Thursday, December 14, 2006

freedom to think = freedom of speech


Disclaimer: This is a very sensitive subject expecially to people in the West and Jews in Particular. This, however, is a subjective look in the topic at hand and by no means holds the writer to any damage, physical nor mental, in a court of law in any country whatsoever.

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The west calls on many governments of the world to carry out democracy in their homelands and demands a freedom of speech right to every person that lives within the country. Though in this manner, it shows contrary actions when spoken to about other topics in which denial, or even the very mention of such a sensitive subject to the point where one could be deported or perhaps sentenced in time of imprisonment.

Such a topic is the Holocaust of whereby it is claimed that six million Jews were cleared off the face of the Earth by Nazi regime during the World War II time period.

At current, the only country that shows no compassion towards such an issue is Iran (Persia), claiming that the Holocaust is a mere myth that 'state of Israel' uses to get more financial aid from it's allies and to fend off people who call upon ending the 'statehood' of Israel in the Middle East region and give back the Palestinians what was taken from them by power.

The cry for freedom of speech allows you to say what you want against who you want in order to get the change you so call for, but infortunately, this doesn't seem to be the case with individuals who try to silence the people who even think of contemplating about the Holocaust loudly. So if that's the case, then does that mean that you are allowed to put your view out no matter how harsh it may be about any tacky matter this world has seen to but this? Freedom of speech means freedom to think about anything and speak in whatever subject you feel but in a respectable manner.

However, this is just the other half of the coin in the west, whereas in the other regions of the world you aren't allowed to speak about your rulers, their advisors and the such and could be given a proper whiplashing as it is in Saudi Arabia or as the situation is in Iran where "many Iranians are wondering whey they have the right to deny the Holocaust with impunity, but not to question their own leaders without risking jail". (Outrage over Holocaust conference)

In all aspects, Iran may have proven a point to the West about conferring about such taboo subjects but in doing so, it may have proven it in the worst way by inviting 67 researchers from 30 countries of which only 4 have served time and in former extremist groups - one of who used to be a white supremest and former KKK clan leader.

The question that is on the mind of everyone in the world who is seeing the situation escalate day-in-day-out is: why?

There are those such the British PM Tony Blair who says that Iran is a 'major strategic threat', and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel who rejected the very idea of having such a conference.

But what is it that Iran hopes from holding such a conference? Is it just a battle of power after it has already announced that it has the nuclear capability triggering a nuclear capability race between the GCC countries, Egypt? Is it the mere the power of struggling with the biggest superpowers in the world such as the USA, who - in Persian eyes - seem to be the weakest country at holding its word after failing in Afghanistan, and Iraq?

One thing is for sure, though. This standoff between the West and Iran will not bode well should it continue at the current tempo. If Iran's President really does aim to show the world a true picture then there is a need for foreign policy change, a better fundamental understanding of freedom of speech and the need to tread quietly along the line of diplomacy.

Else, it will mean a WW III.

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Links:

- Outrage over Holocaust conference

- Why are Jews at the 'Holocaust denial' conference?

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