JUNE HOLIDAYS BLOGGING TASK
Singer believes that freedom of expression is essential to any democracy and therefore should not be limited. On the other hand, Szilagyi believes that more focus should be placed on social responsibility.
In the context of Singapore’s multi-racial society, where there is cultural and religious pluralism, which author’s view do you think should be adopted?
Freedom of expression is the right of a person to communicate their opinions freely either in public or private, through speech or movements, without fear of being persecuted by the government or authority figures.
Singer believes that the freedom of expression is important to any democracy and should not be limited. Coming after the deaths of at least 30 people in Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Libya, Nigeria and other Islamic countries during protests against cartoons ridiculing Muhammad, Singer feels that cartoonists do not have the right to mock religious figures on the sly. Cartoonists mock religious figures on the sly and do not get caught while people who express their views out get imprisoned, like David Irving for denying the Holocaust and he feels that it is ridiculous. Singer feels that freedom of speech is essential to democratic regimes, and it must include the freedom to say what everyone else believes to be false, and even what many people find offensive. He says that people must be free to deny the existence of God, and to criticize the teachings of Jesus, Moses, Muhammad, and Buddha, as reported in texts that millions of people regard as sacred. Without that freedom, human progress will always run up against a basic roadblock. This is true to a certain extent. As only with freedom of expression accepted in a society, can a society progress.
I feel that freedom of speech is important in self-governance, discovering truths and promoting tolerance. Freedom of speech is crucial in any democracy, because open discussions of candidates are essential for voters to make informed decisions during elections. It is through speech that people can influence their government's choice of policies. Also, public officials are held accountable through criticisms that can pave the way for their replacement. Freedom of speech is also important in discovering truths as only when people are not afraid to say out what they feel will then be many truths be discovered. Also, freedom of speech is integral to tolerance, which some people feel should be a basic value in society. Free speech would bring out more tolerence in a society as self restraint to control feelings evoked by thoughts that we disagree on would help shape the intellectual character of the society. Protecting unpopular speech is itself an act of tolerance and such tolerance serves as a model that encourages more tolerance throughout society.
On the other hand, Zsofia Szilagyi believes that more focus should be placed on social responsibility. He feels that protecting public interest is more important than freedom of expressing one’s view. If we neglect the feelings of a particular group of people in the society, conflicts would arise and lead to bloodshed events such as the prophet Muhammad incident.
I feel that Szilagyi’s viewpoint should be adopted in the context of Singapore’s multi-racial society, where there is cultural and religious pluralism. In our networked world, existing societal and political tensions can be inflamed instantly through the transfer of messages from one cultural context to another. Media messages, films and art works cannot be addressed to a specific cultural group - traditional borders of culture and nation no longer exist. Freedom of speech comes with responsibility and restrictions should be implemented. Insensitivity towards society problems would lead to conflicts. Such as the race riots in 1964. Rioting broke out on 21 July 1964 for Prophet Muhammad's birthday when a protest demonstration by Malays escalated from a verbal war of taunts and insults with Chinese bystanders. The ensuing violence which continued for five days, left 22 people dead and 454 injured.
This incident shows us that racial insensitivity would lead to many problems and the only way to prevent it is through racial harmony. We are constantly reminded to be tolerant of other races and live together in peace and harmony. And this can be done so by restricting freedom of speech through the mass media like the newspapers. The press needs to serve the ever-evolving public interest, and it needs to do so by focusing on responsibility, and not solely on freedom.
Singer believes that the freedom of expression is important to any democracy and should not be limited. Coming after the deaths of at least 30 people in Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Libya, Nigeria and other Islamic countries during protests against cartoons ridiculing Muhammad, Singer feels that cartoonists do not have the right to mock religious figures on the sly. Cartoonists mock religious figures on the sly and do not get caught while people who express their views out get imprisoned, like David Irving for denying the Holocaust and he feels that it is ridiculous. Singer feels that freedom of speech is essential to democratic regimes, and it must include the freedom to say what everyone else believes to be false, and even what many people find offensive. He says that people must be free to deny the existence of God, and to criticize the teachings of Jesus, Moses, Muhammad, and Buddha, as reported in texts that millions of people regard as sacred. Without that freedom, human progress will always run up against a basic roadblock. This is true to a certain extent. As only with freedom of expression accepted in a society, can a society progress.
I feel that freedom of speech is important in self-governance, discovering truths and promoting tolerance. Freedom of speech is crucial in any democracy, because open discussions of candidates are essential for voters to make informed decisions during elections. It is through speech that people can influence their government's choice of policies. Also, public officials are held accountable through criticisms that can pave the way for their replacement. Freedom of speech is also important in discovering truths as only when people are not afraid to say out what they feel will then be many truths be discovered. Also, freedom of speech is integral to tolerance, which some people feel should be a basic value in society. Free speech would bring out more tolerence in a society as self restraint to control feelings evoked by thoughts that we disagree on would help shape the intellectual character of the society. Protecting unpopular speech is itself an act of tolerance and such tolerance serves as a model that encourages more tolerance throughout society.
On the other hand, Zsofia Szilagyi believes that more focus should be placed on social responsibility. He feels that protecting public interest is more important than freedom of expressing one’s view. If we neglect the feelings of a particular group of people in the society, conflicts would arise and lead to bloodshed events such as the prophet Muhammad incident.
I feel that Szilagyi’s viewpoint should be adopted in the context of Singapore’s multi-racial society, where there is cultural and religious pluralism. In our networked world, existing societal and political tensions can be inflamed instantly through the transfer of messages from one cultural context to another. Media messages, films and art works cannot be addressed to a specific cultural group - traditional borders of culture and nation no longer exist. Freedom of speech comes with responsibility and restrictions should be implemented. Insensitivity towards society problems would lead to conflicts. Such as the race riots in 1964. Rioting broke out on 21 July 1964 for Prophet Muhammad's birthday when a protest demonstration by Malays escalated from a verbal war of taunts and insults with Chinese bystanders. The ensuing violence which continued for five days, left 22 people dead and 454 injured.
This incident shows us that racial insensitivity would lead to many problems and the only way to prevent it is through racial harmony. We are constantly reminded to be tolerant of other races and live together in peace and harmony. And this can be done so by restricting freedom of speech through the mass media like the newspapers. The press needs to serve the ever-evolving public interest, and it needs to do so by focusing on responsibility, and not solely on freedom.
1 comment:
Able to disinguish the differing views of the authors and relate them to own experiences. Nicely, jacq!
Grade: B+
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