Too tolerant?
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 5:32 pm
NPR's On the Media ran this story today:
War of the Worlds
Earlier this month, right-wing Dutch politician Geert Wilders was denied entry into the United Kingdom to screen his controversial film about Islam. The British government's decision sparked the ongoing debate about free speech, xenophobia, and a clash of cultures when it comes to Muslim immigrants in western societies. In a piece that aired last April, Bob talked with some of the main players in the struggle to define the future of free speech in Europe.
The questions posed in this program cut right to the heart of the difficulties of protecting free speech. The piece raised hard to answer questions like: How and when is it okay to put restrictions on free speech? Is there a point when we become too tolerant? Is multiculturalism in Europe realistic? In the past several years with the influx of Muslims into European countries, Europeans have had to face these question. Add to the picture a backdrop of Nazism and the issues become more complicated. One of the people interviewed for the radio essay identifys "White guilt" as part of the problem of dealing effectively with Muslim extremist. For us American's there is a correlate, "white guilt" and racism. The speaker went on to say that it makes governments and individuals too ready to apologize and excuse and too willing to tolerate bad behavior. Somehow a balance needs to be reached between shutting down incendiary hate speech and open honest examination without fear of reprisal and condemnation.
To listen: On the Media -- War of the World
War of the Worlds
Earlier this month, right-wing Dutch politician Geert Wilders was denied entry into the United Kingdom to screen his controversial film about Islam. The British government's decision sparked the ongoing debate about free speech, xenophobia, and a clash of cultures when it comes to Muslim immigrants in western societies. In a piece that aired last April, Bob talked with some of the main players in the struggle to define the future of free speech in Europe.
The questions posed in this program cut right to the heart of the difficulties of protecting free speech. The piece raised hard to answer questions like: How and when is it okay to put restrictions on free speech? Is there a point when we become too tolerant? Is multiculturalism in Europe realistic? In the past several years with the influx of Muslims into European countries, Europeans have had to face these question. Add to the picture a backdrop of Nazism and the issues become more complicated. One of the people interviewed for the radio essay identifys "White guilt" as part of the problem of dealing effectively with Muslim extremist. For us American's there is a correlate, "white guilt" and racism. The speaker went on to say that it makes governments and individuals too ready to apologize and excuse and too willing to tolerate bad behavior. Somehow a balance needs to be reached between shutting down incendiary hate speech and open honest examination without fear of reprisal and condemnation.
To listen: On the Media -- War of the World