It is a sad fact that many people in the middle East and the North of Africa have nothing but their religion. They have no freedom, no rights, no money and a shitty standard of living. (If you've ever been to Cairo, Marrakesh, Gaza or Basra, you know what I'm talking about.) It is a well-known fact that if the state fails, private charity, usually inspired by religion, takes over. Religious law replaces state law.
Of course, ridiculing the last stable part of your society is not going to make you win a popularity contest.
However: Religion is an outdated technology. It has failed to solve the most complicated problems of primitive and modern society, just think of the plague, medical care, sexual complexes or long-distance travel. Instead, modern societies use science. The essence of science is doubt, the main concept of religion is belief. If you rule out doubt, you lose all the benefits of science, especially it's perpetual expansion of knowledge.
Now, historically Islam is a derivative of Arianism, a religious doctrine affirming the humanity of Jesus and the totality of God. It is very well adapted to modern society since it does not impose any limits on human development. (God is deemed to be too complex for human understanding, furthermore, the concept of kismet suggests that humanity should not take "acts of God" personally.)
Due to the loss of Andalusia and the emergence of the Ottoman power in the 15th century, Islam has changed to become more strict and dogmatic. This has remained the status quo with very few exceptions.
In my opinion, the pendulum is about to swing the other way: The return flow of money from the Muslim population working in first world countries is increasing individual prosperity, while globalisation increases business flows. This change is a herald of the collapse of the fixed order in Muslim countries. The two traditional power blocks, the military and the religious have something to fight about: The faith of their followers. To instir them with political fervour, everything goes: Thus pointless hysteria facing a rather tasteless joke.
I say, it's okay, it will pass. If one doesn't want to insult people, he oughtn't become a caricature artist. The same goes for getting insulted in turn. (If you can't take a joke, don't make one.) Besides, the Arabic language can be very picturesque even while being courteous, be careful with literal translations.
If you want to help calm the situation, buy your foodstuff at an Arab or Turk or similar grocery store, the money you spend there will eventually build a home for a family. Do not forget the central tennet of social democracy: People who have something to lose do not revolt.
PS: As many have said, it would be better if the news channels brought positive information about the area once in a while. Maybe something about the reduction of infant death or about a NGO success. Why not? It's still news.
