Im really perplexed reading the dichotomy of opinions about the tragic Charlie Hebdo shooting in the English speaking media. Apparently some people apparently think that you cant support the freedom of speech while remaining angered by acts of Islamophobia and while others believe that we must curb our rights toward free speech out of a PC fear offending other cultures. I think both of these sides are bullshit. I see no contradiction in supporting free speech to criticize any ideology, in this case Islam, and yet remaining opposed to unreasonable discrimination and prejudice against Islam. The freedom of expression doesnt mean you have to agree about what people are saying, but you are required to defend their ability to criticizes. More over, people shouldnt have to die or feel physically threatened because they dare criticize a religion, a culture or a political view. Yet every criticism that we make against any worldview must be grounded in reason rather than pent up emotion or nationalistic and ethnic fervor. Criticism without any rationale is a milder form of bigotry. We are completely in our right, if not our duty, to criticize these Jhaidist thugs and their pernicious ideology of Radical Islamism which is poisoning the Western and Islamic world equally. But we cant resort to shoveling the blame unto the majority of peaceful Muslims who are as disgusted by these attacks as we are.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 21:44:48 +0000
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