Danish Cartoons. Varsity Letter.
Posted by Will Haggard on February 14th, 2007
Following Owen’s post, I think it is fair to say that we, the bloggers, have all been keen not to undermine the position of Clareification’s guest editor by posting on the issue and sparking wider international, as well as national, controversy. This would only lead to the college’s position vis-a-vis the editor being even more difficult. I wrote to Varsity (a student newspaper) on the issue last week shortly after Varsity published the story as its leading article. I know many of the readers of this forum have been waiting to read such comments. All I ask is that the information is treated with the delicacy that it deserves. Taking up the cause and making Clare a martyr to liberalism will not help resolve the current situation. Nor will ignoring it and pretending it never happened. Please read on for the text of my letter.
Dear Sir
Your coverage of the Clare College Danish Cartoon scandal, dated the ninth of February seemed to ignore several major issues surrounding the case. The publication was unquestionably offensive, however the issues raised by Varsity and subsequent media coverage have been purely concerned with its Islamaphobic content. The edition, called “Crucification” contained equally provocative and offensive anti-Christian as well as racist remarks, yet this evaded any news coverage. The question must be asked why the offense of Muslims is given priority coverage? Is it due to the fact that within this minority there is a militant core who are willing to use violence in expressing their discontent? As idiotic as the editor’s decision might have been to include one of the Danish Cartoons, it is equally alarming to know the editor has now been re-housed in a secret location for his own safety. What a sad series of events this has been for freedom of speech in this country.
Will Haggard
Filed under: clareification, freespeech, religion on February 14th, 2007
Well said Will.
Grr.. I dont find it equally alarming that the fella is in protection so he doesnt get his head sawed off at all.
Will, please don’t assume the majority of your new friends endorse the most likely knuckle-scraping views of the previous commentator. Reading between the lines of the breathless reporting in the Cambridge Evening News, I see the student has been removed from accomodation to a “secure place” and the local bobbies have thus far declined to become involved. This makes me think it’s merely an internal matter, and there are no fears for his safety.
But, as Brownie has said elsewhere, it’s the potential cover-up which is getting our goat, and giving oxygen to this pillock’s views. You’re not going to have a Looking Glass War on your hands, with suicide-bombers by next week. I remained convinced that beneath the pathetic and patronizing accommodation of “Muslim feelings” (did the University ask “ordinary Muslims” or did it listen merely to the loudest voices?), though, there may be a concern of lucrative foreign investment being arrested. Is that cynical?
On to Steve’s remark. Bravely said, but I don’t think you needed to toe the line of the “offensive” nature and play to the supposed idiocy of the guest editor. Ask the questions, and stand up to people assuming to tell you what’s best for you; don’t slip into the excreable reporting of that local rag which was acting as judge, juror and excoriator. The facts of the publication will speak for themselves. If I ever see them, I’ll be able to make a judgement.
Summat which may interest you, and give lie to the claim that representations of the Islamic prophet are anathema.
I think a sad reality needs to be faced regarding the reporting and reception of this story. What is it that is really the cause of the attention? Is it what HAS happened, or what can be made of it?
To me there is something of a parallel to be made with the recent Big Brother racism furore. Jade Goody and co. behaved inappropriately, their abuse crossed the line from undesirable to unacceptable, people complained and rightly so. But the event was not reported, rather an event was created. It was grossly blown out of proportions, that we made it a comment on racism in Britain, on xenophobic attitudes, on the stoicism and heroism of the minority interest; it was sickening. I doubt the majority of the British population strongly identifies with Jade Goody!? But what a sensation, racial conflict, cultural clash, flashpoint of international tensions, and Jade’s outrageous soundbites to accompany it. This turned it into something else. The media made it into collective experience, something we could/should all hold forth on. It invited the disgruntled to shout about racist tensions, it required a public condemnation of their behaviour, and it turned them into public sacrifices to political correctness. What an event. Perspective anyone?
The Muslim cartoons scandal was on a different level. The offense was far greater and people died in the uproar that followed them. But similarly, how much was this an event being reported by worldwide news, or one being created by them? How much were the majority who were displeased but not insensed being brought to a stronger opinion by a cultural event created by a thirst for an experience of news rather than a knowledge of it? Were a few cartoons in a Danish paper such a grievous assault on Islam?
As much as I might seem to be, I am not media bashing however. News agencies are not independant, they are subject to the most enormous restriction; what their audience wants. And they have learnt what their audience wants. Sensation exagerrates, polemicises, and shatters proportion and perspective. And we love it.
Which brings me back to the College newspaper at Clare. The editor was an idiot, why publish that sort of satire in today’s climate, why create the opportunity for confrontation? But he was a student, in a private institution, writing to an audience of a few hundred contemporaries at most, of whom he was not representative, and must now face the consequences of college discipline. There’s a story, you can’t reprimand a journalist for reporting it. But there’s not an event. There’s no comment to be made on islamaphobic attitudes in Cambridge, in East Anglia, in Britain or in the Western world! It does not raise national questions of freedom of speech or political correctness. UNLESS it is turned into a sensational media event that we all take sides on.
Will’s point is valid, but I think in this light the focus on the Muslim abuse is unsurprising. Let us hope that the Cambridge Evening News is as far as the ’sensation’ of this story goes.
Well that’s very sweet of you Alec, but it is impossible to make taking him to a “secure location” sound like anything other than a protective measure. I notice you didn’t try any alternative suggestions out, just had a go at me for pointing out the obvious. Remember “behead those who insult islam”, Alec? here’s a hint, go look at my prophiles photo on my blog.
Now, be a good lad and check out the comments to steve’s post. I think you’ll find i have already concorded with this paragraph of yours completely;
On to Steve’s remark. Bravely said, but I don’t think you needed to toe the line of the “offensive†nature and play to the supposed idiocy of the guest editor. Ask the questions, and stand up to people assuming to tell you what’s best for you; don’t slip into the excreable reporting of that local rag which was acting as judge, juror and excoriator. The facts of the publication will speak for themselves. If I ever see them, I’ll be able to make a judgement.
One hopes you don’t suddenly find your knuckles dragging on the floor. You might be very suprised about the BNP Alec! Dont believe the lies about us.
Dear BNP
I’m not overly surprised you’re in agreement with that paragraph of mine, as it was purposefully couched in terms to avoid an adamantive position. I hope I made apparent that, on seeing the material in question, I could go either way; whereas judging from your blog, you have decided already which way to go.
Here’s me thinking that the fluffy side of fascism was General Wountwort. I would welcome your telling me more about the noveau BNP, especially as it’s planning to branch out into the Scottish electoral system. Do you take an interest in ballet dancing?
No, I digress. I will likely have to miss the next local meeting… no, I don’t know what date, I will have to miss it. I’m washing my hair. Individually.
Consider this my last response to your attempts to set the parameters of discussion on this blog.
Love, Alec
Having read, and commented on your blog Mr BNP, I’d be inclined to agree about the knuckle dragging. Some research before posting would do a lot to make you look less like an ignorant extremist. Please don’t try to help [Mr X], he is very intelligent and articulate, will be tried fairly, and the involvement of you and your kind can only harm his cause.
Dear BNP,
I hope you are listening to R3 Tchaikovskothone, especially the choral music just now. It may take your mind off planning for some upcoming race-realism war while sitting in your underpants at 3 pm while eating rice-krispies.
Love, Alec
Lol!
I think Alec is reffering to the man who was reprted to the police for, amongst other things, having a bottle of peroxide (a constituent part of explosives) legally In his garage.
He stood as a candidate for us in a local election, causing the left much mirth, and you might have seen him - breathlessly reported as such - on the BBC.
What you wont have seen is that he was reported to the police by his wife, one of our activists, nor that he was a conservitive activist for 20 years before he joined us for one council election, nor that he was shunned by the rest of the BNP members for being - ahem - somewhat eccentric.
What you will have been told is that he is Christian, right wing and ex-BNP. Not that the media has an agenda or anything.
You can read more here;
http://www.bnp.org.uk/news_detail.php?newsId=1363
Aaaargh, the tinfoil is slipping… it’s sl-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-ping… the voices, oh god, the voices…
Please, no more petty squabbling. The debate layed out doesn’t deserve to be derailed nor does it deserve to be hijacked by extremists from either side of the political spectrum. Scoring points off each other won’t help either. Owen’s point is right. This editor doesn’t need the support of the BNP to muddy the voices calling for freedom of speech. It will only make the centre ground between Islamic fundamentalism and British fascism that much harder to defend.
Billy, apologies for any part I have played in baiting this troll. I’m well familiar with his modus operandi, and ain’t even sure if he’s a true believer… more a floating twit, but most certainly an attention seeker.