Tolerance must get priority
A strong wind of irrationality and intolerance appears to be sweeping across several parts of the world. Hardly had the Muslim opposition to a film denigrating Islam started to ebb when a satirical French magazine published provocative cartoons of the Prophet, which of course led to further protests in the Arab world and in India, home to the world’s third largest Muslim population after Indonesia and Pakistan.
Modern secular societies have evolved much since the age of intolerance and religious wars: their social fabric is knit together on the principles of peaceful coexistence among people of all faiths. In America, though, the right to free speech is considered almost absolute, precluding a ban on the offending film. Elsewhere, some nations are trying to curb citizens’ protests to prevent anti-American anger from boiling over. In France, mavericks in creative fields are adding fuel to the fire by deliberately committing acts which denigrate the Prophet (depiction of his image in any form is deeply offensive to Muslims) unmindful of its fearful consequences, like the death of innocents such as the US ambassador to Libya and his colleagues.
As demonstrations escalate, particularly in Pakistan where US diplomats are obviously being targeted, the West should consider ways to rein in fringe elements bent upon destroying religious harmony. In a world of give and take, all societies must learn to respect the rights of people belonging to different faiths. As a learned judge had once pointed out, one man’s rights end with where another man’s nose begins.
Post new comment