Religious intolerance or freedom of speech.

[Crazed Rabbit]

As I understand it, the cartoons were first printed as a "test" of free speech. All the other newspapers printed them just to show they could. That's ridiculous. Being free to make a political statement is one thing, seeing how much of a shitstorm you can start is another.

Considering how the UN was (perhaps still is) considering illegalizing criticism of Islam, and how Muslims have tried to force and apology and silence criticism, I think it was important for the papers to show that they aren't afraid to print these. After all, if people have the nominal right to free speech, but are scared to speak out on certain issues, that isn't really free speech.

Lovely...
Maybe the cartoons hit too close to home.

Terrorists saw off a man's head, slowly killing him as he screams, and videotape it, and not a peep of protest from the Muslim world*. Someone prints a drawing they don't like, and they threaten a continent with destruction.

Crazed Rabbit

*Generalization of most incidents and ranking authorities of Islam, and Muslim people.