The Importance of Freedom of Speech

      “The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error.” 
      ― John Stuart Mill, On Liberty

        Anyone who has been watching the news over the last few days has seen the violent protests that have erupted all over the middle east. There are many reasons for it but one of the highest mentioned ones by the protesters is the film "Innocence of Muslims."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19625167

      The content of the film in the end matters very little. The people who wished to silence the views expressed in it would have found another justification to do so, much like what Salman Rusdhie experienced when Iran's Ayatollah declared a Fatwa on him for writing the "Satanic Versus," (A book not even explicitly about the prophet Muhammad) and also other people who have done work  explicitly critical of Islam.

     The limits of free speech legally are an ongoing conversation. Much like a person cannot scream fire in a crowded theatre or commit libel against another, but that conversation should never be dictated by thugs. The threat of death for the sharing of an opinion should not even be on the table. It is savage and barbaric and has no place anywhere in society or in any group of people. Extortion is something that should play no part on how the courts and people define free speech's limits.

     This is important because shutting down the conversation doesn't give the other a chance to correct the opinion through reason. As John Stuart Mill beautifully illustrates in the quote above. Freedom of speech means more than any one person's feelings. If someone is offended they can write why the person is wrong, they can mock the other person...they can do countless things that don't involve killing, violence and extortion.

     Another point that must be brought up is why any one group should deserve special protection from being critiqued? Why should Islam and Muhammad deserve special treatment when Jesus, Buddha, Moses and countless others have been on the cutting board since people finally were able to critique these figures without the threat of death hanging over their head (blasphemy laws in Europe and the West that existed years ago). To whitewash their legacies is to a lie about who they were as flawed human beings.

     Connected to this is the danger in those laws that once existed. Who is defining what "Blasphemy" is? Isn't blasphemy by it's very nature a thought crime? In all the places were such laws exist (Iran, all over the Middle East, etc.) Minorities suffer for it. There is no protection for Christians, Jews, Baha'i, Sufis, Ahmaddiya Muslims and Sunnis and Shiites (depending on which faction is in control of the government in regards to Sunnis and Shiites)  and other religious minorities. They actually live in fear for their lives and can't speak about why they believe in their religion without getting targeted in many cases. This is directly tied to free expression (and also the separation of Church and State...which will be another blog post for another day).
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/19/opinion/friedman-look-in-your-mirror.html?hp

      The final piece I wanted to touch on was the liberal hypocrisy in regards to Islam. I consider myself moderate liberal and find it sad and hypocritical that the left is comfortable criticizing and mocking conservative Christianity, but never does so with conservative and radical Islam. This is hypocrisy that should be pointed out. No group is above criticism and radical Islam does have problems that should be brought up and problems that are worthy of satire and mocking, just like conservative (and Liberal) Christianity and religion as a whole.

     Part of what tolerance and acceptance means is accepting views that make you uncomfortable. You have no right to shut another down simply because you are offended. Just as they do not have a right to keep you from expressing your opinion. That's what freedom of speech means. It means allowing a place for the views you disagree with. 

Church of Christ - Issaquah, WA - July 17th, 2011

       After being away from faith communities for some time, it was great to see visit a faith again that captures what I believe are some of the best parts of religion, specifically Christianity. What are the things I found to be the themes of today's service: community, change and virtue (accountability to living virtuously as well).

    The Church of Christ in Issaquah is a small Church near the Issaquah Elementary School. The congregation is largely made up of families. I was treated with kindness and ran into two people who went to my high school, one of whom preached the sermon today. On a side note, these were the fourth and fifth persons I'd met from my high school that day. The congregation was close and this is where my first point comes in of community. During the announcements there was talk of the Home Meetings that happen every Sunday. All members of the congregation meet up at the designated houses to talk about the Bible and God. This reminded me of Mormon Home Teaching (where Elders (guys around eighteen or older) who come over and preach the church lesson of the day. This is also done by the parents for the children in the Mormon Church.

       The second thing that I see in religion at it's best in what it can is change. The change I'm referring to is personal change. In the sermon a personal was story told of going from selfishness to selflessness when God was accepted into their life. This was powerful as the person had been a major partier before hand and had found virtue through living for God.

     This in turn brings us to the sermon. The sermon was about Joseph. You know the prophet in the Bible with the twelve brothers who had an amazing technicolor dream coat (musical reference here). Well the story was about how Joseph stood on the path of rightesouness even after he'd been given the world (made leader of a house of noblemen (Potiphar) and he resisted the noblemen's wife and ran when she tried to seduce him when they were alone. She then claimed he tried to rape her and Joseph was throne into prison. The sermon focused on Joseph living with virtue when temptation was there and how the Devil and sin are like a lion who creep up on us and catch us off guard if we do not run from it and resist it. He used what Jesus said in that "If you sin with your eyes, poke them out. If you sin with your hand, chop it off. ect." It was a good sermon on life with virtue and how God can help with that.

      I've noticed with personal relationship to something seen as higher (Whatever interpretation of God, Guru, Buddha, ect.) That it can be an excellent tool transformation, growth and accountability. Whether any are actually as they are described...I do not know, and honestly would like too.

      As I write once more my exploration and journey continues as I explore the faiths and faith communities of this astonishing world.


   

Ash Wednesday - Lentin Reflection - Saint Michael Parish - March 9th 2011

      This is my first time taking part in the 40 days of Lent. Lent it the Holiday celebrated by Catholics, Lutherans, Orthodox and Anglicans in honor of Jesus's fasting for 40 days. The 40 days of Lent are the lead-up to Easter Day and the resurrection. This is a time, when each moment should be done with awareness (if it wasn't before) and with the awareness of Christ in one's life. Ash symbolizes mortality. Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust...in the end it's what our bodies become.

     Ash Wednesday was the largest Catholic Service I've ever attended. Saint Michael is a big parish, and every pew was filled. One of the readings was about not parading virtue in the streets (like the Pharisees did of old apparently) (which having an ash cross on ones forward kind of contradicts). But I think what the cross serves as, is a reminder of the community supporting you in your Lentin fasts. When the Priest was blessing the ashes he accidentally called them "Holy Asses," before he corrected himself. So that was moment of humor in one of the most beautiful services I've attended. (The music was old Latin sometimes and their was so much passion in the singing that day). I received the ash cross on my forehead that mass and the old woman told me what she told all of us, to "Return to the Gospel," which to me meant returning to the virtue within the Gospel (not the vice and evil within the Gospel).

     As you know, I'm not a Christian. So why am I taking part in Lent? Because I am aware of the ways I fall short. There is something to be said for days that are deemed significant, like Christmas, Easter, Ramadan, The New Year, Ash Wednesday, Rosh Hashanah, and others. When there is community support in act, like with AA (alcoholics anonymous) or NA (Narcotics anonymous) a person's will grows, because it is part of the communities will. I don't really want to publicize everything I'm giving up on a blog (though if you ask I will tell) except for some obvious ones like coffee (and giving up meat on Fridays, I failed on that on Wednesday), as I plan to better live with compassion, courage, temperance and humility in my speech and actions. These are things I CAN get better at.

    I am so lucky for all the support I have. I have never worried about going hungry, lack of transportation, being homeless, being unable to afford an education, been mortally sick or an unhealthy body. This month and beyond this month I want to be better at helping those who aren't as fortunate as me. I'm graduating in a week and I need to responsible for more then just myself. Who ME is, is a part of everyone else, and who I am is a part of others too...  

    So to those practicing Lent, know you have my support, and if you want to do anything to serve the community with me, let me know. I'll be looking for opportunities to volunteer and get involved and to help others wherever I am.