Fear and Loathing in Canada
The CBC recently posted an article (http://www.cbc.ca/news/about/burman/20060206.html) detailing the reasons why they had not published the controversial cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammed that have ignited such passionate arguments across the globe. Tony Burman opens the article with a question:
"What if those cartoons that triggered convulsions in Europe and the Middle East last week had nothing to do with Islam?"
He then adds:
"What if those cartoons had instead focused on Christianity? And on Jesus Christ or the Virgin Mary engaged in unspeakably offensive acts?"
He also asks:
"Would angry protesters - Christians not Muslims - have been passionate about different things? Not the historic “clash of civilizations,” perhaps, but maybe the secular drumbeat of “denigrating religion”?"
This article really summed up what so much of this issue is about for me. Honestly, if these had been cartoons showing Jesus or the Virgin Mary, I believe CBC and most other Canadian news outlets would have published them. The reason is fairly obvious, and is not meant to be discriminatory. The reason is fear. Christians get offended all the time in our society - perhaps it goes a bit too far sometimes, but rarely do we see violent protests or death threats against editors. The CBC would have happily posted cartoons depicting Christian figures in offensive situations, knowing that the worst they would endure would be upset letters to the editor.
I do not mean to say at all that the majority of Muslims overreacted to the cartoons in question. It is still a minority that has taken this issue too far. However, my opinion stands - it is the fear of this minority that has muzzled Canadian media, rather than any belief in the value of not offending readers.
Freedom of speech is only free if it includes the freedom to say things other people don't like. Of course, we have anti-hate legislation in Canada, but it comes into play very rarely. If this one idea is out of bounds while others are not, how can we call ourselves free? Some of the cartoons were worse than others, and few were genuinely funny, but as a secular liberal society, we must have the freedom to criticize and question beliefs.
If the cartoons did indeed focus on Christian figures, I would defend their publication still! If we lack the courage to use our freedom of speech then it exists for nothing. I refuse to be bullied by fundamentalists of any religion into abiding by their laws. No doubt many disagree with me, and that's fine. That is a benefit of living in a secular, liberal democratic society - people enjoy the ability to disagree with each other.