Freedom of Speech

Freedom of speech is a fantasy. It is something that we should all like to exist but it does not.

Firstly, let us peer into the dark side of the riots following the posting of an ill-conceived video on ‘YouTube’.

The reason that Muslims do not like pictures of any kind being published of the Prophet (pbuh) is because there is a fear that people will begin to worship him rather than God. There is, of course, a precedence for this.

There is also a feeling of, justifiable, distaste against anything that is spiteful, hurtful or shameful against a person who is revered and highly respected.

This is well known amongst non-Muslim people the World over.

But the video was still produced. It was produced deliberately to invoke exactly the response they received.

People died.

The video makers are responsible for inciting murder and should be punished for that since they were perfectly well aware of the result of their public production.

They will claim that they have the right to free speech under the First Amendment. They do. But not at all costs.

Not every country in the World has a ‘First Amendment’ and many (not just Islamic countries) have little to do with any sort of freedom of speech.

What about ‘Facebook’? This is easy. Many people say the most abjectly stupid things on ‘Facebook’ for many reasons. Mostly, I suspect, because it makes them look ‘cool’ or tough.

These people are, for the most part, without intellect. They can be, and usually are, ignored.

There are whole pages on ‘Facebook’ compiled entirely for the purpose of insulting other people, spreading derision and disseminating hatred [see earlier posts]. They can be ignored.

So can ‘YouTube’.

When Salman Rushdie who is, incidentally, one of the worst authors I have ever had the misfortune to read, published his mind-numbingly boring ‘work’ entitled ‘The Satanic Verses’ it created such an outcry that the book sold in great numbers. The result? Rushdie became wealthy and was subsequently Knighted.

Had the Islamic public ignored him, as should have been the case, as a raving idiot the book sales would have approached zero and he would have slipped quietly into obscurity and a damp council house in Moss Side.

This should have happened with the ‘YouTube’ video.

As anticipated by the video makers, it did not become ignored. An American died. Not a Muslim but an innocent American. He had nothing to do with making the video but he had everything to do with the idea that America is a free country with free speech.

Freedom of speech.

Does not exist.

I shall tell you why.

I have the right, the freedom, to say anything I like about anyone. It does not have to be true but I do risk a libel case if it is not.

For the most part, if I stick to saying anything I choose about ‘poor’ people then I am safe from civil action. (I shall check this with Maryam who is a civil law specialist and daughter of a dear friend – therefore her advice, to me, is free!)

If I go through my list of ‘Facebook’ friends, for example, I find that, by carefully studying their posts, I know more about them than they would be entirely comfortable with. By examining the quotes they like and their comments on other people’s posts there is much that is revealed to one such as myself.

I am aware that one of my friends is an ex-prostitute and another is an ex-junkie who has been in prison for causing grievous bodily harm. They are, now, both good and caring people.

How hard would it be to take it in turn to list posts about everyone – few people get away with a clean bill of mental health.

I don’t do it because, for the most part, I am equally vulnerable to verbal attacks. My shoes are no cleaner than anyone else’s perhaps, even, filthier (aren’t they, Jim. We shall remain mute about each others exploits because Jim is a dear friend whose shoulder is not only valued but cherished).

For the second part, although I have freedom of speech it comes with responsibility.

I have been called weak for stepping down from an argument – one in which I saw no point in continuing, but the fact is that we have to respect other people’s views and faiths.

We, each of us, have a responsibility to everyone else.

We should not insult other people simply because we have a right, and freedom, to do it.

The makers of the video have a right to make the video, they have a right to put whatever they want into it but they also have a responsibility towards the rest of the World.

The deaths caused were their responsibility because of the emotions that they, knowingly, evoked.

On a smaller scale we have that same responsibility. All of us, all the time.

When you write a story, a small one on ‘Facebook’ or ‘Twitter’ or a big one in the shape of a novel, that responsibility is echoed.

That is why there is no such thing as ‘Freedom of Speech’.

Anywhere.