Salt * Wet * Fish

Some of you may notice that this posting’s contents keeps changing. I have the ideas there, but just trying to find better ways to express them, with the limited time I have on my computer, sorry about that.

Although I advocate freedom of speech and expression and, hence, the freedom to speak and express our thoughts without having to endanger our lives or put ourselves behind bars, but I have quite a tough time trying to fit that into the recent events.

I must agree that one religion cannot force their laws onto those outside their religions, however, there still need to be some sense of sensitivity, which I feel that the West in many matters still lack.

For the same reason, I had urged what-used-to-be volleyball players in Adlus some time back that they should be sensitive to non-Chinese speaking team mates and speak English instead of Chinese. Of course, we have to right to speak whatever language we like and of course, the non-chinese speaker could have jolly well learnt chinese. To me, to speak chinese amongst yourself in a team of six, where everyone could speak English, with one or two non-chinese speaking fellas clearly shows a disinterest to improve relationship and some lack of graciousfulness and basic courtesy.

I don’t agree to some of the points being made that not printing the caricatures is a infringement on their freedom to speak. I mean is there really a neccesity to draw Mr. M in the first place, knowing that its a insult to the Muslims? Is anyone’s life made more difficult if they cannot draw those caricatures? Okay, granted you are not the one trying to print children’s book on the religion. I mean, we should have freedom of expression or speech to prevent our lives from being infringement upon and I really don’t think that for the majority European non-Muslims, the inability to draw Mr. M is not gonna make their life any more difficult.

Take for example, if we know that a Hindu sees cows as sacred and don’t eat beef and I love beef and don’t mind seeing cows killed. Should I take a cow outside a Hindu temple, kill it, roast it and eat it in front of them, just to exert my ability to express freely?

I think this idea of “freedom” as touted by the West should come under scrutiny and people should think hard about what is the cost of this freedom to the ego and humanity in the long run.

Double standards both ways

European countries that published the caricatures exhibit double-standard in this case. Ask any of them if they are willing to publish also anti-semitic caricatures and you may find it hard for any of them who are willing to do that. In fact, in some countries its against the law to do so. The truth of the matter is that, its probably political incorrect to be anti-semitic or exhibit any of those forms, like wearing a nazi uniform and also some of the countries have anti-semitic laws.

On the other hand, I wonder if those angry Muslims when crying over blasphemy, if they did the same when the Talibans were bombing the statues of Buddha. Such double standard does not help the religion trying to portray itself as fair, just and peace-loving? Did we see any Buddhists threatening the lives of any Muslims or even the Talibans? If the Muslims want to ensure equitability, they should be protesting to any forms of disrespect by Muslims also on other religions, not just their own.

Acts of violence from some muslim nations and its people

Anyway, I am glad to see that there are, finally, some peaceful demonstrations by muslims in Europe on this matter. However, I don’t think that such peaceful demonstration will anytime reduce the perception of Islam teachings being violent. Its the Muslim countries (mainly in the middle-east) that will sway perception. As long as they are still violent, it does not matter what other Muslims do in the rest of the world.

The muslims must ask themselves, what is wrong with their teachings that so much violence are being bred from it, this is especially true when most of the violence happen around the birth place of the religion. If their clerics are really wise, then why are there so many still inciting violences and mostly towards non-muslims. What do I mean by inciting violence? In many of the statements so far non of the clerics ever said that “we should not kill anyone”, instead it has always been “we should not kill INNOCENT people”. I would seem then that if a person is not innocent, he should be kill and he deserves it. But then, who decides who is innocent?

Actually, I think the Europeans has been one of the worst offenders of violence through the hands of religions. Countless natives suffered in the hands of Europeans in North and South Americas, Australia, Africa and so on, over many more years that what we have been seeing now. Of course, the damage may not have been as great and that is only because the weapons of the early Europeans were crude, not like the planes or bombs we have now. However, their methods had been at most cruel and worst evil.

But its not just Islam but any teachings or philosophies…love and peace is a state of mind. If your religion contains a system of rewards and punishments (often very cruel, even after death), then its difficult to talk about love or peace at all. After all, if it sanctions any acts of violence and calls it god-willing, then anyone can pick up from that violence and call it god-willing. If one wants to be called peaceful and loving, then its important not to acknowledge any forms of violence in their religion and philosophies… however, I see this as a great difficulty as violence do form the cornerstone of some religions, without which believers cease to believe.

On main reason why one seldom see Buddhists (real Buddhists for that matter) reaction in such manners is the belief that things happen due to a complex web of causes and effects, which is quite different from rewards and punishments. In general, an action that is clouded by “negative” intentions and emotions will tend to result in negative results to oneself. Even then, Buddhists are asked not be become a participant of that result, that is if a person steps on shit and gets shit all over him/her, don’t take up those shit and smear it on yourself, ie. don’t act as the “punisher”. You may help the person (i.e. clean the shit), but never harm or worst kill another person willingly.

Imposing one’s religious values and punishments onto others

Lastly, we are at this grey area on how much sensitivity we should take into account of in other religions. Many would argue that we should be free to do what we want and should not be restricted by other religions. After all, there are so many religions in the world, how would I know if what I do will offend one of the many religions or not?

To take it to the extreme, if religion X says that people should be stoned to death if they were RED shirts, can and should this be imposed on to those not in the religion? Should someone just stone me to death because I choose to wear a RED shirt which my religion Y says I must wear as a sign of purity?

Then we have the opposite arguement that if my religion did not impose on me that I MUST wear RED and it does cause me any problems not wearing RED shirt, can I not be sensitive and not wear RED? The danger of this argument occurs when we have 10 religions each having a forebidden colour, what colour shirt can I wear then?

Sometimes, I get the sense that, especially in Singapore, we go all our way not to offend our Muslim friends. It gives me that impression that that religion produce somewhat more sensitive people and they will get all worked up and angry by the smallest mistake we make when ignore their rules. Somehow, this reminds me of people who are are petty, small-minded, quick to anger and immature. Not to say that all Muslims are like that, but our extremely sensitive attitudes towards them seems to be suggesting it.

I feel that in this matter, both sides need to work hard. On one side, we need to work hard to be socially conscious about our speech and actions in this global multi-faceted and religious world, but at the same time, those who are effected by such sensitivity should reflect upon their reactions and really think about why people want to see them the way it is.