Freedom of Expression

Muslim Expression:  Three Examples

Pamela Geller has her fame now.  Thank God and one brave Garland policeman that the only casualties were two jihadis.

Un-Civil Rights

People I like and respect are comparing Geller's recent event to the 'provocations' of civil rights marchers in the 60's, but the comparison is inapt. 

Back in the 60's, black people marched demanding government grant them the same God-given rights enjoyed by their white fellow citizens.

Also, the civil rights marchers did not stick a finger in the eye of those they strove to convince. Yes, they disturbed many segments of white America, how could they not?  But they were not mocking and defaming. They instead appealed to shared religious and cultural values to win over the hearts and consciences of those who were oppressing them.  These are important and fundamental differences.

Finally, had this event been organized and attended exclusively by people from Muslim societies, we would indeed have a new civil rights movement that we could all cheer.  Jews and Christians insulting Muslims does not rise to that level.

Geller as Rosa Parks?  

Yes, people are actually making that comparison.  Other overheated rhetoricians have compared her to a girl who almost got murdered just trying to go to school, or religious minorities struggling to survive and worship without being raped or killed in very a hostile part of the world, and even to victims of terrorist attacks. 

Geller is more like fellow 1st Amendment provocateur Larry Flynt...

Let's put aside Geller's fame-at-any-cost look-at-me-ism for a minute and assume the people who attended the event were sincere.  What is their goal?

Is it to inflame people by throwing our First Amendment rights in their faces like a frying pan full of hot bacon grease?  If so, mission accomplished!

However, America is better than that.  We are a people who can simultaneously grasp every fitness and dietary craze while also becoming more obese and unhealthy, and then make it all OK with cutting-edge surgery and innovative drugs.

Surely we can find a more noble way to defend our eroding foundational freedoms.

Could we at least set our sights a little higher than trying to outdo rabidly atheistic Frenchmen?


Related:
AOW's Post
FreeThinke's Post

Freedom of Speech and of the Press

These are foundational principles upon which this great nation was founded.  It is not mainstream speech that needs protection, saying what everyone else is saying, doing what everyone else is doing, and believing what everyone else is believing is fairly safe, it is only the speech of the outliers, the obnoxious, those swimming against the stream that require the protections offered by the first amendment.

Freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, these are the things that put the David Dukes and Westboro Baptist Churches of our world on your evening news.  The man in funny shoes, hat, and a dress (Pope Francis) says "You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others, You cannot make fun of the faith of others."  That's funny, considering his primary job is to preach the gospel of a man that was provocative and insulting to the powers that be, It's not readily documented but I'm pretty sure he made fun of the Pharisees too.  Under the rules outlined by the Pope I'm sure Jesus would have been jailed for "hate speech", he certainly would have been jailed today for vandalizing the money-lenders in the temple.  I certainly found it surprising that the #1 disciple of Jesus today would (half-jokingly) punch you for insulting his mother, but he's Latin American so culturally I suppose we need to forgive him for his machismo.

But this isn't a post about religion, it's a poach about speech.  I wonder if those of you willing to restrict the speech of those offending Islam would be willing to toss Arne Niklas Jansson and the members of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti monster in jail?

Fair Use: (c) Arne Niklas Jansson

Are they not making fun of someone's religion?

The Creation of Adam: Michelangelo

I made fun of the Pope above, should I be jailed? My speech restricted?  Is it a hate crime?  I certainly don't hate the Pope or the Catholic Church. Now my intent is certainly different from Charlie Hebdo, I poke my fun good-naturedly, their intent is to ridicule, to expose as farcical not only Islam but the aforementioned Catholic Church, and all religion. Many Christians found this offensive, to the point of vandalism and death threats.

Piss Christ: Andres Serrano

Indeed many Christians found this next film offensive and it was banned in Ireland, Norway, and by several UK town councils. 

What is offensive is quite relative, I find none of the works displayed here offensive, I'm sure some of you will find some, or all of them offensive. Are you willing to ban them? 

There is a fine line between Freedom of Speech and oppression.

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