Contradiction in Arab cartoon views

Blatantly anti-Semitic literature is on sale in Cairo, just like many other Arab capitals. The BBC News website's Martin Patience reports on the apparent inconsistency in the Egyptian reaction to the Danish cartoons caricaturing the Prophet Muhammad. ^{[BBC News]}

This kind of hypocrisy seems to curse all three of the major Middle Eastern religions. It comes, I think, from their insistence that each is the only one that is right, the chosen ones. They each believe they have the TRUE God and making fun of THEIR God is blasphemy, but it's not blasphemy when they ridicule other folks' beliefs.

This is where the danger comes for a secular, multi-cultural society. We try, because we desire our own freedom, to allow others to do what they believe it right. But what do you do when another person believes that attempting, or even FORCING, you to convert to their belief system is "right".

The article goes on:

While he insists he believes in freedom of speech, he is furious about the cartoons caricaturing the Prophet Muhammad.

He argues that slandering any religion should be punishable.

But when it comes to selling the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, he says: "The book is about politics not about religion. I don't have a problem with books criticising politics."

So freedom of speech is only applicable when YOU are talking about other religions? Oh, yeah, call it "politics" but it's still religion and I feel sure the speaker understands that.

Honestly, the more I hear Muslims complain about not being treated as equals the more bemused I am. I want to say to them that being ridiculed is part of being equal.