[Neophyte]

It will be recognized that he gave grievous offense to many, many people (not, apparently, just Muslims).

You are fighting a straw man of your own making. The article itself reveals that in the past van Gough had offended both Christians and Jews, who filed formal complains against him.

That what it's all about - civilised people choose civilised ways to deal with an offender, savages would shoot him several times, stabb him repeatedly, slit his throat with a butcher knife, and leave a note containing verses from the Qur’an on the body.

And this in deed is something that everyone who values freedom should worry about. Isn't it?

[thegreatbeast]

Okay, did you read my introductory sentence? Did I not call for the requisite pound of flesh?
The sentence you quote from my posting was my recognition that Van Gogh had made those films that assaulted the faith of the Jews and Christians. The man was a professional bear-baiter. This time the bear got him. I guess my point is that Van Gogh was a pig, a wastrel. But I never thought that he was somehow not entitled to all the rights and freedoms we enjoy.
But, again, read what I write before bringing up vaporous objections.