Compre Religion

I

t I I I I

2

Passage A christelle chua wdtes...

1

The furore over cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, published in a Danish newspaper as a satirical comment, is becoming more widespread- lncidences of violence may be isolated, but verbal barltrs have been flying from all sides and in all directions. Everyone seems to have something lo say about either the cartoons themselves, or about ihe response to the publication ot lhe cartooos, and even lhe response to the responses. Some are offended by the ineverence of the cartoons. Others are indignant that the ne',rspaper, a bastion of free speech in Denmark and many othet countries, is being qiticised for simply expressing the cartoonists' 'personal opinions'. Sli[ others are disnayed that supporters of lhe Danish newspaper view ths expression of potentially

I 10'

T

inflammatory comments as an entitlement.

2

-

'

3

Vvhib many would view this issue as another ctash between lslamic radicals and Western/European societies, there is also a larger issue that is swiding here that of the right to free speech versus the respect for others. Flemming Rose' culture editor of Denmark's Jyllands-Posten newspaper! said that he decided to recruit Danish cadoonists with the challenge: "Draw Muhammad as you see him', because he wanted to make a stand against lvhat he felt was 'self-censoFhip of the art world out of a fear of retaliation from lslamic radicals'. tle also saki that ?sking me (if I regret publishing the cartoons) is like asking a rape victim if she regrets- wearing a-short skirt ai the discotheque on Friday nighf in essence implying that it was his right to express himself as he pleasad. q-enmark's Ptime Mini;tei, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, also said, '-.. the principle df tr€edom of expression is the most impo.tant principle for us. This is our prioity number one' Evidently, many support the noiion that 'Everyone is entitled to expressing their ovrn beliefs".

And so it should be ... in a perfect worid. But the wodd we live in now is not perfect. We are quick to judge, and we form hasty and generalised opinions 6.toru w. can get tttu tac1s. And so, the freedom of the Danish cadoonist to represent a Mualim ptophet as a tenorist resulted in a transgression on tndh, because, of course, tenorism is not representative of the religion as a whole. Ukewise, protesters around the world storming the Danish embassies exercise the freedom to express their view that Danes are pro-Weslem, antFlslamic enemies, which again is an unfair generalisation. As one Dane rallying outside the Jyllands-Posten office said, 'l don't want to live in a country that in order to love iiself must look down on gthers", proving that not all Danes share the oftinion

T

20

25

30

35

of the cartoonist.

4

Freedom of speech is an individual right, and has its basis io the fact that people are individuals and hence have an entitlement to individual thoughts and opinions. Yel often, people use this right to express their opin'lon abod generalised groups of peoples. lt is ironic that a rjght that is so fundamentally groundea on individuality c3n so often become abused in making general' ;cross{he-board statements about people Freedom of speech is often damaging when sweeping statements are made, because oftentimes they do not

40

'3 I apply lo the majority.

I

So the first step towardg lsafe spgech', is to acknoMedge that the right to an individual opinion entails the right to be seen as ah individual, which comes hand in hand w-th the nebd lo see others as individuals as well. of course, one has to take one's own advice and acknowledge that the issue o{ free speech is not so simplified and cannol be distilled into a single overarchi!:rg generalisation- Many other things must be considered, not least of i,i/hich is the trite but true statement that one person's freedom is likely to always encroach on anothefs- Free speech insulting someone, even ifjust an individual, will always recruit retaliation, which is merely the other person's righl to express himself. Freedom of speech is likely to be an enigmatic concept for some time yet-

5

I

I

Freedom of Speech

45

50

For lndividuals, About lndividuals Lesser Administrator, 18 Feb 2006

-

Passage B SM Goh Chok Tong writes...

1 I regard newspapers

as more lhan iust the usual commerciai Froducts. The media disseminates information, news, anal)lses and commentaries- lt influences and shapes public opinion. Hence ideally, iti cor['arate interests should converge with the core interests of its home country. The media also provides an important channel fqr the govqr-nment and natiojal-leaders to communicate with the people. And by reporting key events as they occur, the media serves as an authoritative record of a nation's significanl moments for fulure generations- The media, lherefore, occupies a privibged position in society. Editors and joumalists shoulder a heavier moral and social responsibility beyond that of CEOS and executives of other commercial companies-

I I

I

,2 .

I

I I

I I I I

3

ln reality, of course, there is no such thing as unfettercd press freedom. Even the most liberal-rninded person would acknowledge the nec€ssity of some form of regulation.or code,to ensure responsible reporting. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26h American Prsident, once said, "The power of the journalist is great but he is entilled neither respect nor admiration because of that power unless it is used right." Newspaper editors musl always be mindful of the powers wielded by lheir p€ns or nowadays, keyboards. They have a greater responsibility to society than merely publishing a sensational story, scoopirE the news or tuming in a bigger profit for shareholders. There are larger national and societal interests at stake. I suppose that is what Roosevelt meant \,vhen he said that the joumalisls should use their power in a right way. Reputable intemational news otganizations also face this consideration every day. Although their conditions may be different, foreign editors have also exercised restraint and censorship '/vhen necessary.

You would recall that about a year ago, an Al-Qaeda-linked group in lraq kidnapped and beheaded an American conbactor, Nick Berg. The edito.s of several major US news agencies, including CNN, ABC and CBS, were

10

15

20

I stark dilemma of tlhelher to capture viewership .by Bers's b(deat or- ceosor rt and risk being ffi'd"ca;* il uti"oitJ uio"o ofwas-atready circ'iatiog freely and widely on vioeo ffi;; ;;'"";iltor- rnemosl net'xorks decided to report lhe n€v'/s without 30 i#-i"i""*t o*",iitu this. vkleo others simplv showed- the lild -T-"f-.g ffiri;'iii;; th;!;;;"vras still alive. Broadc€sting the full video would nave ii.1ra"" tiil.n #rq I'uDrc ."-*.J Uu terrorists' otiedive of sparking Public fear and accenluatmg sellstlcn mal concem to in lraq Contrary presence opposition to continued US public' the 35 mictr aiminish the standirE ofa nelwork in the eyes of the "I;".*tio ;.ffi;<s'"a.#; ;iJ ior ttreir re-sdors'rble adlons' Even A!'Jazeeg degdea confronted with

th;

have been it iett urat to dt'ow 0re aciual beheadins would

;;iil;;;;;6;as

'out of the aealm of d€cencY-

rb

press is not .ret me wtono. I do not favour a sub6eMent press- lAn unthinking sense 40 larger a trith . But press freedom must be pradised rour national in tt understand wtrai is in or not L" undrsund wtrat their la'ger responsit'ilities.entail and to "ifnv of their ioumalists. Edito$ and- ioumalists must-have high people rvho understand sinsapore's

ir*""6t ffig;;"ibiili;'JJ i'iti#ti. eiliit-"*o ;;;;;; th.. It,i-"8

l

::ili;rJil

liti """iJi"agt"t't 't; muri-raciai and multi-relisious make-.',p' 4s ffiff$*'J';' ;;;it' Bv this, I mean lhat our editors and ioumalisls

t .: I t I l I t

Upi];; ;#;d;lt'"n

t I I

-'i.-"J ;;Hil;ti%t-ft

;

il"ilJilliiil""1-"oi"iJ".i6la".

know what wo'ks for sinsapore and hot'v to advance our societ!/s colle€tive interests'

;;l;-;;;-;

;";en-who

public good.in a $adical Our editors and joumalisls must work for the present vievpointsvtith 50 and ."ttrer ttr-an iaeirisric wai- They must report the oews o' pol ical ageioa' personal inromi wiirtout pursuing any i" Jr"a" ine tlrcush-sensglbnal i"p..tt"t soat. drt rL oo so "na "ir Ofinions and analytical Fieces on safent lssues wav. a, not lhe tiqtd per"pectues Hon€ver'. editors- should "]1'..J!-'*'li"s ashotio ittow ttre commentary and olinion pages 55 iji"' j''oiilt"iJ.a"iltii*,'so ;,; renea orlv blased of parlisan vi9ws" M9q iqecf9nllv' is free to put to s€{ve a hidden agenda- The o" 'neda ""*-"r'*rri'.oi "lanteda,irete,'t ultwp"lnts tJ encourase construclive social panot the govemment's position' lt would ri *'i,JIo :ffi:,tft,5 ft"'g*"tmerts propagandist- A discredited 60 me.lia $/ould not serve our natbnal inlerests

; #i.;:;;;;''{ :il'"J':*;"*J';;iiii *t tilLrsi. ioL ffi ffi;$i,il;?'tio-

A Frce Press Be? The Straits Trnes, 1 Nov 2005

ExcerDt adapted from Horv Free Shoutd

I I t I I I I I I

,;us*

6h

s

o

q

E

;8

nl

iE

l:

i{

!l

E3

q:

t 8i 5:

!.i

i5 ;F

t'

al EI

e! b!

?!

EE o3

89.

tat

Ei T: cd

E.e*

I

&

Ee ,it8

F!

]

ir

i, g

$t *$r. 'T

4

i

g

E

fi Efrifi i$ 8ri€ * Ei EEgi

I

!

*I

8

I

a

t

Ei?Eigii

!T

€

.rB

B?a

tEtt

BgiEf,igE :€5 il I

E

8F

.t

li'i:r:

5

E

TB

{p

E. :Ji f-: I 9i F--i

E

f{ FI IE EA

i

q

eE

:c'q

=;C

!r I

*: e& !3

i a I f ! € ali 3 "4

T* e< ;!

39 &e

;8 E=

g}

a

EF t€ F€

I

.Eg s E-J i .

E g ' E!

,fiS''

r

F6 !? "-

ea

sf

gi -

<@ :9 =b = _ @

$E-, _aX -at -0*

$ei!:!A piI € Fi

E

ii$ ;i{r q-
€

t

cg'

t8

3E5

5:

€ili

EE;

fEe +E;

I

E=

ilt €;: 3:

e

*FE

lc€E I 3e:

FXe

E!

tr

ga E .9

'6 s g

I i

t.

et€s

Zr! reE

fls

**tE

eb; $:5=

€,b gR

i

FgI

P:bE s6 F:

iEiI

gE

E.

tsP

€E

:3F ! f;!": 3:;

EIE!

liti

8d8rt

8-ILi

le*

F€: :E€

;lfic f!: ;Ke! ;-:

:E+€E

?;:63

ec€Ei9

;EgE;

l

6

;Ebk

Ffr5

:8?E_

E E

;3:

39

$ "49EE

*}bE El''E

iiEEp 6€E*j

iEg;* q

F'JT $E!{€

i1!:

E

fis+ &A

!EgE.:Ea E$-

E

$g

Edy€;q 81* { q4; rE;t.8

;t Lg: h

5i$!s€

t,

? c

s

a

t'

E

g

I

b

?

3

€jj

It

g p €.

5

e4 E!

";9E IT :? _3 €l

I

.E

n E

FE E5

,F.j

T

I ,!

,E

.s

i-

t g: t

g.

bp g i.8 b

.E

s

c

i5

! E

-a'

6 -g

6:

I9e 3 *p 3

$

iE 9E-

${sE= g!Eg

tEi

esE€e

sa: g3 HE E{E 9Tg€

3

!l ,i 6, €il

nl

.E :"!

:c3

!:*

E= f! I' €€iFg E€ €i€s=

5

E

g .!

oEi

...:

3q

ET

5 ?;

f;q af$t3 EE€

e E

3 {E I

[EEi* Ei

E

P

,EJ

I

;III E$ :i r,b 3: a6 3 8-

dE

3E

-88

* EE $c

$tf

:flt

g "H E€

i*

gEE{EEf EI

EgErgFii

0

li 9a ; {t Egils €EE €i f$iit,i$$s.* ig" {; aa* isE ;H €Hrir{tg€{sE Eff FIBiSg€; d- *H'

s

I !

t

eA E6

9.

s

E

{ c={ lE sEr'rE gJ eiF*r !$EE !6 = f;i I HE:i; $E + ;9 fErE{

lE"g ! 8I

ir ;;l ff iii

€

fl^, ;6 E! qcF EEt B r€Afs;3; E e+ IEgErtF 65 i Be

!g s 3 e a a P IP P f; ,qe

c; [g; *$=f ; EEr

_--

;"p .8 g ,g t 3t E"' a I e p I 8

6

e

Ei€gtrEE

b

-

3

!s

E I

Ie

tI

B

sa

€€f;A;$!

I

g

db.

€

g

eE

Epgi- l=

HI

g

e!

PC

E*,! 'E .-

I

a5 EF E e F :.t 3 6 3E. I f E3 E

:

p

?

6 5" 3

I

II !

.g

sx

g

n!

9a: fi ,e

€

*S

t;

€ffi= : E$d f;{= Ff?{ $gi!fl ::{ !;{i ri}i* i: fF.q p8k g -st: o i::

E

g

.cl

t, iEFf,E€ss€ .l ii€EE;sr i$ '0

5

'i

E

93,

>rl

s

gP8

!EC#

Ei?Fs

8;* ^sE € ;i3";E .s EH{€E3oE:s

15;€6*?39€

1

Elg$

ti ti€

E

$" s-

ede

Eg9, p5q

!er. 6:-P

3gt eEE €iIEE5

F&

$sE rFE

:

a*:

'E

?

€ 4

I {i

"ef;Ig

-

E-

,,,1

l:r

E

-;

-l

Ei,

a: iE 55

:E

-8.

v ;E e .! iE !

fl

tg

€

Efr gE

e F t g R

3's

cl

{l

fl

:1

$* HI €: tt

'il ;t

e$ 5€ !S

sl q

tF €i "-gptEEE IFTE'EE5EE

E

E

dd

Hg

E?€ sF$

-

-E

P

Ed

;I ir$ : [ E9 €i 8EE

1

,Ljr F 8''E .E E

g^fi

b

P

fit

EJ € e a 1 .! o at og &

F H P !^ :6 ;1td g E: € *E

:=-g 6;'5 ad6

S

*

!2;

e".e

e*; tRE I'Y! gnih

9tF

Ff;P CEIE igE qgE€E "alig

ii:{-, ! $F tr ;ifi E

EFe;

sttE A r 35 eEg: $l g E{*E € lt

EGG€

H$l -.ae

&eg !5"de€.

E+ iir

{EE{i

rs

il

gg$E: $"t! F,i$$. d'. . !

!r 9l a f,-a ds.

it!

1

h a

5 T-IiR

=rlE=p ict F, * €€E!.EI**E€4 rt.......:t!

sgAEE

!

iT -.I-e- I58:!S

5E5it+58$6* hhaad6€6€n5

E

t

I 9T ;4

E

EET

=l*14p EEi€E€E

.8 _8

= '€l€ EE{ Ei

E

$$c

9 ;E

.8

RE

€

.8b EE

:{! P E*

gt g!

T e

-3

€t&

E

&

i-_

-E44ctr!9_

€E{{[ €iEtiEEg 4; E,

€Ei* st EE{iE

Ee

6E

E

etf."

5! Et 9P

Es EGi

g..e

I

6 !g r!

eriEeruE

4;l

3i4 .!

E

6 Fio ! --ctlo

E e g93i

Er;

Fl :.9

: ;E '5 9r

1ll'c

FE:s'* #E EE

g

€

!;l! fis;E +lF Y

Egfi trfg;e 6qg L*at;

,El,* e;sAi EE-€Ti €.tiE gEla. dq !qx ; €t p.E $ =" i' j:;,

,

F,JEEE:E+Et l€18 t *: itr q: 3gq.Eq:P;r+p.E t b eIE Fjig;;€ R

;

EIgg E€ f,88 B E! Eli a E " 6 ,e.q: F 5 E

e qi

&.

6E

E ,ii

I *3 e oE b :>

9.El ia=6 :EE8 :6.9*

I ?

/9

l

+ !

+

il qi

i

j

I

i ,:

l

il#

li

f,iL+ r.l+i1

iF,li

illt;

[:rj

!, 3

*1 l

(

l l

t

(

I

l

li !

,I

i + I

..].