What Does The Muslims Want America To Do?
By Artemeis
@artemeis (4194)
China
September 21, 2012 9:10pm CST
It has been a very violent week with the Americans over the controversial Islam movie and nothing seems to calm these protests or prevent the protests from escalating. So far, US embassy around the world are on red alert and most recently, all Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) outlets in Pakistan have been closed.
The protest outburst has a message but I don't think there will be any resolve if the America does not want to act on it. Worse, if America were to go ahead with a drone strike on the Muslim radicals responsible for the fatal Benghazi attack. Out of all these, what does the Muslims really want the Americans to do? Will banning and removing this movie from the various media outlets resolve their animosity?
At the other end, will the Americans accede to the Muslims request and remove the controversial movie without being held back by their long tradition of free speech?
Ref:
http://mediagallery.usatoday.com/Controversial+film+angers+Muslims/G4335
2 people like this
4 responses
@Naseem00 (1996)
• Pakistan
23 Sep 12
If we look at recent past, there has been several similar incidents where the religion Islam its holy book the Quran and the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him were targeted by fanatics from different western countries. These people involved in such crimes are covered by mainly the freedom of speech laws which the west believes to be a basic human right. This has actually encouraged the fanatics to move ahead with their false propaganda. Muslims have demanded to exclude all religious figures, books and deities from this freedom.
I do not condone the violence which has been a part of the protests throughout the Muslim world and believe this is only sending a negative message to the rest of the world. It is very natural to protest on something that is considered hateful or bad but all protests should be done staying within the limits. I think the US can start by immediately taking necessary steps to remove the movie in question from the media and taking legal measures against those who are involved in making of the movie. I can understand there are US laws which are thought to not allow any such actions. But is it not true the US has demanded other nations to take similar actions? http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=438647
Muslims have no objection on your freedom of speech. Similarly you should also respect our freedom to believe what we like to believe and stop from insulting our religion. Freedom comes with responsibility and anybody misusing their freedom should be made responsible for the consequences.
2 people like this
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
23 Sep 12
Freedom of speech does not include sending message of hate. I did not see this movie but if its message was hateful then it is not protected by freedom of speech. Hate crimes of any kind are not tolerated in this country, and the United States very much supports the freedom of religion. Our citizens are not allowed to take actions against those of different religions, period. So if the creators of this film produced incorrect information about the Muslim religion and did so in a hateful way then this film was in no way protected by free speech. This does not seem to a film that was placed out in the mainstream for all to see but something that was sent around through streaming on the internet by sneaky people. Nobody would have allowed such a film in a movie theater or on television here. If so they would have been charged with perpetrating a hate crime.
1 person likes this
@Naseem00 (1996)
• Pakistan
23 Sep 12
I wish the law did not allow hate speech or mocking or religions as you said.
Unfortunately as per my knowledge the First Amendment gives an individual permission to say whatever they want to say regardless of it being hate speech.
Do you remember pastor Terry Jones burning copies of the Quran last April?
Did the US authorities tried stopping him? NO because the law supports all such crimes and that is the cause of concern for the Muslim world.
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
24 Sep 12
I feel that Muslims must realize the differences of mass media usage in the American society and learn to protest in creative and constructive ways to get the desired results. Aggressive protests not only generate violence and conflict but also make it easy to loose the true spirit of the Islam cause.
Both the US and the Muslims around the world have the need to understand and appreciate human diversity and pluralism to promote peace and prosperity. In order to do this, the US need to show respect and give space to the others' differences be they be color, race, creed, religion or nationality. While the Muslims in general must need to show equal respect, tolerance and most of all civility. Proper education must be given and the entire system revamped and reformed. Only then, will there be promotion and maintenance of friendlier lifestyle and society.
@sreejithsreenivas (10200)
• India
22 Sep 12
It is not good to treat any religion badly through movies.Such incidents should be strictly banned in its initial stages.All religion are equal and we can t say one is right and other is wrong.
2 people like this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
23 Sep 12
I agree with you totally here.
But whatever is not suppose to be done has already been done. I think the Muslims need to find a solution to make peace with themselves, starting with telling what they want to do with the film.
At least, it would be better than protesting aggressively and uncontrollably which will not arrive to any good conclusion.
1 person likes this
@Latrivia (2878)
• United States
28 Sep 12
At the other end, will the Americans accede to the Muslims request and remove the controversial movie without being held back by their long tradition of free speech
Not even if they all got on their knees and begged. The riot proved a point to the West, and now the rioters have gone and made their religion a laughingstock of the world (not like it wasn't before). Now cartoonists and other social satirists are making obscene cartoons with non-Muslim religious figures, and asking where the riots and murders are in response to these. The essential point: Every other religion has managed to grow the heck up, so why can't theirs?
Americans and other western societies aren't going to stop poking fun at muslims. Why? Because that's just what they do. It may be offensive, but it doesn't really hurt anybody. I'm pretty sure a god can take a little teasing. If people want it to stop they have to learn to ignore it, because that's what you do in a society where people can speak a little more freely than others. You don't go out and kill the cartoonist for his anti-Muhammad sketch, you shake your head in dismay at the childish antics of some people and go along with your day. Rising up and being violent only encourages the antagonism.
1 person likes this
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
22 Sep 12
The movie will be banned by every possible online venue that it reaches. No company is going to want to be responsible for allowing such a movie to be posted from their site. It may take time because it is world wide now but any where it gets posted will have it pulled down as soon as possible.
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
23 Sep 12
I don't think the movie will be banned literally. I am sure, it will be available for viewing in America and most parts of Europe.
With the current laws in America and Europe, there's nothing to stop the airing of the movie and entire removal of it. Much more, since it has made its way into the internet.
1 person likes this
@Naseem00 (1996)
• Pakistan
23 Sep 12
According to my knowledge the movie is still up on youtube despite a request made by the US government to remove it since the US law allows free speech.
