Remind me never to offend

Remind me never to offend anyone. God only knows how offending people is the worst of all possible sins. Murder, rape, torture, robbery - okay. But to offend - that is the worst thing anyone can do.

Or so it would seem with all the hubbub over the "cartoon affair."

And now we have, just to keep the playing field level, Hitler's beloved Austria putting a man in jail because he broke their law which says it is illegal for anyone to deny, "grossly plays down, approves or tries to excuse the National Socialist genocide or other National Socialist crimes against humanity in a print publication, in broadcast or other media."

My, my! Haven't the Austrians proven what good and freedom loving people they are. But do you think there is a chance Hitler is having a laugh. Did not Hitler make it a crime for people to express opinions contrary to what he wanted?

I am not suggesting here that there was no Holocaust. But if someone wishes to make a fool of themselves by denying it happened - let 'em.

Ideas, opinions and beliefs, good, bad or indifferent, must be allowed to fight it out if the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth is ever to be achieved.

I ask, "Didn't those who are always taking offense learn anything before they went to school? Didn't they learn that sticks and stones may break your bones but words should never hurt you?"

I guess not. But for myself, call me anything you want. Make fun of everything I believe. Just don't hurt me physically.