Serious Ponderings, Not So Serious Meme
Feb. 7th, 2006 02:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
misscamMore on Even, the Norwegian who addressed the crowds in Syria
I've been thinking about this cartoon row, trying to come to a conclusion in my muddled brain. I've been going a bit back and forth on it, I must admit, looking at the different angles, trying not to get bogged down by the outrage I feel at my country being targetted, and some fear going with it. And it seems to be to be several issues all joined together, which might be part of the reason I feel conflicted.
I am a citizen of Norway, of the West, and I've grown up thinking freedom of speech essential. It is part of the society I value. However, freedom of speech is not unconditional. There is always some things you cannot say without reprecusions. Incitement of hatred is not allowed in my country. In Germany, you cannot deny the holocaust. There are limitations, because words have power, and certain words can hurt society.
On the other hand - silence can also hurt society. Stifle speech too much and a country might be lead astray. It has happened in the past. It will surely happen again. So, you attempt a very delicate balance, knowing that tehre will be falls and bruises along the way.
That's one issue.
Then there's another. Christianity gets no free pass in the Western press. It gets mocked and satirized. Should the playing field be level? I believe so, but I am an atheist, and to me, no religion is particulary more precious or particulary more evil. And various Arab media have printed cartoons depicting Jews or Christians that are at least as offensive as what was printed in the Danish paper. (One such I saw had a Jew portrayed much like in the Nazi propaganda, drinking the blood of killed children.) Should not respect go both ways?
Of course, there are elements within Western society interested in demonizing Islam, and there are elements within Islam interested in demonizing the West. Perhaps to distract for problems within own culture. This must be a wrapped gift to both. And after 9/11, there has undoubtedly been a certain branding of muslims. Should we therefore, in these troubled times, be a little more careful how the West deals with Islam?
And is this really about the cartoons? Or are they just an excuse - convinient and easy to rally behind when the issue is much deeper?
I don't know what to think all in all.
What I do know - what I believe - is that violence is not okay. Regardless of insult. And that there is at core here a certain misunderstanding. The protests against the cartoons have targetted the countries - Norway's embassy, several of Denmark's embassies - but the cartoons were not the expressions of either government. But because in many of the countries where these protests have been, the media is tightly controlled, the governments have been branded the culprits. And it seems to be that to combat the demon images on both sides, we need to talk to each other. We need, perhaps, more Evens.
And maybe even Cam's muddled mind will find some conclusion in the end.
Now, enough of such complicated things.
Found via![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
wiccagirl24 - Daleks at MySpace!
Snow madness in Norway - again
Veronica Mars wank
Mpreg in Who fandom? Oi.
Have a bunch of new people on my flist, so thought I'd ressurct an old, old meme. Ask me four questions, any questions. I will answer them to the best of my ability. Then you may post this in your LJ and see what I would ask you.
I've been thinking about this cartoon row, trying to come to a conclusion in my muddled brain. I've been going a bit back and forth on it, I must admit, looking at the different angles, trying not to get bogged down by the outrage I feel at my country being targetted, and some fear going with it. And it seems to be to be several issues all joined together, which might be part of the reason I feel conflicted.
I am a citizen of Norway, of the West, and I've grown up thinking freedom of speech essential. It is part of the society I value. However, freedom of speech is not unconditional. There is always some things you cannot say without reprecusions. Incitement of hatred is not allowed in my country. In Germany, you cannot deny the holocaust. There are limitations, because words have power, and certain words can hurt society.
On the other hand - silence can also hurt society. Stifle speech too much and a country might be lead astray. It has happened in the past. It will surely happen again. So, you attempt a very delicate balance, knowing that tehre will be falls and bruises along the way.
That's one issue.
Then there's another. Christianity gets no free pass in the Western press. It gets mocked and satirized. Should the playing field be level? I believe so, but I am an atheist, and to me, no religion is particulary more precious or particulary more evil. And various Arab media have printed cartoons depicting Jews or Christians that are at least as offensive as what was printed in the Danish paper. (One such I saw had a Jew portrayed much like in the Nazi propaganda, drinking the blood of killed children.) Should not respect go both ways?
Of course, there are elements within Western society interested in demonizing Islam, and there are elements within Islam interested in demonizing the West. Perhaps to distract for problems within own culture. This must be a wrapped gift to both. And after 9/11, there has undoubtedly been a certain branding of muslims. Should we therefore, in these troubled times, be a little more careful how the West deals with Islam?
And is this really about the cartoons? Or are they just an excuse - convinient and easy to rally behind when the issue is much deeper?
I don't know what to think all in all.
What I do know - what I believe - is that violence is not okay. Regardless of insult. And that there is at core here a certain misunderstanding. The protests against the cartoons have targetted the countries - Norway's embassy, several of Denmark's embassies - but the cartoons were not the expressions of either government. But because in many of the countries where these protests have been, the media is tightly controlled, the governments have been branded the culprits. And it seems to be that to combat the demon images on both sides, we need to talk to each other. We need, perhaps, more Evens.
And maybe even Cam's muddled mind will find some conclusion in the end.
Now, enough of such complicated things.
Found via
wiccagirl24 - Daleks at MySpace!Snow madness in Norway - again
Veronica Mars wank
Mpreg in Who fandom? Oi.
Have a bunch of new people on my flist, so thought I'd ressurct an old, old meme. Ask me four questions, any questions. I will answer them to the best of my ability. Then you may post this in your LJ and see what I would ask you.
