I'm Offended. But Not Easily.

More fuel has been added to the fire of the 'Clash of Civilizations'. 80s rockers Saxon were due to play in Dubai this coming weekend, but permission has been withdrawn by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. Why? Because one of their songs, 'Crusader', is considered offensive to Muslims. The lyrics are written from the viewpoint of a brave English chap going off to the Holy Land to fight the 'heathen Saracen', any time between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries. You might consider it akin to an historical document. Or a work of fiction. You certainly cannot consider it a literal threat to Muslims, but this is apparently what some of the local Arab press has been whipping up.

...what will Saxon do in Dubai’s land and on Arabian sands? Are they going to make us, the Saracen heathens, taste their music just as if their guitars were swords made of steel?

When this started becoming a problem, the band said they would not play that particular song at this gig. End of story you might think. But noooo.

This is like family feuds over 'what you said to Sharon at Our Jason's wedding', only much much worse.

I just hope no-one mentions the Muslims and Christians Festivals that happen every year in Spain. Oops, too late.