Let me begin by saying that I don’t think the European laws forbidding Holocaust denial are a good idea. I understand why they felt it necessary to put them in place, but make stupid ideas taboo and stupid ideas become alluring.

Take a look at this cartoon. (Opens in a new window.) It’s typical of the cartoonist, who has the sense of nuance typical of the profession. As this sort of thing goes, it’s rather mild. It makes the usual tired accusation of “Islamophobia,” which is the new means to end debate and discredit your opponents. But note the dress of the European press: A Crusader, complete with cross. Because as we all know, Europeans are such intensely religious people, and ran the Dreaded Cartoons out of Christo-chauvinism and Islamophobia. 

I mention this, why? Just to note where I saw it: The editorial page of my newspaper union newsletter.