Posts Tagged ‘ freedom of expression ’

Pragmatics between moral police and one’s freedom of expression

“Freedom of Expression ” is in news again and again..Though I had promised myself that I would not give more publicity to M F Hussain,through my blog,I had to,because I was wondering if I had anything more to add than an already published thought.. Wish I could import the old  comments to this post… The post was enriched by my fellow friends.Please read their thoughts here..

Thanks to Solilo for bringing my attention into this news,where women are religiously beating up a girl,in the name of a tattoo.

A Pakistani national, who had come to pursue a course in production from Whistling Woods International Institute in Mumbai, was beaten up at a Malad mall last week for sporting a tattoo in Urdu on her back. The incident scared the girl so much that she left for Pakistan on Friday.

Some women suddenly approached her and assaulted her over the tattoo which read ‘Shukr Alham Du Lillah’, meaning ‘Thank you, God’. They slapped the girl several times before the mall management intervened.

This is a complex issue where people mix common sense with religious sentiments.[As is the same case when SRS mixed common sense with cultural sentiments].Neverthless,questions unanswered will promote further issues and breed more hate.I am trying to look into this,as how I feel it right,please feel free to disagree.

Firstly,my message to those women,who think that they are guardians of Islam-followed by 1.5 billion people..Please mind your own business and bother about your own fate,before you poke at somebody else’s nose .YOUR ‘RIGHT’ ,and ‘WRONG’ is just yours and nobody else’s.If you think that you have the right to trash people based on YOUR RIGHT,please go shut yourself in a cave and never come back..Instead,if you feel that your sentiments,may it be religious,cultural or policitcal,are hurt,talk to the concerned party.If they agree with YOUR RIGHT,be happy and go home,drink a pepsi.If they choose not to agree with YOUR RIGHT,go home tear a pillow and get rid of your frustration and drink a lassi and relax. Just in case you think that Allah has asked you to take role of HARAM POLICE,please know that we the people who understand the real spirit of islam are no longer shikhandis,who are impotent to act and react.No longer acan you delude us by quoting the infinite hadiths which have nothing to do with Islam.So,stop minding others business and if you are indeed worried about the girl’s fate of going to hell because she wore a tattoo,please have the liberty of going home and pray 2 rakat prayer for her .Let God decide it for her-you needn’t take his role.

Secondly,I would like to bring your attention into a more complex topic in muslim world,where people make anything and everything haram(forbidden) ..AS like in every community,muslim world too have a set of people who say ‘chi chi,this is haram’,’chi chi,that is haram’ ,’ chi chi,everything is haram’..They make music haram,they make painting haram,they make eye brow shaping haram,they make television haram,they are hell bent over moral policing people and hence the name ‘Haram police’.In my experience, regardless of what religion it is, you see the righteous become the wicked in their attempts to be more righteous.But among muslims,the issue is more complex,because everybody has a hadith to quote as to claim their stand.To beginners,hadiths are man-written oral narrations relating to words and deeds of Prophet.Hadiths were complied 200 years after Prophet’s death.Putting it simple,hadith is a saying ‘Prohet’s wife’s servant’s brother’s aunty’ said that she saw Phophet saying so”.Hadiths are classified as strong,weak and fabricated.Over years of reading,I have understood that whatever,be it the controversial topics in Islam,it is attributed to hadiths..For eg-stoning is not in Quran,but is there is a hadiths.Hanging apostates is not there in Quran,but in hadiths.and so it goes on.As a muslim,TO ME,Quran is the word of Allah and hadiths are narrations that help me to understand life during Prophet’s time-nothing more,nothing less.Allah says that Quran is complete and it is hard for me to accept that Prophet outsmarted Allah and added his own laws to the religion.Prophet’s duty was to deliver Quran to humans,nothing more,nothing less.So,when people tell me that ‘You have to act this way because it is so in hadtihs’,I fliter it out against the message in Quran.For eg,Quran says that there is no compulsion in religion,but these so called scholars tells you to kill people going out of Islam-what a joke..Quran says that the penalty of adultery is equal for both men and women, and involves symbolic lashing. Social pressure, i.e., public witnessing of the penalty, is the basic punishment (24:1-2) but everywhere we hear about stoning,which again is attributed to hadiths.Such is the complex integration of hadiths to Islamic world,and it will make lot of time to clear the mess.I am not against hadiths,but I am against using a petty narration to formulate a law as serious as life and death.

Ok,that said,now one can trace the anti-tattoo reference to hadiths .The bottomline is not the alter the creation of Allah as it is and not to hurt the body.But I find this logic weird,because the very same people say that piercing ears,as to use earring is not haram as it is a ‘need’ for women.What the hell,who told you that earrings are a need and everything else is not. Beatification of one’s body is one’s personal choice and if I prefer not to wear earrings but have tattoos, will that be fine,because  your need is not my need?Interstingly, everything they say is stupid,bcoz then haricuts would be haram,since you are altering naturally grown hair.Boxing would be haram because it involves harming the  body .The argument of ‘not changing Allahs’s creation’ is absurd..The verse So set thy purpose (O Muhammad) for religion as a man by nature upright – the nature (framed) of Allah, in which He hath created man. There is no altering (the laws of) Allah’s creation. That is the right religion, but most men know not – 30:30) is talking about not changing Quran which is Allah’s creation.I suggest and request people to read something before jumping into conclusions.do you think that by following some random cleric’s fatwa,you are pleasing God?I am sure God will ask you ‘Why did I give you some brain,I am going to punish you for not valuing my blessing’ .As per Islamic rulings,you haram police deserve to be punished

  • 042.040 The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah: for (Allah) loveth not those who do wrong.
  • 042.041 But indeed if any do help and defend themselves after a wrong (done) to them, against such there is no cause of blame.
  • 042.042 The blame is only against those who oppress men and wrong-doing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying right and justice: for such there will be a penalty grievous.
  • 042.043 But indeed if any show patience and forgive, that would truly be an exercise of courageous will and resolution in the conduct of affairs.
  • 042.044 For any whom Allah leaves astray, there is no protector thereafter. And thou wilt see the Wrong-doers, when in sight of the Penalty, Say: “Is there any way (to effect) a return?”

I wonder why the police didn’t arrest these women for harming somebody.

Thirdly,personally,I dislike tattoos.Also,they are unhealthy and pose major mental strain when the love for tattoo disppaers the very next morning your lover becomes ‘ex’.But then again,its your choice and you are free to do as you wish,until and unless it infringes my freedom of choice.

Fourthly,what if she had tattooed ‘Allah is crap’ or ‘Muhammad is  a pedophile’..Well then again,I would feel bad but I would never waste my time on these people.If it really bothers me,I would spread awareness of the other side of what the tattoo says,instead of protesting violently on streets.This world is beautiful because of diverse people,and I don’t expect everybody to think like me or accept my version of ‘right’.So I would just move on,until and unless they infringe my freedom of expression.

Then again,it is not appropriate for people to do whatever they want..There is no such thing as absolute freedom of expression.Your freedom ends where mine starts.Yes,you can draw cartoons on Prophet’s sexual and blood thristy,you can draw nude pictures of Hindu gods,you can draw hot picture of virgin Mary with big boobies,you can make a painting on Christ inside urine (Piss Christ),you can keep trying to ban Swastika,you can ban anti-holocaust remarks,as you have the freedom to do so.But tell me where should I drown my freedom,for your sake?

p.s : I don’t find anything great or anything bad in Hussain’s paintings.Maybe I can’t interpret it because of my low level of aesthetic sense..Bad me… :roll :

P.p.s.s. :While browsing net now,though out of the context,I found these holy words “What pathetic men. Nehru a loser drug addict, smoker, womanizing muslim. Ghandhi a pathetic weak, delusional, malnourished, christian. These idiots are the heros that have been forced upon ignorant Hindus by British and secular media.”

lolllllllllllllllllllll…Honestly made me laugh..Poor writer,so much of  frstration within him..

2010
03/14
CATEGORY
Uncategorized
TAGS








13 comments

Freedom of expression-Round up

This has indeed been a brainstorming session,and i am very much sure that you guys got sick and tired towards the end ..I am sorry for not putting much input-it is simply becasue i don’t have clear idea of the subject.

 

Thanks to all for your precious time and sincere efforts to convey the idea in words.I know that unlike me who sits in front of pc almost whole day,most of you are working or studying and thanks a lot for sharing so much of viewpoints..lol..I am sounding so formal.Sorry,but i just felt like appreciating everybody for taking part in the discussion.

 

Both Charakan and Indyeah/Solio have valid points[mentioned them in particular as they were who added lot of thoughts,it doesn’t mean that I didn’t read or don’t appreciate others inputs].In the end,both of them are coming to a single point,a walk-over through the main points,as it would be injustice on my part to ignore their effort and time spent on the post.

 

First of all,the basic FACT that this heated discussion happens is because,as Kanagu says,

As you have mentioned in the end when the people have people have strong belief in their faiths this will not happen.

Charakan shares the same words

Do you think your religion will be destroyed becasue of that?Then you dont know religion

 

Me,Indyeah,Solilo,IHM,Manju,all of us hold the same opinion,period.

 

Secondly, as Chrakan says,majority of people are peace loving.But the minority fundamentalists have strong influence in our society and hence all these issues happen when they exploit the mass[who have no idea of spirituality ,but are happy in mechanical religious rituals that are repeated in equal intervals of time] accompanied with the politicians who are bothered about power and vote banks.To Charakan’s words[just the main points]

 

  • 1% of fundamentalists are holding the peace loving public to ransom.
  • All fundamentalsits want such an impression in general public,that religion is above law
  • Politicians believe that if a fundamentalist say something all members of that religion will follow suit

Now see what Indyeah says about us,the mass who doesn’t have a second thought before going on street,the moment we hear ‘Oh,your religion and culture is in danger,there is war on Islam,there is muslim propaganda to flick hindu girls,there is Christian conspiracy to convert all indians’ etc etc.Her words:

 

What of the masses?I know they are gullible and stupid fools one might call them..But in their gullibility they take lives and give their own..

So true..They burn public property,they are so furious that they want to wipe out anything and evreything that wouldn’t satisfy their ego..

 

Ok,now looking into solutions,this is where difference of opinion happened.Charakan says

 

. Or you can just ignore him/her,ask all your friends and family members to do so and even put some notices asking people to boycott him.Or you can hold a peaceful dharna [after getting prior permission from the police] in front of the artist’s house or Gallerry. Instead of campaigning against hate-mongers of all religions we are putting the artists in the dock.s

Indyeah said

 

That they [artists]should be gently told to avoid a thing or two once in a while?

Atleast till the state is able to ensure that the artists are secure and free to express whatever they want..

 

Is it not our responsibility to act as responsible citizens and ensure that while the masses stay within their limits and not start getting violent at any opportunity

One view is not to have limits,but that the solution lies in the mass being more tolerant and secular.The other view is to have some limits until and unless the stae becomes smart enough to handle the situation, rather than just sitting idle and watching the show[as is the case it happens mostly]. As Gargi said,

the Government is the evil.

Agreed,but we are a part of the whole system and there is no point blaming the government.I disagree with her when Gargi says that Government is impotent-No,we the mass are the impotent ones,singing tunes to whims of every other rowdy or anti-social element round the corner.

 

In my opinion,the solution is inline within the thoughts of Charakan and Indyeah-make the mass tolerant,meanwhile,as Poonam said,let government deal with the situation as it required in a law and order scenario.

 

So how do we make the mass more tolerant.Spread awareness about facts facts facts.When people say ‘there is war on Islam’,make people understand that faith is something unshakable,and those with shakeable faith needn’t remain in the system.When they say that India is going to burst out due to increasing muslim population,give them facts that the rate of decline of poluation [fertility rate]among muslims is so high that they will come to a stagnant state,which as been acheived by Hindus andChristains already) soon.So,maybe they will have to take a 2999 more births to see india getting stuffed with muslims..When somebody tells you that Christians are converting every Indian,make them understand that faith is not something than can be forced upon,and those who convert for food or education will either come back to original religion or will secretly continue practicing what they believe in.There is no point in projecting numbers..I have read reports on rocket increase in number of muslims.I find it so hard to believe that so many people are attracted to Allah,I am sure theer are many converting out of ‘no choice left’.So,my question is,what is the point in converting if you have no love or faith in the system.Agreed that statistics is on the ride,but of what use? Coming back,I feel there is no point in worrying over conversion.Those who love it,will remain in it forever.Those who fly away never deserved to be in it.Afterall ,Sanadhana Dharma is all about living a blissful life.

 

Sorry,I lost focus. I was talking about spreading awareness about FACTS rather than rumors.And secondly tell people either to follow religion in complete or not follow it at all.the half-baked state is the most worst and dangerous one.

 

Thirdly,in regard to government intervension in these issues of moral policing,pressurize the so-called leaders to TAKE ACTION as per the penal code.When girls where beaten in pub,isn’t there a case for attacking people and harming them? In Mumbai,why weren’t the women taken into custody for attacking a person[luckily for Indians,it was a Pakistani,else the government would have been made a joker when the respective country’s embassy would ask for legal action..Ha,Pakistanis don’t deserve respect in our eyes,right?] My point is,every time government doesn’t take action against unwated,illegal protests,the more and more will people will get inspired to moral police.Tell me how many of you will think twice or thrice before jumping into streets,if predecessors before you were punished for disturbing public life? Take efforts to end the lawlessness. As Poonam said,we have enough laws,but none are implemented.

 

To end my rant,this discussion had been a great one,imparting lot of viewpoints and ideas.As to put our thoughts in action,next time you hear that your religion or culture is in danger,rather than listening to somebody else’s propaganda,read and learn for yourself-THE FACTS.Also,when there is a situation of moral policing,no matter if it is in the name of religion or culture or political or geographical factors,make sure you support the victim.They are afraid to come forward and talk about it [we never heard of the girls who got beaten],due to the resulting social stigma.Stand up for them,for this may happen to you tomorrow and unless you start raising voice,you will not find anybody in your favour,when its our turn..Do remember that…

 

 

In course of time,let us make efforts to make a society where artists can put forward their viewpoint,with no fear ,while we the mass have grown up and learned to behave well and react matuerly,if the creation or incident is indeed offensive

 

 

Good day to all..I hope I did some justice in concluding the discussion..Sorry for al typos,I have no time to re-read now..Gotta go..

Charakan says:

EACH AND EVERY ARTIST SHOULD HAVE FULL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION 

Solilo says:

 

“True freedom is a Utopian philosophy. We are never going to achieve that because we are bound by laws.” 

 

Indyeah says :

 WHEN I SAY FREEDOM SHOULD HAVE BOUNDARIES I AM TALKING OF SELF IMPOSED BOUNDARIES AND CULTIVATION OF A SENSITIVITY

2009
02/11
CATEGORY
World Around
TAGS







14 comments

Pragmatics between moral police and one’s freedom of expression

 

Thanks to Solilo for bringing my attention into this news,where women are religiously beating up a girl,in the name of a tattoo.

 A Pakistani national, who had come to pursue a course in production from Whistling Woods International Institute in Mumbai, was beaten up at a Malad mall last week for sporting a tattoo in Urdu on her back. The incident scared the girl so much that she left for Pakistan on Friday.

Some women suddenly approached her and assaulted her over the tattoo which read ‘Shukr Alham Du Lillah’, meaning ‘Thank you, God’. They slapped the girl several times before the mall management intervened.

 

This is a complex issue where people mix common sense with religious sentiments.[As is the same case when SRS mixed common sense with cultural sentiments].Neverthless,questions unanswered will promote further issues and breed more hate.I am trying to look into this,as how I feel it right,please feel free to disagree.

 

Firstly,my message to those women,who think that they are guardians of Islam-followed by 1.5 billion people..Please mind your own business and bother about your own fate,before you poke at somebody else’s nose .YOUR ‘RIGHT’ ,and ‘WRONG’ is just yours and nobody else’s.If you think that you have the right to trash people based on YOUR RIGHT,please go shut yourself in a cave and never come back..Instead,if you feel that your sentiments,may it be religious,cultural or policitcal,are hurt,talk to the concerned party.If they agree with YOUR RIGHT,be happy and go home,drink a pepsi.If they choose not to agree with YOUR RIGHT,go home tear a pillow and get rid of your frustration and drink a lassi and relax. Just in case you think that Allah has asked you to take role of HARAM POLICE,please know that we the people who understand the real spirit of islam are no longer shikhandis,who are impotent to act and react.No longer acan you delude us by quoting the infinite hadiths which have nothing to do with Islam.So,stop minding others business and if you are indeed worried about the girl’s fate of going to hell because she wore a tattoo,please have the liberty of going home and pray 2 rakat prayer for her .Let God decide it for her-you needn’t take his role.

 

 

Secondly,I would like to bring your attention into a more complex topic in muslim world,where people make anything and everything haram(forbidden) ..AS like in every community,muslim world too have a set of people who say ‘chi chi,this is haram’,’chi chi,that is haram’ ,’ chi chi,everything is haram’..They make music haram,they make painting haram,they make eye brow shaping haram,they make television haram,they are hell bent over moral policing people and hence the name ‘Haram police’.In my experience, regardless of what religion it is, you see the righteous become the wicked in their attempts to be more righteous.But among muslims,the issue is more complex,because everybody has a hadith to quote as to claim their stand.To beginners,hadiths are man-written oral narrations relating to words and deeds of Prophet.Hadiths were complied 200 years after Prophet’s death.Putting it simple,hadith is a saying ‘Prohet’s wife’s servant’s brother’s aunty’ said that she saw Phophet saying so”.Hadiths are classified as strong,weak and fabricated.Over years of reading,I have understood that whatever,be it the controversial topics in Islam,it is attributed to hadiths..For eg-stoning is not in Quran,but is there is a hadiths.Hanging apostates is not there in Quran,but in hadiths.and so it goes on.As a muslim,TO ME,Quran is the word of Allah and hadiths are narrations that help me to understand life during Prophet’s time-nothing more,nothing less.Allah says that Quran is complete and it is hard for me to accept that Prophet outsmarted Allah and added his own laws to the religion.Prophet’s duty was to deliver Quran to humans,nothing more,nothing less.So,when people tell me that ‘You have to act this way because it is so in hadtihs’,I fliter it out against the message in Quran.For eg,Quran says that there is no compulsion in religion,but these so called scholars tells you to kill people going out of Islam-what a joke..Quran says that the penalty of adultery is equal for both men and women, and involves symbolic lashing. Social pressure, i.e., public witnessing of the penalty, is the basic punishment (24:1-2) but everywhere we hear about stoning,which again is attributed to hadiths.Such is the complex integration of hadiths to Islamic world,and it will make lot of time to clear the mess.I am not against hadiths,but I am against using a petty narration to formulate a law as serious as life and death.

 

Ok,that said,now one can trace the anti-tattoo reference to hadiths .The bottomline is not the alter the creation of Allah as it is and not to hurt the body.But I find this logic weird,because the very same people say that piercing ears,as to use earring is not haram as it is a ‘need’ for women.What the hell,who told you that earrings are a need and everything else is not. Beatification of one’s body is one’s personal choice and if I prefer not to wear earrings but have tattoos, will that be fine,because  your need is not my need?Interstingly, everything they say is stupid,bcoz then haricuts would be haram,since you are altering naturally grown hair.Boxing would be haram because it involves harming the  body .The argument of ‘not changing Allahs’s creation’ is absurd..The verse So set thy purpose (O Muhammad) for religion as a man by nature upright – the nature (framed) of Allah, in which He hath created man. There is no altering (the laws of) Allah’s creation. That is the right religion, but most men know not – 30:30) is talking about not changing Quran which is Allah’s creation.I suggest and request people to read something before jumping into conclusions.do you think that by following some random cleric’s fatwa,you are pleasing God?I am sure God will ask you ‘Why did I give you some brain,I am going to punish you for not valuing my blessing’ .As per Islamic rulings,you haram police deserve to be punished

  • 042.040 The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah: for (Allah) loveth not those who do wrong.
  • 042.041 But indeed if any do help and defend themselves after a wrong (done) to them, against such there is no cause of blame.
  • 042.042 The blame is only against those who oppress men and wrong-doing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying right and justice: for such there will be a penalty grievous.
  • 042.043  But indeed if any show patience and forgive, that would truly be an exercise of courageous will and resolution in the conduct of affairs.
  • 042.044 For any whom Allah leaves astray, there is no protector thereafter. And thou wilt see the Wrong-doers, when in sight of the Penalty, Say: “Is there any way (to effect) a return?”

I wonder why the police didn’t arrest these women for harming somebody.

Thirdly,personally,I dislike tattoos.Also,they are unhealthy and pose major mental strain when the love for tattoo disppaers the very next morning your lover becomes ‘ex’.But then again,its your choice and you are free to do as you wish,until and unless it infringes my freedom of choice.

 

Fourthly,what if she had tattooed ‘Allah is crap’ or ‘Muhammad is  a pedophile’..Well then again,I would feel bad but I would never waste my time on these people.If it really bothers me,I would spread awareness of the other side of what the tattoo says,instead of protesting violently on streets.This world is beautiful because of diverse people,and I don’t expect everybody to think like me or accept my version of ‘right’.So I would just move on,until and unless they infringe my freedom of expression.

 

Then again,it is not appropriate for people to do whatever they want..There is no such thing as absolute freedom of expression.Your freedom ends where mine starts.Yes,you can draw cartoons on Prophet’s sexual and blood thristy,you can draw nude pictures of Hindu gods,you can draw hot picture of virgin Mary with big boobies,you can make a painting on Christ inside urine (Piss Christ),you can keep trying to ban Swastika,you can ban anti-holocaust remarks,as you have the freedom to do so.But tell me where should I drown my freedom,for your sake?

2009
02/08
CATEGORY
Uncategorized
TAGS









54 comments

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