The West and Freedom of Speech.
Here’s a question, is freedom of speech limitless in the Western world? is it really sacred? or is it just limitless when it comes to the defamation of Islam?
First I think we can all agree that Freedom of speech is not limitless, there are some general restrictions on freedom of speech that are accepted everywhere, as explained in this Wikipedia article, some of these practices that do not fall under freedom of speech are:
- Defamation (slander and libel).
- Obscenity.
- Profanity.
- Hate speech that is defamatory or causes incitement to violence.
and many others.
Is freedom of speech in the west really limitless? If so, why is Antisemitism a forbidden subject and is considered a crime punishable by law in many western countries? why is it that denying or even questioning the The Holocaust can land you in jail?
Now, let us imagine a scenario where a newspaper or several newspapers in a Muslim country have published offensive cartoons about Jesus (PBUH), would the west really be so open minded and cool about it? I think you can imagine what would the consequences would be for that poor country. Not that any institution in an Arab or Muslim country would every do it, simply because as Muslims they understand the concept of respect for other religions.
Attacking somebody’s religion and religious figures isn’t freedom of speech, its an act of calculated hate. which is unacceptable by any measure.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:32 am
i suppose that freedom of speech is like everything else it is down to respect here in the algarve golf holiday industry we treat everybody the same even when we do faro airport transfers nobody is treated any other way but with respect
March 10th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Interesting topic. I have to say that the freedom of speech was MUCH more sacred in the US before the current American administration. And remember that freedom of speech doesn’t protect the way people look at you and think about you. In the US, you are free to promote an anti-semitic agenda (both anti-Jew and anti-Arab as both are semitic people). However, that doesn’t mean it won’t impact your business, etc.
And, I’m with Kinzi. Christians and Christian symbols are everywhere, especially the less popular, less-understood groups. In the US, you are free to attack anyone’s religion and religious figures. Sadly many small-minded bigoted people do. But, the reality is that small-minded, bigoted people are everywhere. They exist in every country and in every religious group. Unfortunately, people with this much hate bottled up fail to get that while attacking someone’s religion may be legal, it is also in extremely poor taste. Manners are falling by the wayside around the world, and it is a much uglier world as a result…
March 10th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Bakkouz, the West’s own media slanders Christianity and Christians as backward, self-righteous moralists every day. There are governmentally funded art exhibitions that make a perversion of our most sacred symbols. We use free speech to fight back.
Muslims have diverted the attention from us a bit lately. There is enough wild stuff being done by extremists that the Western media doesn’t even have to embellish it to make Muslims look bad.
I myself learned on my blog that to repeat the sin of a Muslim is to be guilty of doing it myself, and that to speak of historical Christian doctrine is an insult and offense to Muslims. That will squash any glimpse of freedom of speech long before slander can get started.
March 9th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
The West has NEVER claimed to have limitless freedom of speech. And I think you overestimate how offended the West would be should a country insult Jesus; in some western countries the majority are atheists, and by and large religion just doesn’t play that large of a roll in people’s lives.
Just my two cents.
March 9th, 2008 at 10:46 am
well said Bakkouz.. i hope everyone understand it like you.