should be outlawed? Of course not. Test the limits all you want. I wish it could be done more responsibly, respectfully, and/or discreetly than the Danish newspaper chose to do it. But I don't want to impose my moral conscience on them or on anyone else.

If you're a vegetarian and come to my house for dinner I'm going to make damn sure there's something for you to eat even if I'm a confirmed carnivore. Maybe hoping "accommodations" like that could be the norm on a global scale or in the media is asking too much. But can't we at least do that for each other on the strip? Is that really asking too much? Just give each other room to be who we are. (Well, who you are. I don't know who died and made me hall monitor, but looks like it's going to be a very short tenure.)

I'm sorry if I made anyone uncomfortable by stepping into this pissing match. Yes, I was stupid enough to think I might be enlightened enough [inlink]uncutsaniflush,152[/inlink] (I could not agree with you more (e:uncutsaniflush) - good post) to diffuse the situation and point out where "logic" was sometimes built on half-truths. No, I'm not the keeper of truth. But I can recognize when a person or group is provoked, then retaliate. No, the retaliation is not justified, and yes, it may very well be a much "worse wrong" than the provocation. But that still doesn't justify the provocation. Hate has come full circle, and for what?

I wish I could keep my mouth shut and just have my little journal here, but I can't. I have more to say, but no time to say it. I hesitate to post something only half thought-out considering how my fully-thought-out posts have been received, but try to hold that thought until I can finish. Then you can strap me to the stake and set me ablaze.

Interim update (not that anybody's waiting with bated breath) -
Just letting you know I'm taking my two smashed fingers (ya, I managed to smash the other one all by myself) to the beach. In my perpetually preoccupied state I managed to sabotage my night out last night, and I'm having no luck scoring a ticket to Violent Femmes tonight. So I'm doing the only sensible thing and heading for the beach. No more "words of wisdom" from me for awhile. So go ahead - string me up in the meantime and put me out of my misery.