I just realized something you said, Ron, that I do need to address.

You said:

So..."Rushdie is getting long-due recognition for his services to the UK government in the form of Muslim baiting." That's what that sentence says.


Are you trying to use that statement from me as proof that I am excusing the behavior of the extremist Muslims? Because if you are, you are entirely wrong about that, and I have been consistent in making that clear here in this thread. I repeat (I think for the fourth time in this thread)...

...one doesn't avoid engaging in Muslim baiting (or any kind of racial or ethnic baiting, for that matter) to protect the extremists, such as the ones who issued or who support the fatwas. One rejects the practice of Muslim baiting to protect the Muslims who do not agree with the fatwas, and those who support them, from the kind of generalized hatred of all Muslims and all forms of Islam that we see so amply demonstrated here in this thread.


I do not excuse the extremists who issued the death threats and fatwas, and I never have. That issue is entirely separate from the point I have been making consistently in this thread. My point is, and has been that in taking action that produces the result we now see, one doesn't hurt the Muslim extremists (in fact, when one does that, one actually helps the extremists' cause). When one takes action that produces the result we now see, one hurts the very people who disagree with and do not support the extremists, ie: the moderate Muslims. It is entirely possible for me to hold the UK government responsible for the harm that is done to the moderates by their actions while at the same time disagreeing with and disapproving of the behavior of the extremists. In fact, it's the most logical thing I could possibly do.