A letter writer to Voices (Arkansas Democrat Gazette 09-05-2006), Iftikhar Pathan, of Little Rock, Arkansas, didn’t like the letter written by Norman Gentry of Mountain View, in which Gentry spoke against Islam. Iftikhar said though there is “freedom of expression” it doesn’t mean that one can insult other religions. He further says that the editorial staff has the responsibility to edit such insulting remarks before they are published. Well now, I do say, “ain’t” that something?

It is this writer’s humble opinion that Mr. Pathan has revealed himself and his religion. But first, for his information it is freedom of speech, not expression, and there isn’t any restriction in the First Amendment that restricts insulting speech about anything, including religion. Secondly, Mr. Pathan is advocating censorship of free speech by the publisher/editor, as if the publisher/editor would be able to recognize whatever might be offensive to a reader. Such censorship would be a close second to the worst censorship of all, that done by the government.

Now back to Mr. Pathan revealing himself and his religion. He admits by his words that he believes in others not being able to say anything that doesn’t suit him and offends him. Yet, he wants the freedom he enjoys to speak as he wishes, which if I am not mistaken, is one of the behaviors of those who follow Islam. They freely speak of what they want to do to those who won’t bow to their belief(s) and suppression of opposing speech is the only way that some agendas can be forced onto others.

Whether Mr. Pathan is a naturalized citizen or natural born, he shows a lack of understanding about freedom of speech, and if he is neither of those two and is here as a guest (green card, student visa etc.), he has overstepped his bounds by criticizing Mr. Gentry for exercising his right to speak as he sees fit.

But isn’t that the way of those who follow beliefs that would stifle freedoms and liberties of every kind?  A reasonable assessment of the Islamic religion suggests to a reasonable mind that it is attuned to See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, but with a twist. The Pathan’s of the world See No Evil in the terrorist’s activities because Islam proclaims that believers shall kill infidels. They Hear No Evil when their victims and captives scream while being tortured and killed by bombs and other means. They Speak No Evil when they and their Muslim leaders threaten other nations and announce their jihads against peaceful nations because they believe they are superior to everyone else. Yes, Mr. Pathan, the record of history says you do protest too much and do give lie to your words about the peaceful nature of your  religion’s doctrines.

The gospel of Jesus Christ stands in stark contrast to the tenets of Islam. Christians are to preach the gospel and by so doing, it points out the deficiencies in other beliefs even if those beliefs aren’t mentioned. Paul’s preaching on Mars Hill in Athens about the unknown God is a good example. The unknown god he proclaimed is (not was) the God of creation and his Son Jesus Christ.

Using the dictum of Mr. Pathan about “free expression”, and censorship, it would be impossible to preach the gospel or convey the message in any form had such been in force in the Roman Empire, and we more than likely wouldn’t know about Paul’s preaching on Mars Hill. But then again we would have. God can’t be bound by censors or the death of his messengers.

People like Mr. Pathan have the right to speak their message whatever it might be; and I dare say that Mr. Gentry wouldn’t stop Mr. Pathan’s freedom to express himself, though he might find the message offensive. Freedom of speech is just that: freedom to say what one will in support of or to oppose the belief(s) of others.  

The Pathan’s of the world never seem to consider, in their quest to silence the opposition and force their ways on others, that their words might offend those who don’t accept their belief. In Sorting It Out, if Iftikhar Pathan and others of his ilk are offended by this article my sentiment is simply, “Well now, I do say.”

© 09-07-2006 DEC