A couple of people have asked for a post on the great cartoon controversy. It’s a basic principle of a free society people should be able to publish material of this kind without fear of prosecution or physical attack, and anyone who threatens or incites such physical attacks should be prosecuted.
Having said that, my reaction to the displays of bigotry and (largely confected) outrage associated with the whole business are pretty much summed up by Chris Bertram.
John Quiggin 
“Michael H: You ain’t exactly Mr. News & Current Affairs are you? The “Lancet Studyâ€? has been totally discredited.’
Steve, you’re making a fool of yourself here, and I don’t think you’re really a fool. The “discrediting” effort was led by people like Michael Fumento and Steven Milloy. If the study had really been discredited, the refutation would have been lead article in The Lancet, or, failing that, a rival journal.
There is little bigotry in trying to stop bigotry. The analogy with McCarthyism the Venona transcripts and Orwell’s list is germane.
The Danish Brouha is another data point to the series that recently began with the London Bombings, Paris Burnings and Cronulla Bashings. One would have to be blind or stupid to ignore this pattern. Pr Q is neither of these so I wonder why this particular gorilla squatting in the living room has so far escaped his sharp comment.
PS Three cheers to the Danish government for sticking up to the Western tradition for free speech, unlike the many gutless wonders amongst the Cultural Wets and Economic Dries who have been happy to turn a blind eye to the this kind of political outrage (eg Rushdie) for base professional reasons.