Looking for God: an Ongoing Tale - Press freedom vs. religious rights
“It's quite an uproar we're seeing in the Muslim world lately,” Tamara begins as she picks up her sandwich. At lunch time, she is meeting with former chaplain, Mitch, at the usual spot, the (amazing!) Out Back Shack.
“I noticed,” Mitch responds.
“I mean, the Danish newspaper that first published the cartoons of Mohamed would have been wiser to not do that. But I can't believe the incredible furor over this. Riots in a number of places. Even some killings! It's all kind of scary to me. Have you been online lately checking out the recent news on this?”
“I read about the Sarawak Tribune.”
“What's that?”
“It's a newspaper in Malaysia. It published a cartoon of Mohamed last week, and what are called ‘Muslim fundamentalists' responded by holding a protest outside the Danish embassy there.”
“That's all you read about this? Did you see the news reports about protests and riots in Syria? Danish Embassies have been burned. What about the French newspaper that evacuated its staff because someone threatened to blow up their offices? Anyway, what do you think? Would you defend freedom of speech and the publishing of the cartoons? Apparently, one of them depicts Mohamed with a bomb in his turban.”
“It's a tough issue. I think freedom of the press is very important. But in every society, there seem to be some things you don't say publicly, in the press. In western countries, for example, it would be deeply offensive, and in many countries it is illegal, to say that the holocaust of the Jewish people never happened. It is considered a hate crime.”
“So you think that it is ok to say the that holocaust did not happen and that cartoons that scandalize Muslims should be publicly distributed?”
“I think it is bizarre and false, as well as offensive, to claim that the holocaust never happened. What I'm less sure about is if criminalizing the public spreading of the theories of holocaust deniers is the best thing to do. But this is not something I know a lot about. On the publication of the anti-Islamic cartoons, I would say as others such as you have, that this was not the wisest act that the planet will see this decade.”
Mitch continues. “One thing I find interesting is that the cartoons were first published in Europe. I was in Europe this past summer. And I found that there is a growing annoyance with, an impatience with, Muslims. It is very common, when you are in Europe, to hear that Muslims do not want to adapt, that they remain aloof from western European themes, such as freedom and other humane values associated with a ‘Christianized Europe.'”
“Really? I never knew that.”
“It took me by surprise actually. But it does help understand the context in which a European newspaper could feel justified in publishing the controversial cartoons.”
“So would you have published them if you had that kind of opportunity?”
“I think it would be cool to talk to some Muslims on this. I realize that Islam forbids any visual depiction of Mohamed, its prophet. But I doubt that most Muslims would react in the extreme ways we are seeing.”
Continued next week
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
“I noticed,” Mitch responds.
“I mean, the Danish newspaper that first published the cartoons of Mohamed would have been wiser to not do that. But I can't believe the incredible furor over this. Riots in a number of places. Even some killings! It's all kind of scary to me. Have you been online lately checking out the recent news on this?”
“I read about the Sarawak Tribune.”
“What's that?”
“It's a newspaper in Malaysia. It published a cartoon of Mohamed last week, and what are called ‘Muslim fundamentalists' responded by holding a protest outside the Danish embassy there.”
“That's all you read about this? Did you see the news reports about protests and riots in Syria? Danish Embassies have been burned. What about the French newspaper that evacuated its staff because someone threatened to blow up their offices? Anyway, what do you think? Would you defend freedom of speech and the publishing of the cartoons? Apparently, one of them depicts Mohamed with a bomb in his turban.”
“It's a tough issue. I think freedom of the press is very important. But in every society, there seem to be some things you don't say publicly, in the press. In western countries, for example, it would be deeply offensive, and in many countries it is illegal, to say that the holocaust of the Jewish people never happened. It is considered a hate crime.”
“So you think that it is ok to say the that holocaust did not happen and that cartoons that scandalize Muslims should be publicly distributed?”
“I think it is bizarre and false, as well as offensive, to claim that the holocaust never happened. What I'm less sure about is if criminalizing the public spreading of the theories of holocaust deniers is the best thing to do. But this is not something I know a lot about. On the publication of the anti-Islamic cartoons, I would say as others such as you have, that this was not the wisest act that the planet will see this decade.”
Mitch continues. “One thing I find interesting is that the cartoons were first published in Europe. I was in Europe this past summer. And I found that there is a growing annoyance with, an impatience with, Muslims. It is very common, when you are in Europe, to hear that Muslims do not want to adapt, that they remain aloof from western European themes, such as freedom and other humane values associated with a ‘Christianized Europe.'”
“Really? I never knew that.”
“It took me by surprise actually. But it does help understand the context in which a European newspaper could feel justified in publishing the controversial cartoons.”
“So would you have published them if you had that kind of opportunity?”
“I think it would be cool to talk to some Muslims on this. I realize that Islam forbids any visual depiction of Mohamed, its prophet. But I doubt that most Muslims would react in the extreme ways we are seeing.”
Continued next week
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
