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See, this scares me.
You know, I'm truly amazed at how fast people go from "Freedom of Speech" to "Freedom of Speech as Long as you don't Offend". I'm even more amazed that it seems I'm finding this new attack on freedom of speech so much more terrifying than so many other people do. I mean, I'm not usually the poster child for Freedom of Speech.
Take for example, the recently canceled "Book of Daniel". I can't say I'm sorry that its off the air -- there's a limit to how much obvious "the religious are just hypocrites" propaganda I can handle -- but I could (and did) just ignore it when it was on. Obviously most people did because if it brought in the ad money it would still be on the air. Then there's the whole "Virgin Mary in the Urinal as art" train of thought. Personally, I think it's crap (no pun intended), but art and the eye-of-the-beholder and all. I wouldn't give my hard earned money to support either of those two free speeches but I wouldn't do anything to stop them either.
The line of "I may not believe in what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" has always bothered me because there is a lot of specific speech that I certainly wouldn't want to die for. These cartoons fall into that category. I would hate to lose my life because of them. Still, the cartoonist has a right to say it and the paper has the right to print it.
The Government should not have the right to say they can't. No matter how many people riot in streets.
The scariest quote: 'The press will give the Muslim world the message: We are aware of the consequences of exercising the right of free expression'.
You know, I'm truly amazed at how fast people go from "Freedom of Speech" to "Freedom of Speech as Long as you don't Offend". I'm even more amazed that it seems I'm finding this new attack on freedom of speech so much more terrifying than so many other people do. I mean, I'm not usually the poster child for Freedom of Speech.
Take for example, the recently canceled "Book of Daniel". I can't say I'm sorry that its off the air -- there's a limit to how much obvious "the religious are just hypocrites" propaganda I can handle -- but I could (and did) just ignore it when it was on. Obviously most people did because if it brought in the ad money it would still be on the air. Then there's the whole "Virgin Mary in the Urinal as art" train of thought. Personally, I think it's crap (no pun intended), but art and the eye-of-the-beholder and all. I wouldn't give my hard earned money to support either of those two free speeches but I wouldn't do anything to stop them either.
The line of "I may not believe in what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" has always bothered me because there is a lot of specific speech that I certainly wouldn't want to die for. These cartoons fall into that category. I would hate to lose my life because of them. Still, the cartoonist has a right to say it and the paper has the right to print it.
The Government should not have the right to say they can't. No matter how many people riot in streets.
The scariest quote: 'The press will give the Muslim world the message: We are aware of the consequences of exercising the right of free expression'.
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Date: 2006-02-11 07:17 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2006-02-12 04:27 am (UTC)From:That is what really scares me.
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Date: 2006-02-11 07:36 am (UTC)From:But trying to bind others to your religion...and killing indiscriminately over *someone's* noncompliance...no. Not a finely tuned reaction to the situation. Willing to kill over what at worst amounts to childish insults? Something's seriously screwy with that.
A lot of news sources mention the "Turban-bomb" cartoon, what's weird to me is that the reactionaries are essentially bearing out the message in that one, that it's a religion devoted to violence and threats. (I know better, but if all I knew was THIS news, it would be the logical conclusion.)
Interesting series of articles directly ON the Jyllands-Posten website, key ones translated into English for us. http://www.jp.dk/udland/tema:fid=11328/ (If that doesn't work, use the root and click on the British flag near the top.)
And total ickitude regarding that quote. The consequences should start - and end - with social ostracization if one exercises one's freedom of expression in a less than tactful and courteous manner.