The most beautiful thing about America is the freedom it affords its people. How envious I am - as a Middle Easterner - of Americans for such beautiful gifts they have been granted as freedom of speech. It is indeed a wonderful thing to be able to express the heart and not be punished, imprisoned or tortured about it. Last week, as I was wandering in the infinite world of American beauties, I come across a quote in The Daily Mail, an English newspaper, uttered by Ms. Debra Cagan, the deputy assistant secretary for coalition affairs to American Defense Secretary Robert Gates. In a meeting with six British Members of Parliamen (MPs), Ms. Cagan expressed her heart by saying she hates all Iranians. Cagan, one of President Bush's foreign policy advisers, made it abundantly clear that although the United States had no plans to attack Iran, it will be considered if the Iranians ignored warnings on the development of nuclear power and bombs. And, she added: "In any case, I hate all Iranians." I, like the British MPs, was stunned by her statement. What was most resonant was a comment Cagan made on the future of Iraq. According to one of the MPs, she said if Americans leave the south of Iraq, the Iranians will take it over. So, here I am reading these quotes from one of Bush's own advisers and reminding myself that I live in the 21st century, when the age of fascism, racism and talk of hatred is supposed to be passed. But, I remember that if I am a Middle Eastern, I also must be an ignorant, uncivilized marauder. Therefore, I must be mistaken about the true concept of Cagan's remark. Freedom of speech, I remind myself. If a nation is so free and democratic to grant this privilege to all its citizens, then it must be with kindness and virtue that a government official makes such statements. Yes. Now, it makes sense. It is through the freedom of speech that citizens, politicians and officials can publicly assert such detestable observations and get away with it. I believe that nowadays freedom of speech is just a figure raised by some to condemn non-favored groups. In the name of freedom, races and religious groups are addressed as hateful and brutish. Who is to stop these unjust accusations? How, possibly, could some still point to an entire ethnic group and refer to them in resentment? Is there a line to separate free speech from hate speech, especially from a federal official? So, I take another look at Ms. Cagan's claims to find my answers. The Pentagon and the White House deny that Ms. Cagan talks like this. I didn't see any coverage of her speech in the mainstream American media, and not many people aside from a group of voiceless Iranians and some unimportant English liberals seem to be bothered with her claim. The evidence tells me that, no, there is no one to stop these accusations. In the name of American freedom and the inherent self--righteousness, anything can be said to achieve the desired goal. There is no line to be drawn. Why should there be one? It is one of the caveats of American free speech. Finally, I find it a coincidence - I wrote this column on Eid-Al-Fitr, one of the most important Muslim Eids, or celebrations. It is a day of forgiveness, fellowship, and congregation. Muslims celebrate the end of fasting month of Ramadan, and thank God for His help and blessings. It is a time of giving and sharing. Muslims join one another to practice brotherhood, love and unity. Iran, additionally, is country with a 98 percent Muslim population. Oppressed under the despotism of a group of fundamentalists, and lost in the game of labeling, Iranian people are simply associated with their government and thought to believe in the same inhumane principals. It's ironic that in such a day that my people are celebrating love, peace and unity, I find them being resented. These people themselves are the victims of an unpopular minority that rules with force, terror and tyranny. These allegedly hateful Iranians, as Cagan perceives them, have been living for decades under the authority of corrupt powers which have been - from time to time - puppets of other powerful western nations. The only question I can't find the answer to is, since I happen to be one of these people, shouldn't I hate Ms. Cagan? But I don't hate Ms. Cagan, or any other person who calls my people savages or developers of nuclear weaponry. I am taught to love and respect. I am just from a tried land which has been in the hands of the wrong people for centuries. We are serene, humanitarian, and hospitable people who hope and pray for peace on Earth and among nations. But if the western world, as expressed by Cagan, still thinks we're a violent, vile people, what am I being peaceful for? Parisa Saranj is a Collegian columnist. She can be reached at psaranj@student.umass.edu.
Daily Collegian > Editorial / Opinion
Abusing the right to free speech
Published: Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Updated: Tuesday, February 3, 2009
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