Snoozing while Nothing Much Happens

So the protest came to nothing much, according to the Guardian - just '60 or 70 older men' (vexed about leeches, perhaps) - and no book was burnt, and Salman Rushdie, having rolled his sleeves up, now declares that the whole thing was blown out of proportion by the media. Natasha Walter argues that the view of the campaigners did not represent the views of the larger Brick Lane Bengali community, and makes the most important point that the media need to take more care as to whom they choose as spokespersons for diverse and varied communities. A 'damp squib' is how Rushdie describes yesterday's protest, but even damp squibs have been lit by someone...