Posted on 01/19/2015 9:04:10 AM PST by Citizen Zed
A few words on the limits to freedom of expression:
For what it’s worth, there are a few that are acceptable. You don’t threaten or incite violence. You don’t defame. You don’t produce child pornography. And you don’t falsely shout, “Fire!” in the proverbial crowded theater. To these restrictions, Pope Francis wants to add another: You may not say anything that insults religious beliefs. “You cannot provoke,” he told reporters Thursday. “You cannot insult the faith of others.”
As you might have guessed, he was referring to the act of terror by extremist Muslims against Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical magazine known for provocative, scathing and even vulgar attacks on Islam — along with other religions, institutions and entities. The magazine was notorious for running cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, even though many Muslims consider any representation of Mohammed to be deeply offensive. Twelve people died in the attack; one was a Muslim police officer.
So one can understand the pontiff’s concerns. But he could not be more wrong.
There is something in free people that instinctively rebels against being told what they cannot do, something that requires them to do the banned thing, not because they particularly need or want to do it, but, rather, as an act of self-assertion. So if you want to protect Islam from insult, the worst thing you can do is ban insults to Islam.
(Excerpt) Read more at miamiherald.com ...
Two words…”Piss Christ”
Allahu Akbar
Translation: "Our god is greater than your god"
Muslims aren't listening to our fine words on tolerance and the avoidance of insult to the faith of others.
Some want the West to unilaterally disarm on this matter. It's foolish.
A religion that stones women for being raped and kills people for not converting is not a religion, so criticism of Islam does not fall under Frances’ domain.
The distinction, I believe, is this. A Pope can say something shouldn’t be done, but that doesn’t make it illegal. What his point would be is that’s not moral to taunt people over their religion. “Should” is a moral word. It isn’t a legal one. The Popes continue to say that we should not have abortions, yet it’s sadly legal, even in Putin’s perfectly Christian country (according to dolts and boobs, anyway).
Because it is the Pope speaking against blasphemy, even Pitts can make the leap that if Islam can’t be insulted, then neither can Christianity, and insulting Christianity is liberals’ favorite sport.
Nah you got it all wrong. Muslims just love their women to death.../s
To these restrictions, Pope Francis wants to add another:
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NO, he does not. He was NOT speaking of adding to the law...but merely explaining the spiritual and emotional consequences of insulting others. The press reports this way for a reason. And the gullible are falling for it like flies. Sad...
“Should” is a moral word. It isn’t a legal one.
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Exactly! You GET it!
“There is something in free people that instinctively rebels against being told what they cannot do, something that requires them to do the banned thing, not because they particularly need or want to do it, but, rather, as an act of self-assertion.”
Defiance. That’s what I call it.
It is the opposite of “submission”, which is the meaning of the word “Islam”. That really boils it down to the choice here: either submit to those who want to control your behavior, or defy them. I know which one I choose.
Dennis Leary said it best in “Demolition Man”.....
“That’s right. You see, according to *Cocteau’s* plan. *I’m* the enemy. Because I like to think, I like to read. I’m into freedom of speech, freedom of choice. I’m the kind if guy who would sit in the greasy spoon and think “Gee, should I have the T-bone steak or the big rack of Barbecued spare ribs with the side order of gravy fries?” I *want* high cholesterol. I want to eat bacon, butter and buckets of cheese alright? I want to smoke a Cuban cigar the size of Cincinnati in a non-smoking section. I wanna run around naked with green Jell-O all over my body reading a Playboy magazine. Why? Because maybe I feel the need to okay, pal?”
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