Saturday, February 25, 2006
MANCHESTER ERUPTS
Call the police! Begin an inquiry! A cartoon has appeared, and the BBC is rocked:
Extremists have been blamed after a cartoon featuring the prophet Mohammed with a bomb in his turban was put up in a housing office in Oldham.
Extremists? Plural? It took more than one of these “extremists” to stick a cartoon on a noticeboard or wherever? How big was it?
The cartoon, which has sparked protests from Muslims worldwide since it was published in a Danish newspaper last year, appeared at First Choice Homes.
Managers acted quickly to remove it and have begun an inquiry.
Again with the plural. Exactly how many managers were involved? Were their actions approved by the First Choice Homes Cartoon Review Committee, and the Oldham Noticeboard Squad?
First Choice Homes - which runs the town’s council housing - said the matter had been reported to police.
Well, of course. Something like this, who knows where it could lead? Next the extremists will be subjecting offices to Andy Capp or Bristow.
Steve Yorke, its Director of Management and Operations, said many staff had been offended by the cartoon.
If only the Cartoon Review Committee had acted with greater speed. It’s awful that so many staff witnessed the cartoon before sufficient managers were rounded up to do something about it, but I guess it’s always best to proceed cautiously when dealing with ... a cartoon.
Greater Manchester Police said they were treating the incident “extremely seriously” and were worried the incident could affect “community cohesion”.
It’s a wonder the streets aren’t already awash with blood. I mean, a cartoon and all.
(Via Deo)