Comment Re:You don't say (Score 1) 1224
> All because people are scared of offending muslims.
The are not scared of offending Muslims, per se. They are scared of being murdered. Their fear is not unfounded and is with precedent.
Censorship is self inflicted and never under pressure from an "offended" group at least that's my experience. Muslims use intimidation and fear. For example under pressure from Muslims, Australia told them that that they have to abide Australian rules. Australia has to deal with terrorism threats but they kept their stand.
In Kenya where I am at the moment, there is a debate on whether to include Sharia courts in the constitution. Fear and intimidation is being used by the side supporting it and yet a passage in the current constitution which says that all religions are equal has been deleted. The interesting thing has been how the government has gone about dealing with the debate, anyone against it has been silenced, those for it are threatening violence if NO wins. The media has practically blocked out all descenting voices a minister has been demoted for being on the NO side. The government has invoked a hate speech law on all debates by equating intolerance to hate.( Christians are being accused of being intolerant ) Yet Muslims make up 10% of the population in Kenya.
The fear of being killed is real, but what it does is isolate Muslims by losing any goodwill. Muslims always turn against anyone who is perceived not to be on their side. Ask any Algerian if he would ever vote for an Islamic party ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algerian_Civil_War ).
Comedy Central has set a precedent that will have to be used in all its programmes. I watched the original Season 2 episode depicting Mohammed and hardly noticed it. In my view they went too far in censoring the use of his name. Censoring his image is acceptable.
