2008 Woodie Awards
Abusing the right to free speech
Parisa Saranj, Collegian columnist
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: Editorial / Opinion
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.
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.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 8
Eli Gottlieb
posted 10/17/07 @ 5:49 AM EST
So an idiotic woman says she hates all Iranians. This, perhaps (I am not sure of the legal definitions.), qualifies as slander. So sue her for slander. (Continued…)
Greg
posted 10/17/07 @ 1:28 PM EST
Freedom of speech under the US Constitution doesn't come with restrictions, or conditions.
If Columbia University can sit through the rantings of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the UMass can easily handle the comments of Debra Cagan. (Continued…)
KRW
posted 10/17/07 @ 3:02 PM EST
This argument flows both ways. Ms. Cagan has herself been slandered as far as any hard evidence is concerned. Some MPs, who go unnamed, have supposedly made an accusation that she said something that she denies saying. (Continued…)
in solidarity
posted 10/17/07 @ 4:43 PM EST
This was an excellent article, and I too believe that no one who makes hateful comments like Cagan did should ever hold any type of public office. We should ask for her resignation, not necessarily sue her for slander. (Continued…)
richard
posted 10/21/07 @ 4:51 PM EST
Whether Ms. Cagan was misquoted or not has become moot. Despite denials of the actual statement, every white house statement, every press conference held, it is abundantly clear--as it was prior to the invasion and occupation of Iraq--that this administration consistently exhibits strong animosity toward not only policies and specific leaders, but in saying "We will not allow THESE PEOPLE to have THE KNOWLEDGE to build a "nucular" weapon, this administration is threatening the lives of any innocent Iraqis who get in the way of their so-called "surgical" strikes. (Continued…)
MAURICIO
posted 10/23/07 @ 12:36 AM EST
If you are not sure this was a misquote you better make sure, and someone should play the devils advocate, and say that perhaps it is true Iran might take southern Iraq. (Continued…)
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