"Hello, Kettle? Pot here. You're black!"

Here's the problem... There is now a media competition running by an Islamic newspaper inviting submissions of cartoons with the subject of the holocaust. Apparently it is to test the tolerance of freedom of speech in Western media. I'm sure it's not the same people at all that are insiting riots, but what strikes me is that you kind of lose your right to protest against something if you then decide to do it yourself. It just simply takes all of the sting out of your arguments.

It's one thing to stand up for your beliefs. Another entirely when you stand up for your beliefs, but then go and do the same thing in return... The protests become irrelevant and disempowered. Those moderates who may have been sympathetic become enitrely less so when you retaliate in kind. I can certainly understand how this could be the response of some to what was a deeply offensive incident to their beliefs. It's just that it's difficult once you start doing the same thing in return.