(I'm back)

Parallels

You can tell a lot from parallels. Often we miss them, and only vaguely later we realise there is some shocking symmetry in social trends.

Take the life sentence imposed on Zacharias Moussawi, which Peter Glover comments on powerfully- as does Mark Steyn. It's just over a year since the death of Terri Schiavo.

Or, on a smaller scale, take the case of the man manhandled by numerous armed police (arrested in front of his grandchildren and held for five hours) for pinging the back leg of a dog threatening his sheep. That was the sensitivity of Bedfordshire police in action.

And its exponents are police officers from a force who will have read their instructions about dealing sensitively with the muslim community by taking off their shoes and not interrupting prayers when entering muslim homes.