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Yes, the very technology that was supposed to bring the peoples of the world closer together seems set to create major rifts between those of differing race, culture or religion.

Last week's publication of images deemed to be offensive to Muslims is just the most recent in a growing list of examples that show how bad the situation is becoming.

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Before the arrival of the internet plus global TV and news networks, "culture-clash" was kept in check by geographical considerations. A newspaper published in one area or country would seldom make its way beyond that nation's borders, thus the risk of offending those of different nationality, faith or culture was minimised.

These days however, there's no such thing as "local news", and stories from all corners of the planet are accessible from all other corners.

If the news media weren't intent on *creating* news rather than just reporting it, we would not have seen the riots that followed the publication of a few cartoons in Denmark. Virtually nobody in the Muslim world would have know that this had even happened. Unfortunately though, many publishers took the opportunity to flex their "Freedom of expression" muscles and thus provoked the response we've also seen on our screens of late.

Let's face it, there was absolutely no justification for any NZ publisher to reproduce those images. Anyone who felt the need to see them could have easily jumped on the Net and looked at any number of websites carrying them. The publication was therefore (and I agree with the PM on this -- gasp!) purely gratuitous -- and therefore decidedly disrespectful of those who they knew would be offended.

When you combine idiocy (on both sides) like this with instant global communications and growing levels of intolerance, you have a recipe for disaster.

Don't go blaming the Muslims alone for the rioting and destruction that has been seen in recent days. Let's not forget that when terrorists detonated bombs on the London underground last year, non-Muslims responded by damaging and defacing the property and mosques of Muslims around the world. In short, we're all as bad as each other.

The bottom line is that a very small number of radicals are performing intensely offensive acts. (The publishers on one side, the terrorists on the other). This in itself is unacceptable but we must remember that these people are not representatives of the wider cultures from which they come. Most non-Muslims feel that publishing the images of Muhammad was unnecessary and inflammatory, just as most Muslims hold no truck with suicide bombing.

Unfortunately, the power of modern media means it is very easy to give these tiny minorities a far louder voice than they deserve. Thanks to TV and the Net, these idiots get publicity far beyond their fair ration, something that only worsens the whole state of affairs.

It strikes me that today's modern communications systems and the power they give to these nutcases (including some news publishers) brings us ever-closer to another major conflict of global proportion.

It would appear that our ability to disseminate and communicate is now exceeding our ability to understand, tolerate and respect the rights and beliefs of others.

Until we develop these essential traits to a sufficient level, perhaps we simply aren't ready for the 21st century and the way in which its technology has turned the entire planet into a very small village. Our neighbours have never been closer and therefore it's even more important that we get on with them.

Censorship and legislation are no answer to this problem. Laws can only reflect the public's perspectives and beliefs, not alter them.

What's more, those of us living here in New Zealand already know the very real dangers associated with excessive and heavily enforced political correctness -- let's not even think about that being extended to control of our news and other media by the state.

Do you have any suggestions, solutions or ideas when it comes to the balance between respect and rights in today's very small hi-tech world?

Could the publication of those images be as much a milestone in the next global conflict Hitler's invasion of Poland back in September of 1939 was in the history of WW2?

If you insult and disrespect people and their beliefs, isn't it reasonable to expect them to be angry and lash-out? Are we now well and truly headed for a "Muslim versus The West" war -- by terrorism or other means?

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