The former prime minister of Britain, Mr. Tony Blair, who is
a Roman Catholic, has reacted to the recent violent protests that caused the
life of many people all over the world, saying, “I think what we shouldn't do
is lose sight of what the real issue is, and the real issue is how do people
actually think it is justified to react in a way that ends up innocent people
being killed. […] So no, this is a profound problem; it’s a problem, as I say,
which is about the struggle of modernization. The good news is, in the end, the
modernizers will win incidentally, but it will take a long time to do.”[1]
One can well agree with Tony Blair that no one can justify
the death of innocent persons. He is right in asserting that demanding the
persons behind the film should be held responsible. But I am interested in his
comment about modernity.
Modernization for most westerners means that it is about the
freedom of the individual. A society is considered to be modern only when the
individual freedom is attained. There should not be a major issue with this
understanding. The further explanation at the comment of Blair is to indicate
that one should be able to respect the views of others. This means that the
modern people will be more tolerant and magnanimous in accepting the view of
others even if it is a false view.
But how is that the individual who expects that everybody’s
view should be respected does not respect the view of others even if it is a
false one. I explain: sorry to use the name of Blair. If Blair thinks that the
modern notion of freedom is to respect the view of others, then the Muslims
should be able to respect the view of the director of the Movie. That is the
sign of being modern. Because they are not modern, then they react violently.
My
question is – if the views of others should be respected, why the director, who
is a modern, does not respect the view of the millions of Muslims.
Who is pre-modern – the director or the Muslims? Or Both?
Who is pre-modern – the director or the Muslims? Or Both?
*****
The irony is that the sister-in-law of Mr. Tony Blair
converted to Islam
three years after his conversion to Catholicism.
*****
[1] http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/09/17/tony-blair-reaction-to-anti-islam-film-absurd_n_1889232.html
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