In the wake of US Embassy attacks in various Muslim dominated countries, YouTube has blocked access to the now infamous 14-minute trailer to the film, “Innocence of Muslims” in Egypt and Libya. The trailer can be viewed everywhere else in the world, but not in those two nations.
While it is true that the film looks like it was made by a five-year-old and I dare anyone to actually make it through all 14-minutes of it, YouTube and their parent company Google, should not treat Muslims like five-year-olds. It is not YouTube who should decide what grown adults should or shouldn’t be allowed to see.
Freedom of speech is a natural right of all people and in America that right is protected by our First Amendment. While it is true that people shouldn’t be forced to listen to other people’s free speech, they shouldn’t be prevented from listening either. When religions try to insulate their followers from criticism or opposing opinions and beliefs, they become akin to a cult.
If your religious beliefs can’t stand up to any criticism or ridicule, then perhaps your beliefs aren’t that strong. Religious believers are quick to talk about how much faith they have, but if their faith were really as strong as they boast, they wouldn’t be fazed by any criticism of ridicule. It is old when one has little confidence in one’s beliefs that criticism and ridicule become so threatening.
With this in mind, the media shouldn’t treat Muslims like five-year-olds. They shouldn’t try to protect them from any kind of criticism or ridicule. They should treat Muslims like adults and allow them to make their own choices as far as what they are allowed to view on YouTube or any other form or media. If some Muslims do start acting like five-year-olds and have temper tantrums, the media should point out the silliness of such behavior rather than justifying that tantrum. It just seems like the media make lousy parents and a lot of Muslims need to grow-up and act like the adults they are supposed to be.
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