Cimorene

by calling the composition an essay i wasn't attempting to make a political statement about its veracity or academic standards--just using the writer's terminology. however, i have to say i'm familiar with a loose conversation al sense of the word "essay" which would be perfectly applicable in this case.

i can't speak for the intentions of the writer at all, but i wouldn't argue that only fundamentalists are protesting. unsurprisingly, plenty of muslims (and non-muslims) are upset. and of course only a tiny percentage of muslims as a whole are personally resorting to physical violence--even considering that much of the recent violence has been committed by mobs. i think there have been a somewhat bigger portion clamouring for blood, however. i don't know enough about the muslim world to venture a guess as to how many of its inhabitants wish for anyone's death.

i could hardly disagree more with your points about free speech, but like i said, i suppose it's a simple split question. i'll simply include wax_jism's succinct comment: "we might as well just go ahead and throw the farrelly brothers in jail."

And yes, I do believe the word is the most important weapon we have

i understand this view. i really think, however, that it's a question of judgment. the conflicts originate verbally, but at the point where words fail, everyone is still just offended but physically whole, whereas after weapons have been substituted, some of them are likely to be dead. the violent conflict can't occur without the conflict of ideas, but a conflict of ideas can certainly occur without violence.

i haven't read any sunday times articles. however, i don't think you have to scan it--it's probably here somewhere (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/), if you know the author's name. at least a lot of stories seem to be.