This is how the freedom of speech is lost. One bows to violent threats in the name of prudence, and soon one finds violent threats not decreasing, but increasing. That’s only to be expected. By bowing to these threats, you have shown that they work, and thereby invited more of them.
“‘Showing the Mohammed cartoons can have a radicalizing effect on students,'” translated from “‘Zeigen der Mohammed-Karikaturen kann radikalisierend auf Schüler wirken,'” by Joachim Wagner, Welt, April 19, 2021:
Hesse’s Ministry of Culture warns teachers that the use of Mohammed caricatures in class can be dangerous – a highly controversial step. Some teachers think: After the murder of Samuel Paty, one really has to address such representations.
Hesse’s Ministry of Culture wrote to the state’s 1,800 headmasters that there were disturbing “hints/suggestions in connection with the thematization of the murder of the French teacher Samuel Paty.”
With reference to a suggestion by the State Office of Criminal Investigation (LKA), it says: “The showing of the Mohammed caricatures or any pictorial representation of the Prophet Mohammed can be interpreted as behavior critical of Islam that is emotionalizing and, under certain circumstances, can be mobilizing as well as radicalizing on the group of recipient pupils.”
The Hessian warning is so far the only one of its kind in Germany. Although the “hints/suggestions” are carefully worded, according to migration researcher Ruud Koopmans from the Berlin Science Center, the message is clear: “No teacher will dare to show the caricatures after reading the letter.”
PRCS says
Radicalizing.
For the children, maybe.
For their parents. No doubt–as Mr. Paty found out.
mortimer says
If the right to discuss controversy is not defended, then there is no freedom of expression in Germany.
What the have is MOB RULE. The stifling of freedom of expression by threats of violence is called the HECKLER’S VETO.
An American judge defined the heckler’s veto as
,,, “an IMPERMISSIBLE content-based RESTRICTION on speech, where the speech is prohibited due to an ANTICIPATED DISORDERLY or VIOLENT reaction of the audience.”
The ‘heckler’s veto’ is nothing but VIGILANTE LAW or the LAW imposed by a MOB. No group attempting to administer a self-made law which vetoes the freedom of expression of others should be tolerated.
The heckler’s veto is an attempt to overthrow free speech which is the law of the land, and in its place to set up mob law, lynch law, and to substitute lawlessness for the law enforcement which obtains in civilized countries.
The Islamic heckler’s veto is nothing but VERBAL TERRORISM.
The jabbered excuse for censorship given by Islamists is their ‘hurt feelings’ which do not cause a true statement to become false or a false one to become true.
HURT FEELINGS simply have nothing whatsoever to do with the veracity of an assertion.
DAVID R MORRISON says
Mortimer , You are correct , and your statement should be on Billboards !
RichardL says
there is no freedom of speech anywhere in the world other than the US. There was once, though: in Friedrich’s Prussia.
James Lincoln says
RichardL,
We still have freedom of speech in the United States, but the cost may be extraordinarily high:
1. De-platformed: Facebook, Twitter, Google, Apple and Amazon.
2. Fired.
3. Canceled.
4. Doxed.
4. Etc.,
mortimer says
Partially disagree with RL about Frederick the Great: he allowed partial press freedom, but despite his lack of censorship when it came to philosophical and religious articles, all political material was controlled.
The attitude was: print your philosophical, religious or economic arguments, but unconditionally support the political order. In the 19th century Hamburg and Frankfurt had freedom of the press and Prussia cracked down on them.
Freedom of the press was tolerated, but not freedom of political speech. Frederick was MORE enlightened, but he was still ABSOLUTE.
Fred van de Bunt says
“Carefully worded?” I would say diplomatically put, but what does it mean in straight language?
The Ministry says that the freedom of teaching the topic of the savage murder of Mister Paty -that is the topic of freedom of European thought and expression (speech is only part of that)- has reached its limit.
This since “Islam youth” “might” radicalize and “might” become extremely dangerous, which “might” cause the savage murder of the teacher of European freedom of thought and expression.
A leader, not a Ministry full of bureaucrats that only warns about it, would do something about this risk of severe abuse of European freedom of thought and expression.
gravenimage says
Germany: Hesse’s Ministry of Culture warns teachers that showing Muhammad cartoons in class can be ‘radicalizing’
…………………..
It isn’t criticism of Islam that is “radicalizing”–that would be the texts and tenets of Islam itself.
This is a demand that civilized people bow to the savagery of Shari’ah law.
mortimer says
Agree. To criticize Islam using valid fact-based reasoning is actually the attempt to DE-RADICALIZE Muslims.
The argument that criticism of Islam is an attempt to stir up jihad is the height of ABSURDITY.
To show Mohammed cartoons will almost certainly be opposed by Islamists who want to impose Sharia and the German government is just not ready to start a war with all Muslim governments and terror groups in the world. So they chickened out.
In German universities, professors speak about Islamic controversy in hushed tones in small classes. Usually, jihadic Muslims who join such classes walk out and resign when they hear anything that is critical of the fantasy-based STANDARD NARRATIVE of Islam.
James Lincoln says
mortimer says,
“…To criticize Islam using valid fact-based reasoning is actually the attempt to DE-RADICALIZE Muslims.”
De-radicalizing muslims using “valid fact-based reasoning” works about as well as trying to de-radicalize American Leftists…
Occasionally, there is a successful one-off – but not mass numbers…
gravenimage says
Mortimer, I’m afraid the idea that Jihadist Muslims would all just quietly walk out of classes critrical of Islam–a rarity in any case–is mistaken in most cases.
Muslims are more likely to protest, riot, and start lobbing death threats at the professor.
Giacomo Latta says
Muslims don’t follow the koran or listen to your their religious leaders, do they?
Giacomo Latta says
sorry, ”your their” s/b ”their”
mortimer says
We need to educate the Western youth about ISLAM’S EXTREME INTOLERANCE of IMAGES, ART and MUSIC. The youth simply DO NOT ANYTHING about that.
The clueless American sleeze-entertainer SZA is typical of today’s youth in America that knows NOTHING about Islam’s rejection of music, immodest apparel, dancing and music.
gravenimage says
Mortimer, this from SZA is not typical cluelessness of Western youth–she herself was raised in Islam and immurred in Hijab at the age of ten or before. From her it is more likely Taqiyya.
Daniel Silvan says
Ha! This reminds me of the media and politicians (okay, Democrats) blaming White people for Blacks committing all those hate crimes against Asians. Why is it so difficult for them to place the blame where it belongs?
OTTER says
Terrorism and threats work. There is Sharia all around the world. Say anything nasty about Muslims and they kill you. Simple, straightforward, and highly effective.
When dealing with Muslims, the rule is:
Managing their madness is your responsibility.
Johnny B says
It’s like sitting in a boat with a hole right in the middle of if and some “expert” says: “Please don’t touch it, you might just make it worse!”
James Lincoln says
+1
Bikinis not Burkas says
What a load of P.C. cods lollop, if they are offended they can’t be radicalized because they are already FUNDAMENTALISTS and already wanting to obey the Quran and kill YOU!
OLD GUY says
The muslim/islamic migration invasion is taking over the Social and governing of the countries they have invaded. WOKE-UP! Sticking your head in the sand results in your enemy kicking your ass.
R. Thomasson says
@Old Guy. The enemy is already kicking their ass, and even more than that. Think of New Year Eve of 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrOyAAZ1n3I
gravenimage says
Important piece from Ezra Levant.
R. Thomasson says
After 5th May 1945 the Third Reich had fallen and the Germans got their basic rights again; freedom of speech among them. But the freedom of speech is vanishing and gradually replaced by Soviet-like regime. It is true that the GESTAPO, KGB or Stasi is still not knocking on their door in the mid of the night. But for how long? Within 10 years the Germans and other European citizens WILL OWN NOTHING, BUT WILL BE VERY HAPPY. The ones who will not be that happy will be sent to the Goelag for correction. The mass imported Jihad-army will aid the new rulers to keep indigenous Germans (and other European nations) physically under control. They are the future 13th SS Gebirgjager Handshar.