The printing of the caricatures depicting the Prophet Muhammad,
first by a Danish newspaper and later by other news sources, has
gained worldwide attention.
And though the issue at hand is sensitive to Muslims and their
beliefs, such an event should not dissuade students from engaging
in intellectual discourse and dialogue that questions the basis for
this apparent “clash” of values.
Muslims historically have not been ones to shun dialogue.
Scholars have said the scholastic and humanistic movements in Italy
from the 14th to 16th centuries were largely influenced by classic
Arab-Islamic texts. This was the extent of knowledge in the Middle
East when Europe was still in the Dark Ages.
However, even with free speech, limits must exist in order for
different peoples to coexist peacefully.
Individuals or groups asserting that organized religion cannot
dictate our moral sensitivities are invariably falling prey to
their own criticism.
They are, in effect, forcing society to adapt to their own code
of ethics by whimsically transgressing those of others. Ultimately,
it all comes down to respect.
Muslim citizens in Western countries are not asking for more
censorship. They are not asking for the abolition of Western
values. And they are not asking for an Islamic state in the United
States.
They just want respect like everyone else.
We all have the right to speak our minds, but we also have the
right to be respected.
Representations of all prophets are forbidden in Islam. This is
not only to give them their due respect, but also to adhere to the
principle of faith that dictates that in order to avoid any
idolatrous temptations, God and the prophets are never to be
depicted.
The major news organizations in the U.S. have exercised caution,
responsibility and restraint in not showing the caricatures, and
the response of our campus community is indeed worth
commending.
As students of consciousness, we have set a precedent for others
to follow.
The College Republican students at UC Irvine held an event last
week displaying the caricatures under the guise of promoting free
speech. Such a discourse was not supported by the administration
and many non-Muslims.
It was discarded as a tasteless attempt intended to provoke the
Muslim community.
By neither publishing the caricatures depicting the Prophet
Muhammad nor holding events that display the caricatures, the Daily
Bruin Editorial Board and UCLA student organizations have not only
acknowledged their responsibility to the community but have also
internalized the simple concept of mutual respect.
We, as students of reason, not only cherish freedom but are also
cognizant of the need to establish a constructive and intellectual
discourse on campus.
This issue certainly warrants dialogue. We all have the capacity
to be free, rational and reasonable. All we need is a forum, common
ground and a venue to venture into such intellectual discourse.
So the Muslim Students Association encourages students to attend
a program this Friday titled “Attack on Muhammad: What the
Danish Controversy Means to Muslims and How It Affects You”
at 4:45 p.m. at Court of Sciences Room 46.
The program will promote a discussion on the issue of freedom of
speech in this context and present reasons as to why Muslims have
reacted so strongly to the publication of these highly
controversial cartoons.
I not only encourage everyone to attend this program and take
advantage of an event that promotes a forum for dialogue, but I
also encourage everyone to actively participate so that we all
share and benefit from different insights and perspectives.
Measures such as this will only strengthen our sense of
community and open the lines of communication to better understand
our differing opinions.
Ameen is a third-year psychobiology student.