Do we have a right to be offended by Ulster stereotypes?

According to broadcasting news site Digital Spy, Ofcom is set to investigate complaints made about the Catherine Tate Show's portrayal of a Northern Irish family as terrorists.

The site says that viewers "expressed anger" about a sketch in which a Northern Irish family were opening their Christmas presents, which included a balaclava, a knuckleduster and an apron adorned with a balaclava-wearing terrorist alongside the words "Remember Everything, Forgive Nothing".

It's purile and really not that funny but is it really surprising? She's not the first and I'm sure she won't be the last. In fact when we have equally un-funny shite being produced locally in the guise of the Hole in the Wall Gang's Give My Head Peace or their even less funny (yes, apparently it was possible) Dry Your Eyes, or Patrick Keilty's usual shite, all of which pander as much to stereotypes of Ulster as anything produced elsewhere, can we really claim to be that offended when others join in? Even the Blame Game (which I quite like) all to often slips into crass sectarian stereotypes instead of the genuine comedy which it does rather well most of the time.

Isn't Jesus supposed to have said something along the lines of "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" (For those of you still unsure: yes, he is). Anyway, Northern Ireland needs to improve its image, certainly, but isn't that our job rather than other people's?