With the Middle East currently embroiled over the clips from the film Innocence of Muslims, I thought this would be a great time to discuss a number of issues regarding free speech and government and societal responses.
1. Should the Obama administration have asked YouTube to “review” the video? And should Gen. Martin Dempsey have called Terry Jones and asked him to withdraw his support for the film?
No. Though I understand their reasoning for doing so. As a US soldier and some who has deployed to two predominantly Muslim nations, and has been in harms way, I know that the US leadership is concerned about the loss of both American military and civilian lives but, there is a greater issue than the loss of life: the loss of free speech. When the government starts asking people to refrain from expression for fear of violent riots and mobs, we began kowtowing to the demands of extremist. By the White House and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff trying to limit (even if just in a persuasive manner) the free speech of American citizens, we’ve shown extremists that the American government and people can be intimidated.
2. Should free speech include words and actions that intentionally offend others?
Absolutely. Think of all the things that offended different groups, cultures, races, ethnicities and religions, just to name a few. If the government tried to regulate, or get involved every time one of these groups was offended, our free speech would greatly diminish. As Americans, we have every right to the free exchange of ideas, even when they are sordid. Whether it’s burning the Koran or portraying a religious leader in a negative light, that is our right.
How we as individuals and a society react is entirely up to us. Better to have the opportunity to react to offense, than to have the government try and suppress our 1st Amendment rights, for fear of how we will react.
Furthermore, society on its own will decide what words and actions are appropriate for use in the public sphere. We call it political correctness. Just think of the words that you can and cannot say for fear of being labeled a bigot, racist or insensitive. Society has take offense to certain phrases, words and actions and has, by and large, discouraged their use, often by criticizing and ostracizing those who go against the societal norms of limited free speech.
3. Does our own (individual, societal and the US government) hypocrisy about offending different groups encourage this kind of behavior?
The remarks I’ve read on threads and on comment boards, from numerous media outlets, suggest that most people agree that the film in question is “insulting,” “derogatory,” or “offensive,” for it’s portrayal of Islam, and have condemned the film maker, while even if at the same time supporting his freedom of expression. But do we discourage and condemn all insensitive behavior as it relates to religion, or just the ones that are catalyst to violence?
Take for example the Broadway hit, The Book of Mormon; winner of 9 Tony Awards. Has any politician, government official, or mainstream media personnel come out to strongly condemn the show? Or has society rewarded something that’s offensive to a small segment of the population? How would Americans respond to offending Mormons if small fringe groups started murdering the actors and blowing up the audiences as they sat in the theaters? Would local mayors and governors say that The Book of Mormon is “disgusting and reprehensible” as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said of the Innocence of Muslims? Or, would they simply denounce the acts, without trying to persuade people from offending Mormons?
By surrendering freedom of speech and expression to angry mobs, terrorist or misguided individuals, who might be considered on fringe, are we only encouraging others to come forth? When such groups see that expressing opinions on certain issues is forbidden, for fear of reprisal, are others not encouraged to take the same actions to suppress criticism, slander, offense and to the causes, beliefs or traditions they hold dear and sacred?
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