I had a long thought about how I felt about it the other night. On the one hand, I think that it's really quite angering the threats and violence that has resulted from people doing such depictions. I do believe in a freedom of speech and expression, people have a right to say insulting and derogatory things.

On the other hand, I do believe people should be basically civil to each other. While the actions of a few might anger me, the majority don't seem to have the intention of such things. It seems to be a bit of nuclear diplomacy to do it with such a broad stroke, it isn't civil to the millions of others who do not share the view of the others.

There is of course a sort of wildcard in this all though. As Parthia alluded to, the Shi'a don't have such a strong prohibition against the depiction of Muhammad. Thus depictions of Muhammad are quite common in Iran. This does make me just that much more angry at the ones who are doing the threats and the arrogance of the 'everyone else is wrong' attitude.

Civility though, still wins out for me, I do think that people have the right to do it, I wouldn't have the southpark guys go back and undo what they did, but I just have little patience for the outright derogatory. Sure, you have a right to be an asshole, but you are still an asshole.