The United Nations is hosting a series of seminars titled “Unlearning Intolerance,” and the next one focuses on the dreaded cartoons of blasphemy. (Hat tip: Dan.)

Are they going to discuss the violently intolerant reaction of the Islamic world to the relatively mild Danish cartoons?

Of course not, silly! This seminar will emphasize “The Responsibility of Political Cartoonists:” UN Chronicle | Cartooning for Peace (UN Chronicle E-Alert).

And that responsibility is, of course, the responsibility to avoid offending the Religion of Tolerance™.

Accompanied by this Orwellian graphic by anti-Israel, anti-American French cartoonist Jean Plantu, available as an attractive commemorative plate:

The program, for those planning to attend:

Registration
9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
United Nations lobby, First Avenue at 46th Street

Welcoming Remarks by Under-Secretary-General Shashi Tharoor
10:05 a.m. - 10:10 a.m.

Opening Statement by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan
10:10 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.

Keynote Speech by Jean Plantu
10:20 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Morning Panel
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Should the Cartoonist Educate?
(The Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information to open and moderate the panel discussion)

Question and Answer Session
11:30 a.m. - 12:25 p.m.

Open discussion between and among the panelists, discussants and the audience

Break
12:25 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon Panel
3:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Should Responsibilities Abridge Rights?
(The Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information to open and moderate the panel discussion)

Question and Answer Session
4:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Open discussion between and among the panelists, discussants and the audience

Closing remarks
5:30 p.m - 5:45 p.m.

Under-Secretary-General Shashi Tharoor and Dr. Holli A. Semetko, Director of Emory University’s
The Claus M. Halle Institute for Global Learning

The seminar will be webcast live at: www.un.org/webcast