Freedom of Expression vs. Empathy

This week, Sir Trevor Phillips, the Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality in Britain, said that Muslims living in Britain had be tolerant of things that offended them as Britain is a democracy where people “sort things out by voting, not by violence and intimidation.” He also said that freedom of speech applied to religious leaders who preach against homosexuality and that British society needs to be tolerant of that form of self-expression, also. See the BBC story here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4752804.stm

Now my politics lean well into the left and I believe in freedom of speech just as much as the next liberal, but I wonder at what point do we draw a line in the sand and say, “this was meant to offend.” Think of the hundreds of dodgy generalizations you’ve made about a race or religion in your life. Most of these are kept very private so as not to offend. Where is our basic human empathy in making light of Islam’s central figure? Sure, argue about terrorism, discuss the concept of jihad, analyze the tenets of Islam – but what is the point, other than to marginalize a specific group by laughing at them, of drawing Mohammed with a bomb-turban?

One wonders the reaction the public would have if political cartoons were published denigrating people of African descent in some fashion. I wonder how Sir Trevor Phillips, who is of African heritage, would take to that sort of political cartoon. It's difficult to say exactly how it would make me feel, being a white female. However I can tell you that I would be quite offended if cartoons started appearing in the media, portraying women as the weaker, less intelligent sex.

I disagree with Sir Phillips further in that I don’t think hatred against any group of people should be proliferated. I think it is fine to live by your own moral code where you think homosexuality is a sin, but to actively condemn those who are gay (or any other subgroup denounced in a set of moral values) is wrong.

I want to live in a world where freedom of expression exists, but where we realize how our actions will affect other people and act accordingly. It is a fundamental lesson I teach to my students throughout the year, a lesson that needs to be remembered by the powers-that-be.