Freedom of speech includes the freedom to offend. If depicting the prophet Mohammed were likely to cause Muslims to be killed, there would be a legitimate argument that the cartoons constitute incitement. This is not the case. The fact that the entire Umma agrees that pictures of the prophet are blasphemous emboldens violent ideologues and offers moral cover for acts of mass murder. The very concept of blasphemy is an insult to free people and their free speech. Every time I face off against people who oppose progress towards the equal citizenship of myself and every other LGBTI person in this country, I am offended by what they say. I do not however, seek to silence them, or demand that that their right to free speech be curtailed. The position that images of the prophet constitute a crime must be challenged, and nobody should claim that they have the right not to be offended.
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 01:02:29 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015