British "Tolerance"

Well, the Brits are having a fun time of it. Muslims object to the cross of St. George, any depiction of a pig whatsoever (even piglet), oh, and the weather forecasters aren't supposed to predict storms or rain anymore. "Say mostly dry, not partly rainy!"

Okay, I can see a ban on, say, pork in the cafeteria during the Muslim holy month, but banning even cartoon depictions of pigs? Guys, if you're that easily offended, leave. Seriously. I really wish that there was a mainstream group of pig worshippers out there who could really get ticked off at this ban. The closest American comparison I can think of is the way some Christian groups want to ban Santa Claus because he's not "the reason for the season," or something like that. He's a cultural icon, and is not going away any time soon.

The Cross of St. George makes only slightly more sense. Fine, it was a symbol during the Crusades. So was the cross in general. How long will it be before they start trying to prevent workers from wearing any sort of cross? And much more recent atrocities have been committed in the name of Islam. Should we ban any and all Islamic symbols for fear of offending victims of these attacks? I don't hear anyone suggesting that (except some extremists who would like to wipe Islam off the planet; they're little better than terrorists). If people are still free to wear a Swastika (which had a very different meaning before Hitler twisted it), which reminds people of much more recent atrocities, how can anyone justify banning St. George's Cross?

At least the weather bureau story is only idiotic, rather than actively dangerous to people's liberties. However, it's worrisome that the idea of "spinning" a story has reached its way even into reporting the weather.

Addendum:
Magic Statistics has more on the pig issue, including links to a "Free Piglet!" movement.