Basstrap
ONE love, blood, life
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2000
- Messages
- 10,726
So, I'm sure you're all aware of the recent goings-on in Afghanistan in response to the burning of the Koran by Pastor Terry Jones.
To sum up, Jones staged a mock trial where the Koran was found guilty of murder and rape and sentenced to incineration. In response protests erupted in Kandahar, and innocents were killed.
I've read enough about Terry Jones to know he is a simple minded and thoroughly ignorant man. It is amazing to me that such a figure can stir up the kinds of protests we've seen half-way across the world. I mean, he is not someone to be taken seriously. But as foolish as Jones is, the reaction in Afghanistan has been disproportionate to put it mildly.
The UN's chief envoy to Afghanistan has this to say:
""I don't think we should be blaming any Afghan, We should be blaming the person who produced the news - the one who burned the Koran. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from offending culture, religion, traditions."
There is a lot wrong with this statement. The actions of this small-minded pastor were deplorable, to be sure, but it is Afghans who bear the responsibility for these murders. What is more, anyone who agrees with the envoy - that the blame rests solely on Jones - is a part of the problem. Without condemnation from within, and without honest reflection, this sort of heinous aggression is encouraged.
Now, his definition of free speech is another thing, and probably indicates a significant and permanent(?) divide between the West and the Middle-East. Whatever the form of free speech born from the Arab Spring, I think it is safe to say that there will always be limitations with respect to religious mockery.
Given this, I think the onus falls on us to practice respect, or at least refrain from commenting as a general rule. But, it also falls upon the Muslim world* to try and understand that when one of us dissents from the general rule, the whole of us are not thereby implicated; nor should these dissenters be expected to be made an example of or prosecuted in any way by our governments.
Thoughts?
*I say "Muslim world" here loosely, knowing that they are not a homogeneous group.
To sum up, Jones staged a mock trial where the Koran was found guilty of murder and rape and sentenced to incineration. In response protests erupted in Kandahar, and innocents were killed.
I've read enough about Terry Jones to know he is a simple minded and thoroughly ignorant man. It is amazing to me that such a figure can stir up the kinds of protests we've seen half-way across the world. I mean, he is not someone to be taken seriously. But as foolish as Jones is, the reaction in Afghanistan has been disproportionate to put it mildly.
The UN's chief envoy to Afghanistan has this to say:
""I don't think we should be blaming any Afghan, We should be blaming the person who produced the news - the one who burned the Koran. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from offending culture, religion, traditions."
There is a lot wrong with this statement. The actions of this small-minded pastor were deplorable, to be sure, but it is Afghans who bear the responsibility for these murders. What is more, anyone who agrees with the envoy - that the blame rests solely on Jones - is a part of the problem. Without condemnation from within, and without honest reflection, this sort of heinous aggression is encouraged.
Now, his definition of free speech is another thing, and probably indicates a significant and permanent(?) divide between the West and the Middle-East. Whatever the form of free speech born from the Arab Spring, I think it is safe to say that there will always be limitations with respect to religious mockery.
Given this, I think the onus falls on us to practice respect, or at least refrain from commenting as a general rule. But, it also falls upon the Muslim world* to try and understand that when one of us dissents from the general rule, the whole of us are not thereby implicated; nor should these dissenters be expected to be made an example of or prosecuted in any way by our governments.
Thoughts?
*I say "Muslim world" here loosely, knowing that they are not a homogeneous group.