Now, you’d think that from
the aftermath of the whole Danish cartoon hoo-haa in 2005, the “haters” would
have realised that if you poke someone with a stick long enough,
patience wears thin. Only, the poking-of-the-stick-thing went from cartoons to
a full blown feature film. Cripes. So much for learning a lesson from the last
time, huh? …the film led to an even more explosive response than last (check it out) and again it fell under the category of that old favourite; freedom of speech. Google refused to remove the Youtube video because it was within their guidelines. The whole expression and free speech spiel. I mean all that’s well and good but since when did free speech become hate speech? Surely there ought to be some sort of criteria for what it encompasses? Where is the line between free expression and blatant hate-mongering drawn?
One thing this film did show however, in a very crass and un-congratulatory (is that even a word?) way, was the power of film; it was a dark and sinister demonstration of just how powerful this form of media can be. Inflammatory as it may be, this may just be this years most talked about film, although I doubt it will be winning any Oscars.
So, what exactly is freedom of speech these days? Is it as free as it seems? Why is it that only anti-Islamic things seem to be protected by it? Is there some sort of conspiracy going on? Am I getting increasingly paranoid? Have I asked too many questions..?
Interesting things to ponder. Also, if you want to explore the relationship between religion and freedom of speech a little more, check this out.
Let me know what you think.
Over & out.
Yes, definitely way too many questions lol :p
ReplyDeleteNo, great blog. It is true that people overreact, but also true that if your keep provoking people, they are likely to.
I Don't think freedom of speech IS as free as it seems, because I think at times people pick and choose what they will allow as socially abhorrent and what they consider just exercising of freedom of speech, if that makes sense.
Hi Jo, thanks for the comment
DeletePerhaps I did get a little carried away there.
Interesting reflection.. Do you mean people in general or the people at the top who regulate the internet? Either way, I guess there is defo picking and choosing going on, hence the bias in freedom of speech. Judging by the way things are going, what’s your outlook for the future of ‘freedom’ of speech?
Personally, I think it will all just get a lot worse, but then again I have been told I’m a bit too much of a pessimist >_<
I mean both. The people at the top who regulate not only the internet but all media (social, television, magazine) in some way or another gradually do influence people in general. My outlook for the future of freedom of speech... hmm...
DeleteI'm probably as much of a pessimist as you because I see it as just as bleak. In principle its fair enough, but as to reality, its a whole 'nother thing. With regards to religion anyway- I think in terms of race it may either stay the same or improve but as respect for religion diminishes, the attitude will get worse, particularly for the ones more vulnerable to media attention. *cough cough*
When you talk about poking with a stick, an image of a caged animal comes to mind. But animals do not have the ability to reason and use their intellect. Thus anything they do would be from their 'animal' instincts.
ReplyDeleteHowever what we are talking about here are rational human beings, who have the ability to reason and decide what to do.Therefore, any cartoon/video however 'offensive' does not give human beings the right to act like animals. To throw aside their reasoning and become entirely lowly.
Hi Tau.
ReplyDeleteNice observation; some of the responses were indeed bordering on 'animalistic'.. What sort of responses do you think could have reflected reason and general humanity more?
Thanks for the comment!