Self acclaimed liberals often claim that freedom and equality are the two most important values society can have. Indeed, this is evident in their moral systems, and as a liberal democracy (which is distinguished from the ideology) our society generally reflects those values, or at least the profession of them.
These values are supposed to protect the weak and vulnerable, or the unpopular from the majority, yet in modern western society it is exactly when the most unpopular ideas are expressed that the otherwise champions of freedom suspend these values to silence dissent. This, of course, happens with almost every controversial issue, and both conservatives and liberals (and everyone in between) are guilty of it. However, while they all nit-pick the circumstances under which to champion freedom, conservatives are not being hypocrites while doing so. Conservative ideology often places other values above that of freedom and equality, and it makes sense to sacrifice them in order to maintain higher values. Liberal ideology, however, places freedom and equality above all else, so to suppress them in favour of some other benefit, that is being hypocritical.
This hypocrisy is most visible in issues of free expression. The most recent example being the Westboro Baptist Church, which was supposed to be protesting in Vancouver…tonight. I don’t know whether they made it across the border, but given the CBSA’s track record of turning them away, it seems very unlikely. The WBC is a degenerate, hateful, fanatical Christian congregation comprised mostly of one single family. They’re anti everything under the sun, hate on soldiers at their funerals, and, of course, protest a lot of random shit. Just about everybody hates them. But is the hate mongering reason to muffle their right to free expression? Canadians certainly seem to think that it is. One group even organized an anti-protest to “block the WBC from passersby” using flags.
It’s not hard to see the harm that’s being done by silencing the WBC and others like it. Their message may be hateful, have no basis in fact, or be otherwise delusional, but as Christopher Hitchens points out, there’s always something you can learn from it. More importantly, however, is the recognition that theirs is not the only unpopular message. What if the situation was reversed, and most of the world was fanatical Christians like the WBC? What will happen to your right to say “well, I don’t really believe that god hates fags.”? This is exactly the situation in many Islamic countries, where even uttering a thought of potential dissent is reason to be hanged. Those are the countries in which freedom and equality do not exist, and by bending them to suppress unpopular opinion, that is the society we are building for the future.
I often find myself taking-side with ultra-conservatives on issues of free expression. It’s not because I share the same ulterior motive as they have, but because the liberals who are suppose to stand up for my values are too busy silencing the people they ought to protect.
Abdul
Jun 20, 10
8:13 pm
I will ask you one question “what do you know about prophet Mohammed so you make draws of him?” you know nothing you just heard someone says that he is bad and we must draw him in a bad way and you rushed to it. I ask you to search and not allow someone to put your minds in the darkness.
Chen
Jun 20, 10
8:32 pm
is there any reason you commented under this post and not the mohammed one?
to answer your question, i know that mohammed is depicted by people who believe he existed as having molested a nine year old girl, there’s not much to elaborate upon.
the issue, though, really isn’t about some fairy tale character who might or might not have existed and who might or might not have done what is alleged of him. the issue is people getting death threats and being murdered because they arranged ink in a specific way on pieces of paper. I’ll draw and republish anything that people attempt to censor on threat of death.
spare me the your-drawing-is-so-hateful speech, I drew stick figures, got that? stick figures. I didn’t even depict them in compromising or vulgar positions. you’re demonstrating precisely the kind of dramatic overreaction that motivates me to continue drawing mohammed. get over your fragile sensibilities and join the 21st century.