Lurpak and people power

Thinking about recent events in the 'Islamic World' (no such thing really, but abstract ideas do simplify debate to the lowest common denominator) I was reminded of a particular book.

In PR terms, it was smart to boycott goods (Lurpak is heavily used by many Asians, as I can personally attest), but disastrous to protest aggressively, calling for death, attacking the Danish embassy in Beirut, etc, etc. That really didn't help at a time when we need to show that the Islamic faith is tolerant, patient, and - just like any other religion. The bigoted minority were allowed to grab control of the steering wheel again - and only Muslims can stop that.

Just how many of these 'believers' saw the cartoons? It wasn't as if the Prophet was butt naked and singing show tunes.

It's a bit like the 'Satanic Verses' controversy. Few remember that when the book was originally released, it was reviewed in an influential Tehran newspaper, without praise or criticism. Only when the political situation changed did the Iranians stoke up a raging fire of rhetoric. Just how many young protestors in Bradford read the book and formed their own opinion?

If you take things too seriously and overreact, you deserve to get a lot of fun poked at you. This one will run a while longer yet.

The biggest threat to Islam is indeed intolerance, but it's from within the faith. Members of other faiths manage to close ranks and give the bigots little oxygen - something my brothers and sisters should perhaps learn. We can't wave our arms about helplessly, protesting that we didn't know what to do.

If faith is a battle, then it is a battle within the believer, not a battle amongst many.

In other news:

Abu Hamza has been sent down for 7 years - good, he was a twat.

Omar Khayam (named after the Persian poet?) is returned to prison. Anyone DUMB ENOUGH to dress as a suicide bomber and protest on TV, while out on parole, deserves to be back in prison purely on the basis that he is a little light in brainpower. However, he deserves some respect for at least apologising.