Bill Maher provokes Fareed Zakaria, one of CNN's bright sparks among its otherwise dismal cast by instigating a response to his, "Islam is the mother load of bad ideas." In my opinion Fareed loses this round because of his apologist response. His response–I paraphrase–Look Bill, I am not religious and I believe Islam needs reform but you are not going to reform the religion by insulting it and pushing it against a wall, anyway if it was the mother load of bad ideas you will have a 100s of millions of terrorists all over the world instead most muslims are peaceful people who simply want to get on with their lives.
If I were Fareed put on the spot like that and if I disagreed Bill's provocation I simply would have started out with a condescending laugh and replied–Well if it is that bad I am thankful that we are not dealing with 100s of millions of muslim terrorists, otherwise they would rule the world. If I agreed with Bill I would have simply said–I'm with you on that Bill, in fact I believe the concept of religion itself is the mothership of bad ideas. Instead Fareeds centrist response of–I kind of agree with you but....don't insult Isam–is lame.
This short tit for tat session on Islam was an introspection on the Charlie Hebdo massacre which brings to the forefront freedom of speech and Islam terrorists ideology. Most of the muslim response to the quandary they face with living in countries that practice freedom of speech is that even moderate muslims favour limits to freedom of speech–such as don't insult their religion or their luminaries. Muslims need to wake up and appreciate the liberties they enjoy in the developed Western countries. In fact most muslims who packed their bags for these countries from their Islamic homes ran away because they preferred social freedoms afforded to them by modern Western style humanity especially social stability and economic opportunities for themselves and their children. Part of the deal in accepting such liberties is that there is no cap to the freedom of speech. You can say what you want, the other person can also say as he or she wishes. Either way nobody has the right to bludgeon the other no matter what they say. This is simply what being civilised means these days.
Most countries have accepted laws that do not allow one person to be violent against another because of what was said or implied. It is accepted that you can sue the person in a court of law if you feel offended or hurtfully affected. One may also respond freely with intelligence to counter another's point of view. Many Islamic countries draw the line on civilised response when it comes to insults against Islam. To me that is their prerogative. If you are in an Islamic country–follow their laws. In fact if they feel an author or publisher has insulted Islam they can even send them an official warning not to enter their country lest they be charged with a crime that could carry the death sentence–this to me is ok. But for muslims living in their Islamic countries declaring fatwas of blood beyond their borders, thats simply plain dumb arrogance. How dare they assume extraterritoriality on any matter, let alone Islam. It can be considered an act of war if one country imposes its peculiar laws on another without permission.
And for muslims living in countries which guarantee EVERYONE freedom of speech, stop being an apologist who goes "ok but...". Remember that freedom of speech is afforded to you also. If you feel offended by what someone else says or writes or draws or acts you can also whack them back the same way–or try to sue their pants off in court. Muslims living in the West–you don't need to force yourself to feel not-offended when your religion is insulted, you just need to educate yourselves sufficiently so you feel satisfied channelling your outrage using the tools afforded to you by the freedom of speech.
Charlie Hebdo was a business on the verge of bankruptcy before the massacre. The attack however has emboldened them, made them stronger. Thats the thing about the freedom of speech, the more you try to curtail it the stronger it becomes. Easier to accept it and live with it. The world will become a more peaceful and fun place if more and more of us learn to laugh at each other as we hurl insults and disparities at each other. Freedom of speech will be for now and forever.
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