non-cartoon violence
The uproar over the Muslim cartoons- is it deserved?
I’ve been thinking about this for a few days now, and I’ve come to several conclusions.
–First, I think it’s fine that Muslims are upset. How many times have Catholics been offended by something in the press, media, print or photo, such as the movie Dogma or the TV show Priest or numerous other items? Far too often, if you ask me. So it’s perfectly understandable that they’re upset.
–The different is Catholics don’t go out rioting and killing people and chanting “death to France” (or whatever) when we’re offended. We don’t call for uprisings and there are no riots in the streets. There are peaceful way to protest–don’t buy the paper, boycott the advertisers, whatever. Killing people and raiding embassies probably isn’t the best way to get across your message.
–Some have said that free speech isn’t really free- that it only goes so far and shouldn’t offend people’s religion. Ehhhh. I tend to disagree. Yes, free speech can lead to abhorrent things–the KKK, pornography, etc. And there are limits on free speech (see Holmes’ “fire in a theater” opinion). But we cannot really set too many limits on free speech else it is not free. Something always offends someone–it’s the way of the beast. And tactful cartoonists and writers will take certain cultural sensibilities into acocunt. But we can’t limit the press to what ‘might’ offend people, or what’s the point of a free society?
Those are my thoughts…feel free to add your own….
