Freedom of Speech Needs Defending When It’s Hardest to Defend

FILM SCHOOL REJECTS
By Cole Abaius

Screen shot from film "Muslim Innocence"

Judging purely from the 14 minutes available online, "Muslim Innocence" - the movie that sparked outrage in Libya and Egypt, leading to the death of US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others – is the cinematic and ethical equivalent of toilet paper. It wouldn’t be a shame if it had never been made, but it was, and that’s why it needs protection. The First Amendment isn’t for convenience, and it isn’t for stuff like Lilo and Stitch. It is designed specifically for speech that people get angry about. Religious emotions aside, artists should have the freedom to portray Mohammed in a highly negative light just like they should have the freedom to portray Christ as a homosexual or Hitler as a guy with a bad mustache wearing a banana suit. Even despite its tragically unique status as a protested film, its still the inexcusable response which has given this feeble punch a lot more power than it deserves. [link]