Retribution in Western nations

Artists, especially those in Western nations, are used to a certain amount of freedom of expression. This is why they are having so much trouble with some of the issues that have arisen with the global war on terror. Islam, for example, has strict sanctions against portrayals of the Prophet; the result has been retribution against artists and newspapers in Europe that crossed the line as far as certain groups were concerned. We have seen it occasionally here in this country; one of the most famous was the cancellation of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour from CBS for its criticism of the Viet Nam War and the Johnson Administration. Explain.