"If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all."
- Noam Chomsky - American Linguist
The title of the essay may arouse a level of curiosity for those who take US propaganda at face value and believe that the US personifies the essence of free speech. But it could equally traumatize readers, as it will challenge the dogmas that have been systematically inculcated in their minds since birth. It will be particularly unsettling to those who may begin to recognize that it is they who actually epitomize the traits with which they were demonizing others.
It is reasonable to assume that those who are entitled to advocate 'free' speech must have a free mind; that is a mind free from bigotry. Therefore, we can already exclude those KKK folks, Bible-bashing religious fanatics and the general right-wing zealots from the 'free' speech club. Such types of primitive mindsets are bound to produce wanton verbal abuse under the license of free speech and not surprisingly we do see the wanton abuse of Muslims and Islam emanating from those sections in various forms, particularly in the mass media.
A cursory search of the internet reveals an abundant number of US-based websites and some European ones dedicated to abusing Islam, the Prophet Mohammed and Muslims; using abusive and sometimes pornographic language. Almost none of these websites have debated the issues in a scholarly manner with educated Islamic intellectuals.
Therefore, naturally it seems that the abuse of Islam and Muslims is a manifestation of free speech to the US and the West in general. Anyone engaging in this sport is guaranteed protection followed by the usual accolades and inordinate levels of publicity.
In contrast, when Muslims exercise their right to 'free' speech to defend their point of view, using language that is far milder in comparison, they are ostracized instantly and the so-called 'free' speech vanishes. Any impartial person will see that it is Muslims in general who are tolerant, never resorting to abusive language against Jesus Christ, Christianity or the West in general. Just ask yourself what is pejorative term coined and used by Muslims is equivalent to sand-nigger, rag-head, or camel-humper.
Real dissension under free speech is manifested when alternative values can be debated openly. This is the crux of the problem for the US: it cannot and will not deal with different values and it makes every attempt to stifle open discussion, in particular with its nascent foe - the Islamic world. The US likes to use its brawn more than its brains in line with its Wild West legacy.
The example that will come to mind is the constant bullying of the secular Arab press such as Al Jazeera by the US media: 'Free' speech expressed by airing an alternative view of the war is portrayed as 'incitement to hatred'; the bravery of Iraqi resistance fighters becomes 'fanaticism'; the execution and porn-torture of Iraqi prisoners becomes technical 'abuse'; and the ever-expanding US-made mass graves are simply faceless and nameless collateral damage.
Then we have the usual farce of 'experts' discussing Islam. Just listen to the likes of Dr. Daniel Pipes, supposedly an expert on Islam. Even African-Americans are more likely to get a fairer view about themselves from the KKK than Muslims are from the likes of Dr. Pipes! And the other token Muslim 'experts' brought on are the usual 'moderates' whose outlook is no different than that of the US government, So, where is the open debate and discussion that is expected from a society constantly bragging about its free speech credentials?
The writer is a Graduate in Chemistry from London University and technical director. He contributed this article to Media Monitors Network (MMN) from the United Kingdom
Why the US cannot tolerate free speech
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