I know nothing of the man's politics beyond what is in the story, but I do like this move by one Italian politician.

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's Reform Minister Roberto Calderoli has had T-shirts made emblazoned with cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad in a move that could embarrass Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government.

Calderoli, a member of the anti-immigrant Northern League party, told Ansa news agency on Tuesday that the West had to stand up against Islamist extremists and offered to hand out T-shirts to anyone who wanted them.

"I have had T-shirts made with the cartoons that have upset Islam and I will start wearing them today," Ansa quoted Calderoli as saying.

He said the T-shirts were not meant to be a provocation but added that he saw no point trying to appease extremists.

"We have to put an end to this story that we can talk to these people. They only want to humiliate people. Full stop. And what are we becoming? The civilization of melted butter?" Calderoli said.

I've said this all along -- while there is an argument to be made that the original decision to print the cartoons was wrong, the violence and threats of violence emanating from the barbaric segment of islam made it incumbant upon me and others to reprint them as a sign of support for free speech. That is the same mesage i hear Calderoli sending with the decision to print and distribute these shirts.

I wonder if they would send one to me in Texas?