Recently the United Nations adopted a non-binding resolution that urges it’s members to “effectively combat defamation of all religions and incitement to religious hatred, against Islam and Muslims in particular.”
You have got to be kidding me! What is the UN doing? Why are they taking such steps backwards toward the dark ages of ignorance and intolerance?
It is not the fact that this resolution specifically names Islam as the offended party (though that is an issue I will discuss). I actually do agree that in this post Sept. 11th world Islamic peoples are unfairly profiled and discriminated against. It is sad that such a dichotomy has been created between Muslims and non-Muslims and that we, as a world community, do not see the true enemy infiltrating all societies: violent fundamentalist perversion of all religions. Instead of realizing this as the problem we make blanket generalizations and treat entire countries and races as sworn enemies.
So what does the UN do to combat this problem? They fight intolerance with more intolerance. Granted the resolution was pushed through by the OIC (Organization of the Islamic Conference) and does not represent the view all countries associated with the UN. In fact most all Western European and North American countries were opposed to the resolution. But the fact that such a blatant disregard for free speech could find the worldwide support to get passed through the UN is scary.
There are several fundamental problems with this resolution. First off, how do you define defamation? Defamation of character in the US applies to libel and slander against an individual but as Kevin “Seamus” Hasson, founder and president of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, is quoted by Fox News as saying, “ideas can’t be defamed. Ideas don’t have rights, people have rights.”
Second why is only Islam named in the resolution? The resolution is being pushed forward by countries were open hatred and defamation of western governments and peoples is violently expressed in the streets. That is worse than irony.
People should be allowed to freely criticize thoughts and beliefs they disagree with, without fear of reprisals. The free and open exchange of ideas is crucial to a forward progressing society. The idea of homogeneity of thought and belief was something that Adolf Hitler advocated in Mein Kampf. We have seen this sort of silencing of critics in nearly every tyrannical totalitarian regime in history. All this resolution is, is a step in that direction.
For some this stroy is relatively old news, but for many this may be the first time you are hearing about it. National media has been somewhat silent on this topic and I believe it needs more attention so that proper outrage can be expressed. I heard Lou Dobbs talking about the issue a while back, and when I searched the topic on the web most of the articles were not from major news outlets (the Washington Times had a column about it, and I found one Fox News story). We have to wake up and make sure our government does not give in to international pressure to restrict our or anyone's freedom of expression.
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2 comments:
Great job, Jacob! I think the biggest problem we seem to have these days (politically) is the problem of definitions. As with "defamation", people don't define what they mean and how (practically) that will effect people.
For example, the over-used word "change"! Our current president ran on a platform promise of bringing change to the American people and was accepted with uproarious applause. Funny thing is, in theory, he could bring the worst changes that this country has ever seen (and I'm not saying he will) and yet would still be keeping his campaign promise.
Also, the freedom of speech and the open disapproval and exchange of ideas is part of what makes a free society possible. And as Christians we are called to do such. "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"- II Corinthians 10:5.
Notice is says "thoughts" not people.
Wow, this was really well-written. I agree that it is completely ironic that a nation that contains people groups/religions that have made such vehement verbal attacks on the United States are making sure they aren't treated the same way.
They can dish it out, but can't take it.
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