Media Self Censorship
February 11th, 2008, in News, by PatungPresident Yudhoyono asks the media to not report inappropriate news stories.
In a speech marking National Press Day on 9th February President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asked journalists and media outlets to exercise self-censorship, given that the time of government control over the press is over.
He told about 500 journalists and media people present: [1]
I really want to see “self censoring” put into practice. I have hope that the Press Board, senior journalists and reporters, and leaders of journalists’ associations will employ the principle of determining what is appropriate news and what is not.
Freedom of the press was much valued in Indonesia now, he said, and the country would not go back to the bad old days of active state interference in the media, but freedom had limits:
We are for freedom of the press but [in a way that is] useful, with good character, and responsible.
He mentioned [2] the example of the Danish newspaper “Jyllands-Posten”, which published cartoons of the Muslim prophet Muhammad in September 2005, and which were also featured by Indonesian newspaper Rakyat Merdeka, on its website. The newspaper’s editor, Teguh Santosa, was later prosecuted.
We should learn a lesson from the case.
Other people’s rights, freedoms and sensibilities had to be respected, he said, especially when religion was involved:
Religion is very sensitive because it’s bound up with beliefs and emotions. Other people’s religious beliefs may appear irrational to us but we have to respect them.
The President also said the media should be careful in reporting violent incidents such as demonstrations, should use well-formed language, be idealistic, help in the development of the nation, be uplifting, truthful, and fair and balanced.
Tags: Beliefs, Cartoons, Censorship, Demonstrations, Demonstrators, Freedom, Freedom Of The Press, Freedoms, Indonesians, Journalists, Language, Media, Media Outlets, Muhammad, Muhammad Cartoons, Muslim, Muslims, Newspapers, Prophet, Prosecution, Religion, Religions, Religious, Religious Beliefs, SBY, State Interference, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Teguh Santosa, Violent Incidents, Websites
46 Comments on “Media Self Censorship”
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Lairedion Says:
February 11th, 2008 at 3:03 amOther people’s rights, freedoms and sensibilities had to be respected, he said, especially when religion was involved:
Religion is very sensitive because it’s bound up with beliefs and emotions. Other people’s religious beliefs may appear irrational to us but we have to respect them.
Some true words Mr. President. But let’s look at yourself first. The government, authorities, politicians and senile wacko’s like the MUI should exercise some self-censorship looking at all stupidities and insensible statements uttered from their mouths. Furthermore it’s about time the government and authorities start to enforce the law by protecting the rights, freedoms and sensibilities you mention here, especially those from minority groups. If that will happen journalists and media are more than willing to bring “appropriate” news. Until then the media have the moral duty to stay critical of politics and events and yes, sometimes the truth can be “inappropriate” and hard to swallow.
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Janma Says:
February 11th, 2008 at 10:01 amshould use well-formed language, be idealistic, help in the development of the nation, be uplifting, truthful, and fair and balanced.
that’s an oxymoron…. Idealistic and Truthful? Is it possible, or is that just plain idealistic? LOL
Like Sutiyoso saying they were going to have street racing (formula 1) in jakarta and then jakarta could be like Monarco…… That is Idealistic….. but truthful? What would that ideal be like in truth?
Or like Bakrie saying that ‘rakyat’ need higher standards of living….. yes that would be ideal, but the truth is that he is burying thousands in hot mud.
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Jamis Says:
February 11th, 2008 at 12:45 pm“people’s religious beliefs may appear irrational to us but we have to respect them”
As an agnostic, yes I agree with the first part of this, however….I am born free. I am born with the inalienable right to openly criticize and express my views. Sometimes my beliefs may offend you, but it is no more than yours may offend me.
I will respect and fight for your right to believe in any religion you want, but I also DEMAND the right to not believe in any and express myself openly. -
Janma Says:
February 11th, 2008 at 12:48 pmI may not agree with what you say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it.
-Voltaire.I just made a tee shirt that says, “Dear God, Don’t worry, I don’t believe everything everyone says about you…”
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Aluang Anak Bayang Says:
February 11th, 2008 at 1:56 pmRe
I just made a tee shirt that says, “Dear God, Don’t worry, I don’t believe everything everyone says about you”¦”
Which God you refering to: Allah Subhana Wata’ alla or Jehovah?
Amin.
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colson Says:
February 11th, 2008 at 3:48 pmIs this a presidential definition of modern journalism: freedom of press with built-in censorship?
SBY is not only a cunning president of a major country, but he must be a skilled sick joker as well.
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WP Says:
February 11th, 2008 at 4:21 pmCome on folk, he simply called for responsible journalism. That’s a very reasonable request.
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dewaratugedeanom Says:
February 11th, 2008 at 5:37 pmWe are for freedom of the press but [in a way that is] useful, with good character, and responsible.
How nice it was during Orba, wasn’t it Mr. President? Everybody smiled and shut up.
Religion is very sensitive because it’s bound up with beliefs and emotions. Other people’s religious beliefs may appear irrational to us but we have to respect them.
Somebody concocts a fairy-tale, then calls it a religion and then you expect me to respect it ???
Just give me one good reason.Respect
“¢ People’s lives: yes, within reason
“¢ People’s property: yes, within reason
“¢ People’s right to a decent living: yes, unconditionally
“¢ People’s ideologies: what for? -
Agusto Says:
February 11th, 2008 at 5:56 pm“Religion is very sensitive because it’s bound up with beliefs and emotions. Other people’s religious beliefs may appear irrational to us but we have to respect them.”
What this guy is trying to say is: Kaffir should respect sharia, jihad and be ready to be dhimmitude.
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Dragonwall Says:
February 11th, 2008 at 11:59 pmUsually in the media whether in Indonesia or worldwide, they are all the same
Smoke cloud.
They don’t really mean what they have in their heart but just to please the public. Plain deceit, like Bakrie, Jusuf Kalla, Habibie, Yusril, Wiranto and many of those liken to greedy moron that were trying to get the max for their efforts in politics.
I suppose SBY had too many people tying his hands that the media does not submit to those who are rich or powerful in publishing news to distort the public and giving the government a hard time.
If it is the truth then they should not hide the fact, but the problems is that who will be protecting these media people?
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Janma Says:
February 12th, 2008 at 10:53 amPeople’s ideologies: what for?
ummm….. so that they will respect ours maybe?
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Oigal Says:
February 12th, 2008 at 12:37 pmSomebody concocts a fairy-tale, then calls it a religion and then you expect me to respect it ???
Just wondering would you be referring to Christianity and Islam there?
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Janma Says:
February 12th, 2008 at 1:49 pmYeah Pak Dewa…. don’t you believe in the Balinese fairy tale? what if no one respected that fairy tale? Would probably not be here today.
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Odinius Says:
February 13th, 2008 at 7:27 amDear Indonesian Media,
Please do not write about anything controversial. If you do, you may lose your right to do so, which you will hopefully never exercise.
Signed,
Uncomfortable with Democracy
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February 13th, 2008 at 9:22 amJanma
Yeah Pak Dewa”¦. don’t you believe in the Balinese fairy tale? what if no one respected that fairy tale? Would probably not be here today.
I didn’t say that I don’t respect any fairy tale. I just refuse to be demanded or imposed to respect a fairy tale. Respect in the meaning that one isn’t allowed to criticize or to reject. And be assured that there are issues in the Balinese fairy tale that I strongly object too: manak salah a.o.
Oigal
Just wondering would you be referring to Christianity and Islam there?
Yes, I do.
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February 13th, 2008 at 3:34 pmAt least the Danish won’t let themselves intimidated. Here is some “inappropriate” news for you, SBY.
Cartoons controversy returns to Denmark - Today Danish newspapers Jyllands-Posten, Politiken and Berlingske Tidende have published the cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed again in their support for Kurt Westergaard, one of the creators of the cartoons. It was revealed that a group of two Tunisians and one Danish of Moroccan descent were planning an assasination on Westergaard.http://jp.dk/uknews/article1263133.ece
Well done, Danish newspapers. Don’t bow down to the terrorists. Freedom of speech!
@Janma
I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it. - Voltaire.
Actually it was Evelyn Beatrice Hall, a biographer of Voltaire, who said this. This was her illustration of Voltaire’s beliefs. But I’m fully supportive of this statement.
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February 14th, 2008 at 11:25 amLairedion
Well done, Danish newspapers. Don’t bow down to the terrorists. Freedom of speech!
These Danes are real Vikings. Hey ho”¦ hey ho”¦
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February 14th, 2008 at 1:00 pmDewa,
They are. And Danish women, together with the Swedish are hot, the best in the Bule world!!!
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Djoko Says:
February 14th, 2008 at 1:45 pmWell done, Danish newspapers. Don’t bow down to the terrorists. Freedom of speech!
There’s not really anyone worth supporting on either side of that argument. The Danish cartoons were about as tasteful as someone publishing a cartoon of a Jew with a hooked nose counting up dollar bills (see perhaps Sabili if you need examples), and as a result are hardly the best poster child for freedom of speech. On the other hand you don’t see Jews getting pissed off and turning over cars every time someone scribbles up a anti-semitic cartoon either.
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February 14th, 2008 at 3:58 pm@Djoko
The cartoon itself may be offensive. I agree with you one can easily disregard such cartoons, use your common sense and pay no attention to it.
But there’s more at stake here. Muslim extremists were plotting an assasination attempt against the cartoonist. How tasteful is that! From this point of view I agree with the Danish newspaper’s statement expressing freedom of press and speech, supporting Kurt Westergaard and not bowing down to extremism.
Denmark is a democratic, secular society where freedom of speech and press is held in high regard. Religion is a highly personal matter. You are free to practice Islam within the boundaries of Danish law. Muslims choose to live in Denmark themselves. If they don’t feel comfortable, nobody or nothing is stopping them from moving back to Turkey, Morocco or Tunisia. It’s a free choice.
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Janma Says:
February 15th, 2008 at 9:46 amActually it was Evelyn Beatrice Hall, a biographer of Voltaire, who said this. This was her illustration of Voltaire’s beliefs. But I’m fully supportive of this statement.
I know….. I just couldn’t remember the Hall… bit…. I knew it was beatrice, but then I ended up thinking, “You know, what I can’t remember her last name and I can’t be bothered looking it up, so I’ll just write Voltaire and no one will be the wiser…”
WRONG! LOL!
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February 15th, 2008 at 11:30 amDenmark is a democratic, secular society where freedom of speech and press is held in high regard. Religion is a highly personal matter. You are free to practice Islam within the boundaries of Danish law. Muslims choose to live in Denmark themselves. If they don’t feel comfortable, nobody or nothing is stopping them from moving back to Turkey, Morocco or Tunisia. It’s a free choice.
That’s not completely true. Muslims are treated much worse in Denmark than they are in neighboring Sweden or Norway. It wasn’t until after the cartoon crisis, for example, that the Danish government allowed Muslims to build any cemeteries. Cemetaries! Every multicountry poll shows Denmark to be one of the most racist in the EU and that its ethnic and religious minorities feel more aggrieved than in most other EU countries. Sure this is still a lot better than, say, the way Christians are treated in Saudi Arabia or Jews in Indonesia (what few there are of either), but it’s not exactly multicultural paradise either.
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February 15th, 2008 at 1:18 pm@Odinius
Every multicountry poll shows Denmark to be one of the most racist in the EU and that its ethnic and religious minorities feel more aggrieved than in most other EU countries.
That’s why I said this:
If they don’t feel comfortable, nobody or nothing is stopping them from moving back to Turkey, Morocco or Tunisia. It’s a free choice.
Why did Muslims choose to live in Denmark with the knowledge they were not allowed to have their own cemeteries and that Denmark is more racist than other EU countries? I guess they picked the wrong country then. They are 100% free to decide if they want to leave or to stay. It’s a free choice.
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February 15th, 2008 at 10:51 pmDoes that make it right, though? Can’t the oppressed anywhere “just leave?” Truth is, it’s neither that simple nor justifiable on those grounds.
First of all, things develop over time. I doubt many of the Muslims who came to Denmark in the 1960s faced anything remotely close to the situation there is today. Denmark only developed xenophobic politics in the 1990s. So most of the Muslims in Denmark were there before it became a relatively nasty place for them. By then they have family roots down, businesses and other responsibilities that keep them from leaving.
Second, if you happen to be a long-term Muslim resident–or better yet, a Muslim born in Denmark–and all of a sudden someone is stirring up sh*t against you because of your religious background, why, exactly should you leave? Because someone bullies you? Is it a “free country” only for the majority? If that’s the case, it’s not a very enlightened place by any yardstick, and your sunny description just doesn’t apply.
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February 16th, 2008 at 3:11 amOne have to ask themselves why Denmark became a relatively nasty place to live in for Muslims in the 90’s? And this is not limited to Denmark. You see it happen everywhere in Europe.
Salman Rushdie’s book. Khomeiny issued a fatwa. Screaming masses of Muslims demanding for Rushdie to be assasinated. 99% of these people didn’t even read the book but were just following hearsay. Since then everytime Islam or Muslims are criticized or offended we see fanatics screaming for murder, jihad and inciting violence.
Many people found the displaying of the cartoons not the most sensible thing to do because they were afraid what was going to happen and it happened. Worldwide violent protests by Muslims against Denmark, flag burning, you name it. And if it was not enough a plan by Muslim extremists to assasinate Kurt Westergaard, one of the cartoonists, was discovered. Good thing the Danish newspapers didn’t exercise self-censorship under the threat of murder and violence.
Here in Holland we once had a producer of pornographic movies who was operating under the name Shiva Movies. Pretty offensive to Hindus, not? Hindus indeed felt grieved but reacted mature and asked the producer politely if he could reconsider the name of his company. The producer agreed to change the name after discussing the matter with local Hindus. Common sense.
Can’t the oppressed anywhere “just leave?
This is an insult to people who are really oppressed, like the Black population of Darfur, the natives of the Americas or the Palestinians.
By then they have family roots down, businesses and other responsibilities that keep them from leaving.
On the other hand refusing to learn the language and adapt to the culture of the countries they live in and keeping their Turkish and Moroccan passports.
Dutch-born Moroccan football player Ibrahim Affelay (PSV) opted to play for the Netherlands. He is a pious Muslim and followed bulan Puasa while playing football on the highest level. In stead of being applauded by the Moroccan community he was branded as a traitor by his “brothers”.
The Turkish prime minister Erdogan visited Germany last week. He demanded Turkish speaking schools and universities to be established in Germany and was stating that assimilation is a crime against humanity. Assimilation is indeed not wanted but he should tell that the Kurds and Armenians in Turkey.
The murderer of Theo van Gogh is a Dutch-born Moroccan turned jihadist refusing to recognize Dutch law and society because it’s blasphemous and not valid and only willing to accept Sharia.
Moroccans and Turks celebrating and dancing in the streets after the 9-11 attacks.
No wonder people feel disturbed and develop xenophobic thoughts.
If you’re not fully committed to or be able to participate and contribute to the democratic systems, cultures and economies of Western countries and feeling curtailed in your religious beliefs why stay? If you are you’re more than welcome and can build your beautiful mosques and other places of worship to contribute to the cultural diverse landscape of Western countries.
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February 16th, 2008 at 4:36 amKeeping in mind that every individual is different from any other, why should law-abiding Muslims pay the price for the relative few who can’t fit in? In Sweden, you have the same immigrant demographics as in Denmark, but you don’t have the xenophobia. You also, as a result, have a happier, more integrated minority and, by extension, a more benign multiculturalism. Denmark has, for years, treated two minorities–its Muslims and its Greenlanders–with contempt. Anyone wonder why some of them get pissed off?
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February 16th, 2008 at 4:42 amThey are pissed off again as we speak.
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February 16th, 2008 at 5:15 amYeah but that’s a peaceful demonstration. Nothing wrong with that. It’s people expressing their right to be outraged. You can’t be in favor of free speech and not be in favor of that.
Encouraging ne’er-do-wells in unrelated countries to stage violent protests, that’s another story…
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February 16th, 2008 at 5:58 amYeah but that’s a peaceful demonstration. Nothing wrong with that. It’s people expressing their right to be outraged. You can’t be in favor of free speech and not be in favor of that.
Agree but if you read the article well these guys were using their right of freedom of speech to protest against freedom of speech! And guess what I just checked the news and you can wait for it. The demo’s are turning violent in the major Danish cities…
It seems to me that you have particular problem with Denmark…
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February 16th, 2008 at 7:56 am@ Odinius
I thought Swedish and Danes are of the same stock. I used to drive down from Sweden into Denmark; and their vocab seemed similar. I do not believe Denmark is more xenophobia than others.
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February 16th, 2008 at 3:51 pm“Just wondering would you be referring to Christianity and Islam there?”
See, that is the problem. We all must select our tribe, right?
WHY DO I HAVE TO CHOOSE ONE? I dont want either of them, and I don’t want to be hindu or buddhist or anything else. Why can’t I have the freedom to not believe or be part in any of this?
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February 16th, 2008 at 4:22 pmYou’re right Aluang,
Historically, Denmark, like its Scandinavian neighbours, has been one of the most socially progressive cultures in the world. Their tongues are part of the German-speaking group (English, Dutch, Frisian, German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian).
Xenophobia in Europe is traditionally strong in Catholic countries in southern Europe (Spain, France, Italy, Portugal to a lesser extent), the former Communist countries, Austria and new countries like Croatia and Slovenia. A lot of people there hate everyone not White, regardless religion or ethnicity, plain old racism based on skin colour and culture.
Western Europe (Britain, Ireland, Benelux, Germany) are somewhat in-between but tensions are growing between bules and Muslims (Indians, Pakis, Moroccans, Algerians, Tunisians and Turks). Relations with non-Muslim foreigners are much better but not perfect in these countries.
And now we see it also happening in Denmark. Denmark, part of the Scandinavian socially democratic cultures with high living standards, gender equality, secularism, low level of corruption, excellent social welfare, freedom of practising religion in the personal domain, high level of democracy and responsible environment policies. This is the country we talk about and Odinius is just stating Muslims are oppressed there and treated like shit.
Tell me Odinius: Can you explain why Danish Muslims are using freedom of speech to protest against freedom of speech while carrying flags of Hizb ut-Tahrir, a club opposed to democracy and advocating the creation of a caliphate?
The depiction of the cartoons are a radical way to say: “Enough is enough. We are a modern, socially democratic country where everybody can live in if you want to adapt to our culture and commit yourself to our democracy. We have freedom of speech, press and you can practise your religion in the personal domain. There’s no place for honour revenge, violence against gays and infidels, putting religion above state laws, women raping, applauding 9-11 attacks, supporting terrorism etc. in our public domain. If you’re not happy with that you’re free to leave.”
The newspapers used a radical measure to express their statements and have their points proven by the worldwide Muslim reaction. All major Danish newspapers decided to republish it after Danish intelligence said it had uncovered a plot to kill one of the cartoonists.
Yeah, depicting a stupid cartoon which should be disregarded and ignored by Muslims as bad taste or twisted sense of humor in a mature and peaceful way is much worse a crime than attempting to murder somebody.
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February 16th, 2008 at 6:10 pmOdinius said
It wasn’t until after the cartoon crisis, for example, that the Danish government allowed Muslims to build any cemeteries.
Do they want their own cemeteries??? To make it easy for their Allah to separate the Submitters from the kafir at doomsday?
Multiculturalism à la Islam: even after death they think they are better and deserve special treatment. This may be a good idea for Danish a cartoonist to draw inspiration from. -
Junarto Says:
February 16th, 2008 at 6:26 pmPerhaps some of Yudhoyono statement is true since some of our newspapers such as Rakyat Merdeka practice yellow journalism. Just read its headline, and we will get what he meant. On the other side, however, his statement shows his discomfort dealing with media critics on his presidency.
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February 16th, 2008 at 11:57 pmAgree but if you read the article well these guys were using their right of freedom of speech to protest against freedom of speech! And guess what I just checked the news and you can wait for it. The demo’s are turning violent in the major Danish cities”¦
It seems to me that you have particular problem with Denmark”¦
What’s wrong with peacefully protesting an expression of free speech? Isn’t that, itself an expression of free speech? Can’t have one without the other, can we?
As for having a problem with Denmark, that’s about the dumbest straw man argument I’ve seen here, and makes me wonder if you are actually interested in discussion something or just want to score points?
You portrayed Denmark as problem-free in this regard. I thought that inaccurate. So I’m just pointing out that its problems integrating a minority do not derive only from that minority. Is that so hard to grasp? It’s a different manifestation of the same integration issue you have in America with Mexicans, in Britain with Pakistanis and in Indonesia with Chinese. And it’s a two-way street.
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February 17th, 2008 at 12:05 am -
February 17th, 2008 at 12:11 amWhat’s wrong with peacefully protesting an expression of free speech? Isn’t that, itself an expression of free speech? Can’t have one without the other, can we?
Different people from different culture protest in dissimilar fashion. Muslims protests might be seen as threatening; we might say something stupid out of anger but we are peaceful.
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February 17th, 2008 at 12:15 am@ Odinius
I thought Swedish and Danes are of the same stock. I used to drive down from Sweden into Denmark; and their vocab seemed similar. I do not believe Denmark is more xenophobia than others.
We are in most ways the same. I’m from the part of Sweden that borders Denmark, so our dialect, food and customs are even closer than that of most Swede…and aside from what Lairedion seems to think, I really like it there. But that doesn’t mean I have to like the right-wing politics that have developed there, or that those right-wing politics are free from some of the blame for the tense situation in Denmark.
As for xenophobia in Denmark, if you are in Copenhagen you would never notice it. But in the US, you’d barely notice racism in New York either. Leave the city and it’s there in spades. And it’s not just Islamophobic. Like in the rest of Europe, it can also manifest as prejudice against Eastern Europeans, Africans or, in Denmark’s case, Greenlanders.
Look at page 2 of the 1997 Eurobarometer survey: Of all European countries, the largest percentage of Danes described themselves as “very racist” 22,% or “quite racist” 33%. Compare with Sweden, 2%, 16%.
Add to that the fact that non-Danes face much more dramatic discrimination in housing and employment than in Sweden, and you have a significantly more xenophobic society. Does that mean all Danes are xenophobes? No. Does that mean even a majority of Danes are xenophobes? No. But it does mean there is more significant xenophobia in Denmark than in neighboring Sweden.
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February 17th, 2008 at 12:18 amDifferent people from different culture protest in dissimilar fashion. Muslims protests might be seen as threatening; we might say something stupid out of anger but we are peaceful.
Yeah, but they are Danes as well, not just Muslims. Danish Muslims didn’t riot after the cartoons were published. Some of their leaders helped instigate riots in other places, but the protests in Denmark were peaceful. Therefore, Danish Muslim protest appears to be peaceful expressions of the right to protest.
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February 17th, 2008 at 1:21 amWoops! Looks like I spoke too soon on Danish Muslim protests. Now youths are rioting.
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL16445295
That does not fall under “appropriate expressions of free speech” in any which way IMO.
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February 17th, 2008 at 4:25 amOdinius:
As for having a problem with Denmark, that’s about the dumbest straw man argument I’ve seen here, and makes me wonder if you are actually interested in discussion something or just want to score points?
But that doesn’t mean I have to like the right-wing politics that have developed there, or that those right-wing politics are free from some of the blame for the tense situation in Denmark.
Seems to me you do have a particular problem with Denmark, namely right-wing politics. I never said Denmark in general. I don’t like right-wing politics either. Having a brown skin, black hair and black eyes genuine bule right-wingers won’t show much enthusiasm inviting me as their best mate.
Odinius, I’m not here to score points and I am interested in discussion. I feel you’re somewhat naive and too political correct. The links Aluang gave and the riots in Danish cities are perhaps a wake up call for you.
Peace, Lairedion
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February 17th, 2008 at 5:57 amSeems to me you do have a particular problem with Denmark, namely right-wing politics. I never said Denmark in general. I don’t like right-wing politics either. Having a brown skin, black hair and black eyes genuine bule right-wingers won’t show much enthusiasm inviting me as their best mate.
I do have a problem with that, as I do anywhere. Here, in the USA, it’s “Mexicans,” in Indonesia, “Chinese,” in Denmark, “Muslims.” Sure there are some Mexican Americans who are in gangs; sure there are some Indonesian Chinese at the elite who are economic exploiters of the poor masses; sure there are some Muslims who are rioting in Denmark. But then you also have a lot of people who make it out like they’re all like that, and then don’t get it when more and more people within these groups feel alienated and like outsiders. One reaps what one sows in both directions: riot about some cartoons and don’t be surprised when people think your religion is violent…treat people like second class citizens and don’t be surprised when they get pissy about it.
Odinius, I’m not here to score points and I am interested in discussion. I feel you’re somewhat naive and too political correct. The links Aluang gave and the riots in Danish cities are perhaps a wake up call for you.
Hmm…I guess I wasn’t completely clear with what I was trying to say. I think you said it–rightly–in another thread: no religion has a monopoly on ***holes. All I’m pointing out is that Denmark has some very active ones on the nativist right, not just on the Muslim right. That’s neither naive nor politically correct: it’s informed. It’s also far more typical than not. In Britain, the 7/7 bombers were all from areas where both radical Islamist organizations and the BNP are active and popular, and where there were riots between BNP supporters and local Asians (including non-Muslims) in 2000 and 2001. So to me that’s no coincidence. Recognizing that doesn’t in any which way absolve the bombers or diminish their guilt. But reducing the explanation for their actions to “Islam” both obscures the fact that the vast majority of British Muslims are law-abiding and obfuscates the political and social circumstances that led to these individuals’ decision to explode themselves and murder a bunch of civilian commuters. Reductionism, thus, is never a “wake-up call;” it’s a bedtime story
Maybe I’ve made it clearer now, as you seem to have confused what I’m trying to say with an attempt to excuse what some Danish Muslims did in reaction to the cartoons, which I am not doing. If they are protesting peacefully, I’m okay with it. If they are violent, I am not. There is no excuse for causing violence in reaction to some stupid cartoons.
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February 17th, 2008 at 6:48 amSince we’re on the cartoons, here’s an interesting editorial in the Jakarta Post
Some choice bits:
The Jyllands-Posten newspaper and other Danish publications on Wednesday reprinted the controversial cartoons of Prophet Muhammad which two years stirred ire among Muslims.
They did so as a “demonstration of free speech” a day after Danish security forces uncovered an alleged plot to kill the cartoonist.
Without reserve, condemnation and harsh punishment should be handed to the perpetrators of the plot. Nothing warrants attempted murder.
But the decision to reprint images that are clearly inflammatory in response to the plot does not represent an act of free speech, but malicious retribution born out of anger.
Knowing full well the insult those images — one of Prophet Muhammad wearing a turban shaped like a bomb with a lit fuse — represent to many Muslims, Danish editors acted not in defense of a deficiency of freedom, but an excess of the wrong kind of free speech.
Self-crucifixion, at somebody else’s expense, as they bask in the warmth of the hostile blaze these cartoons have created.
In the strictest sense, the Danish papers were acting within their right of free speech. But press freedom does not liberate common sense against being insensitive or derogatory.
The editor of The Jakarta Post, in a 2006 article during the original outcry over the cartoons, defended Jyllands-Posten’s right of free speech, but lamented its editor’s bad judgment.
Apparently it was not bad judgment, they were just ignoble. The apologies expressed by the newspaper two years ago were insincere given the reckless decision to republish the cartoon.
Words (in this case a caricature) are powerful weapons. The greatest products of humanity are born of them. But words can also inspire hatred and violence.
That is why even in great democracies like the United States, free speech does not protect statements which incite hatred, illegal actions or provoke violence.
But some insults are just not worth responding to, especially when it projects the ignorance of its xenophobic authors. Like hearing a drunk bigot shouting on the curbside, there is no use being provoked by someone so deafening in their stupidity.
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February 17th, 2008 at 7:14 amThe matter of the cartoons should have been closed back then after the newspaper apologized. Unfortunately this was not enough for some Muslims and they decided to try to kill one of the cartoonists anyway…
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February 17th, 2008 at 9:07 am@ Odinius
Re Peaceful protest by Danish Muslims.
It would be out of character for Muslims to protest peacefully. Even the one and only peaceful and unorthodox group, the Javanese Muslims, can sometime turn violent if provoked.
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