political foo: Comedy Central plays Sir Robin in today's farce

Mark Steyn on Comedy Central's surrender.

I don't always enjoy every South Park episode, but there's a line that's gotta be drawn. To that end, I point you to The First Annual Everybody Draw Mohammad Day.

If everybody simply thumbs their noses at the threats, soon enough, jihad becomes a laughingstock. Sure, it's a real problem, but you don't defeat the problem by giving in.

Once you pay the Danegeld, you never get rid of the Dane.

Danegeld; Rudyard Kipling

It would figure that he's the origin of the phrase.

Danegeld

IT IS always a temptation to an armed and agile nation,
To call upon a neighbour and to say:
"We invaded you last night - we are quite prepared to fight,
Unless you pay us cash to go away."

And that is called asking for Dane-geld,
And the people who ask it explain
That you’ve only to pay ’em the Dane-geld
And then you’ll get rid of the Dane!

It is always a temptation to a rich and lazy nation,
To puff and look important and to say:
"Though we know we should defeat you, we have not the time to meet you.
We will therefore pay you cash to go away."

And that is called paying the Dane-geld;
But we’ve proved it again and again,
That if once you have paid him the Dane-geld
You never get rid of the Dane.

It is wrong to put temptation in the path of any nation,
For fear they should succumb and go astray,
So when you are requested to pay up or be molested,
You will find it better policy to say:

"We never pay any one Dane-geld,
No matter how trifling the cost,
For the end of that game is oppression and shame,
And the nation that plays it is lost!"

-Rudyard Kipling