Freedom of expression is not freedom of the ass;A lesson from the non-Western countries to the complacent West and its Tamil immigrants
Posted on October 22nd, 2012
Asada M Erpini
Sri Lanka President was invited by the Oxford Union for an address in December 2010, but because of the threats of the Tamil extremists, the organisers cancelled the event. When he went for the Commonwealth Economic Forum in June 2012, again in London, the scheduled speech at the event was cancelled amid demonstrations by hundreds of UK Tamils, who would not have any interest in coming back to Sri Lanka to settle and hordes of younger ones who may never have seen Sri Lanka except on a map.
The police looked on allowing the unruly mobs to denigrate the Visiting Head of State and to accuse him of genocide because the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Mother of DemocracyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ believed in the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Freedom of ExpressionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. One of the traditions that Sri Lanka, the population of which is three quarters Sinhalese, believes and cherishes is that an invited guest is treated with respect and decorum.
Little do the countries in the West seem to realise, or accept, that it is only under the political leadership of President Mahinda Rajapakse that Sri Lanka managed to come out of terrorist curse that destroyed peaceful Sri Lanka for nearly three decades. More than any other ethnic group it is the Tamils who remained in Sri Lanka that have benefited most from the peace that dawned since May 2009: the infrastructure is being re-built, parents do not have to sacrifice a child from each family to be cannon fodder in a megalomaniacƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s quest for Eealm, and children can go to school clasping their schoolbags instead of fearing that they will be abducted and a Kalashnikov thrust into their hands to fight the Sinhala enemies.
The West is quite fond of implying, or even stating, that the poorer countries are eager to emulate them in every aspect. This may be true when one thinks of the facilities, the equipment and the machinery that has made transport, communication, work environment, etc. convenient for all concerned. But many of the counties dubbed as developing nations ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” including some such as those in the Middle East carrying an additional tag, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-resource richƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” can teach the West how their nationals should treat visitors.
The President of Sri Lanka has visited many countries in the recent past. During the past week he has been in Kuwait and the UAE to attend important meetings. We are yet to hear of or see unruly Tamil mobs parading their lack of upbringing opposite the hotel where the President of Sri Lanka is accommodated or near the venue of the meetings. Obviously there are many anti-Sri Lanka Tamils and LTTE sympathisers in the Middle Eastern countries, but they know quite well what their place is and how they should behave.
Freedom of expression is fine, but that does not give the licence to affiliates of terrorists to denigrate visiting Heads of State ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” or, for that matter, any invited guest ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” that comes to your home.
October 23rd, 2012 at 1:36 am
‘Mother of Democracy’ Greece; at its death bed. On ‘Freedom of Speech’ EU, the Nobel Prize winner and US Just cancelled all Iranian channels off their satellite broadcast. Unable to stomach the truth. In the Middle East, we discuss solutions for grievances through due process. (Not voting) Our methods may not suit the Western palate. We value freedom of speech as long as it is the truth and does not violate any Human Rights or faith based sensitiveness. Our Rulers and other leaders are at ease when they visit UAE.
October 23rd, 2012 at 4:23 am
**‘Mother of Democracy’ Greece; at its death bed. On ‘Freedom of Speech’ EU, the Nobel Prize winner and US Just cancelled all Iranian channels off their satellite broadcast. Unable to stomach the truth.**
When the truth is beheadings, stonings, amputations, “not without my daughter”, then any civilized human being will not be able to palate it.
**In the Middle East, we discuss solutions for grievances through due process. (Not voting) **
That is by beheading, stoning, amputation, beating, polygamy, misogyny and all other disgusting processes. Also the “In the Middle East, WE” is due noted! When an unfortunate woman is raped in the ME, its not the rapist but the victim who is punished for “adultery”. Now that shows how mentally ill the due process is.
**Our methods may not suit the Western palate.**
Any civilized human being will be disgusted by beheading, amputation, beating, etc. etc. These barbaric methods belong to the stone age.
**We value freedom of speech as long as it is the truth and does not violate any Human Rights or faith based sensitiveness.**
The only freedom of speech to a Wahabi is freedom of praising the imaginary creator. Anything else, criticize the barbaric rules that Wahabi’s impose and your beheaded. This fear of criticism just shows how insecure Wahabis really are!
**Our Rulers and other leaders are at ease when they visit UAE.**
Luckily! That is because the UAE is one of the more liberal countries in the ME (least Sharia). Go to a country where you are forced to wear a rag on your head or Gonibilla dress and see how at ease anyone will be!
Democracy has its flaws but it is a trillion times better (more humane!) than Sharia where Rizana Nawfeek is awaiting the death penalty for a crime she didn’t commit!
October 23rd, 2012 at 4:46 am
Fahmy,
I support Iran 100%.
But I don’t like Wahabis ( your brothers) in Saudi, Qatar etc now palying games in Syria after killing uncle Gadafi.
What is your stand on this ?
You cannot support both Wahabis murdureos barbaric Sauids and respectable Iran ( I love Dr. Ahamajinada he is a legend).
October 23rd, 2012 at 10:52 pm
IGNORANCE IS BLISS. PLEASE DO THRIVE ON IT; AS FALLACY WILL TAKE YOU TO GREATER HEIGHTS, INSHA-ALLAH.
Mentor Dr. Ahmadinejad is a force to reckon. The only leader with Guts to speak his Mind.
We are what we think. All that we are; arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world. Peace.