I don't know what's more offensive: the fact that radical Muslims seem to think that killing someone is an appropriate response for someone who might have unkind things to say about their religion, while attitudes like that actually justify some of the criticism, or the fact that publishers are being intimidated and capitulating to such threats.

If they harm any one of our citizens over this, retaliation should be swift and severe. All religions can either be civilized and coexist peacefully or their adherents can be dead, as far as I'm concerned.

Yeah right. Neocon bloggers are, like, totally dropping dead from constant Islam bashing.

>>>If they harm any one of our citizens over this, retaliation should be swift and severe. All religions can either be civilized and coexist peacefully or their adherents can be dead, as far as I'm concerned.

Agree with him or not, the President likely will not retaliate against "Islam" in response to a violent act against an anti-Islam writer. He believes mutual respect and engagement as quasi equals is the best way to proceed. I suspect he would view retaliation as counter productive.
Not only do I think it is a losing strategy but I think the ramifications to free speech are dangerous. I guess the best recipe to control free speech is to mix one part religion with 3 parts violent intimidation. You'll then have a shut the fuck up or die souffle.

From its representations, I find Islam a completely disgusting "religion". It has made me introspective about the history of Christianity, this kind of introspection, of course, having led to a more private and less bloodthirsty religion.

I think that I speak for all of France, when I say "What do we do?" Mosques are springing up all over the place, and the town I live in is at least 30% Muslim. People are more concerned about being called a racist than anything. Even a private citizen can get charged for racism for speaking out against Islam.

I think a lot about the fate of the indigenous American people as I watch European culture being swallowed up by kebab shops. You know, at least some Indian tribes fought against the similarly inexorable crushing of their way of life.

"He believes mutual respect and engagement as quasi equals is the best way to proceed. I suspect he would view retaliation as counter productive."

Ask Britain and France how this attitude worked for them in 1939.

"Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it."--George Santayana

If the Muslims are offended by what I write, let them come and get me.

I already have a Hamas sympathizing 35 year old doing the whole sloppy online stalking thing right now.

Bring it on!

I keep telling you guys, you are wasting your breath. Talking won't convert anybody.
Get big black dogs, and maybe Labs, and train to jump (in a friendly way) on people.
Muslims will run for the hills.
Read up on Islam and dogs, esp. black dogs. Islam regards dogs as evil and dirty, especially black dogs. Yes, Islam is nutty.
Hoo-hoo-hoo imagine the fun we can have with that! I am surprised Amy, the world-class Islamic-hater, never glommed on to a big black dog. Labs are great friends too. Then walk by any mosque in town, and stand close to the entrance.
So sad, to cut out from one's life dogs, as the Islamics do. I have a big dog, a source of comfort in months of separation from family.

The point should be made clear and crisp: there is no moderate Islam. There is one Islam only, which defines all thoses not under its rule as the enemy (Harbies, belonging to Dar-el-Harb, the house of war). And the only reason why Muslim do not wage war on Western civilization is because they are not powerful enough to do so at the moment.

I work in a tech job; there are a number of "Muslims" in my social orbit via my career or my wife's in investment management. When these people insist they neither wish to convert me nor wish me dead, and could I please pass the wine and the vaporizer bag, are they trying to sneakily persuade me to let my guard down, or is there some possibility that those who call themselves Muslims don't necessarily subscribe to the totalitarian ideology referred to here?

Liz writes.....>>>I think that I speak for all of France, when I say "What do we do?" Mosques are springing up all over the place, and the town I live in is at least 30% Muslim. People are more concerned about being called a racist than anything. Even a private citizen can get charged for racism for speaking out against Islam.

What do we do? That's a good question. In my humble opinion there is only one thing that will turn the tide. The MSM will change its ideology (as sad as the possibility of that happening is). The statistics that Amy chimes in with every so often ("12 percent of Canadian Muslims, in a survey a while back, thought it was appropriate to blow up Parliament") as well as her disturbing factoids about the content of the Quran, they never make it to most people because most people get their info from the MSM. And those in the MSM who control what makes it into papers or onto TV do not want this information getting out. I suspect if Europe was to become enlightened to this the tide would change some. To your other point about racism, again we are looking at an MSM thing. They are selective in what they portray as racist which helps to form the very zeitgeist that says if you speak candidly about the negatives of Islam then you are racist. Hopefully in Europe they have a few moments like what happened here. Jimmy Carter and Jeanine Garrafalo (sp?) unwittingly watered down a bit the ideological weapon known as the charge of racism. Let's hope they keep up the good work on the next worrisome policy Obama puts forth (and it spreads beyond the borders)!

In direct answer to your question of what can be done, educate yourself on the Quran. Once involved in a conversation with people ignorant to the facts, be tactful in how you state the facts but state them. And it certainly doesn't hurt if you state them in a way that puts you on the high moral ground....such as "You know I hear the Quran has many passages that are openly sexist" (you're a woman yourself so stating that distances you from the charge of racism). When the naysayers jump up to argue with you then utilize your new found knowledge to intellectually slice and dice them.

Looks like the book about honor killings ("To Whom Honor is Due") has found another publisher. I just found this article on the German pages of "Der Spiegel" (written two days ago):

http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/literatur/0,1518,655191,00.html

Since the article is written in German and I don't know how to find the English version of it - or whether there is one - I'll translate the headline and the first passage for you:

Controversial "Honor Killing" crime thriller will be published after all

The decision caused a stir: Fearing negative reactions, a publisher from Düsseldorf threw a thriller about honor killings out of their program. Fine, thought a competitor - and published the controversial book without further ado.

Looks like not all publishers' spines are created equal...