I have thought about posting the cartoon of Mohammed that,
if there turns out to be fact behind the news about the Paris attack,
was all the justification needed for a few men to murder people.
One of their victims was, as always happens, the very thing they supposedly defend. Quite literally, too, as one of those they murdered was a Muslim man named after Mohammed
But I decided not to.
Not because of fear, because that would not be a valid reason for me;
rather the opposite.
Not out of any sort of judgment of people choosing to publish, or display in one form or another, whatever they believe best communicates what they want to express; pictures, words, or whatever. I think that it is a human need and right, although it requires ability to consider and take responsibility for consequences.
The reason for why I will not display the cartoon, is that my intent-in this instance-with that act would not be right. To me intent matters; process matters. Even if nobody will ever know, or there is no product to show for it. Quaint?
If I were to support that right of freedom of expression by posting the cartoon, I would do it with the intent of causing distress; making that the intended, not unavoidable, consequence in order to have the effect I want to bring about. I would do it in order to bring people pain and humiliation as a way to show that it is wrong to react violently when someone does that to you; perhaps also providing an opportunity for people to practice expressing their sense of hurt in non violent ways, and to display to others that they are not the dangerous kind.
That is to me, not a good enough reason for inflicting pain knowingly and by intent; no matter that the pain is not physical, or that the means by which I inflict it are indirect and intangible.
Other reasons I can think of for me to post the cartoon, appear to be even less of a justification; like proving where I stand, or provoke others to show what position they take.
It is not only unjustified; it is also unnecessary.
There are ways in which I can show support for freedom of expression and display that I feel with those who are hurting because of the pain intentionally inflicted by others.
Ways that does not involve intentionally inflicting pain myself.
if there turns out to be fact behind the news about the Paris attack,
was all the justification needed for a few men to murder people.
One of their victims was, as always happens, the very thing they supposedly defend. Quite literally, too, as one of those they murdered was a Muslim man named after Mohammed
But I decided not to.
Not because of fear, because that would not be a valid reason for me;
rather the opposite.
Not out of any sort of judgment of people choosing to publish, or display in one form or another, whatever they believe best communicates what they want to express; pictures, words, or whatever. I think that it is a human need and right, although it requires ability to consider and take responsibility for consequences.
The reason for why I will not display the cartoon, is that my intent-in this instance-with that act would not be right. To me intent matters; process matters. Even if nobody will ever know, or there is no product to show for it. Quaint?
If I were to support that right of freedom of expression by posting the cartoon, I would do it with the intent of causing distress; making that the intended, not unavoidable, consequence in order to have the effect I want to bring about. I would do it in order to bring people pain and humiliation as a way to show that it is wrong to react violently when someone does that to you; perhaps also providing an opportunity for people to practice expressing their sense of hurt in non violent ways, and to display to others that they are not the dangerous kind.
That is to me, not a good enough reason for inflicting pain knowingly and by intent; no matter that the pain is not physical, or that the means by which I inflict it are indirect and intangible.
Other reasons I can think of for me to post the cartoon, appear to be even less of a justification; like proving where I stand, or provoke others to show what position they take.
It is not only unjustified; it is also unnecessary.
There are ways in which I can show support for freedom of expression and display that I feel with those who are hurting because of the pain intentionally inflicted by others.
Ways that does not involve intentionally inflicting pain myself.