I do not believe that you missed the spectacular koran-burning of an american referend with all of its brutal consequences? Or have you missed that facebook has been sued for a page that fb actually closed down? If you do not live in Sweden, you might not know that we have a right wing, xenophob party (Sverigedemokraterna, SD) in the Swedish government that plays a crucial role in Swedish politics as it determines which side wins votings in Swedish parliament: red/green or blue (liberal). Today it was announced that on 90% of all votings SD votes for the right wing. NO, what a surprise! But SD still says that they are a neutral party with no orientation to any side.
I am just wondering what happened to basic human rights, compassion and respect? Do we have to burn books to show how low we can sink? Do only some people have the right to express themselves on the internet and social networks? How can there still be people in upplighted countries like Sweden that think that they are better than others?
I do not know if it is thanks to my German blood that I am always reminded of all the happenings throughout worldwar II? Did not Hitler order a big book-burning? And look what happened then. Did not Hitler put an end to all kind of opposite coverage and questioning journalism and only allowed some groups to speak in public? And look what happened then. Did not Hitler from the beginning say that he just wants the best for the german people? And look what happened then!
Please do not misunderstand me. I do not think that the demand for freedom of speech should make it possible to attack other groups or individuals. But why should this right be declared valid for some groups but be void for others? Take the Koran-burning as example: I just wonder what referend Terry Jones would think about a general Bible-burning? He explaines that he wants to illustrate the violence that is related to Islam. Is this not a paradox? To perform such an upsetting spectacle to show violence? Is the act of awaking violence not an act of violence itself? I am sure that he must have been aware that his actions would lead to violent reactions.
Facebook: an internet community that gives the right to most of opinions and political directions to go public. If you type the word Israel or Nazi you will find at least a dussin pro-israelian sites there. And that is great. It shows the possibility to meet, to discuss and to debate. Still: the pro-palestine site "third palestine intifada" was shut down and now fb has been sued for over a billion USdollars. What makes one group better than the other? I have made my homework and have been reading a couple of the pro-israelian sites and I can promise you that not all posts are peaceful. I can understand that sometimes the violent aspects of some posts are more than excessive and I can understand that sometimes this kind of publications has to be stopped but then this should be applicable to everyone! Terry Jones still has his fb-site online...
And please, SD, stopp being so superiour, believing to be better than everyone else. Everyone knows that you running a right wing party. Xenophobia cannot be left wing, ever!
right on, ghalia.
SvaraRaderain fact the right wing parties are not only xenophobic, but use xenophobia and plain old fearmongering as a means to gain popularity with people who usually come from the uneducated and ultrareligious segment of the population. and look at the methods and rhetoric they are using: straight out of Goebbel's propaganda handbook, including kz's (guantanamo) and book burning (jones).
someone just has to add a nota bene: if everything fails, poison your wife and children and do yourself in....
just too many good folks have to suffer along the way.
best,
manfred