Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Needless controversy

Your editorial "Needless and nasty controversy" (Feb. 9) has attempted magnificently to put out the burning fires arising out of the objectionable cartoons published recently.

Let the world salute this noble newspaper and the advice "to step back and prevent the controversy from growing into a full size, hugely divisive, and ugly confrontation."

S.J. Hussain,
Chennai

The rationale of the editorial is unimpeachable. An across-the-board condemnation by Indian society of the attempt at provoking Islamophobia by sections of the European media is an encouraging feature and strengthens our secular democracy. Having said that, the need for informed debate on various issues, including religious beliefs and lack of them, cannot be belittled and needs cultivation of more tolerance all-round.

Kasim Sait,
Chennai

Those in politics and the media should display greater restraint while dealing with sensitive issues. Muslims have been hurt by the cartoons published in the European media. The governments concerned should apologise.

K. Jiji Panicker,
Chengannur, Kerala

It is unfortunate that newspapers in France reprinted the controversial cartoons in the name of freedom of expression, leading to an escalation of the issue. In a world that is shrinking, fragile peace can be maintained only by respecting and accommodating one another's faith and belief.

Harveer Chauhan,
New Delhi

The way many Europeans have selectively applied the principle of freedom of expression is intriguing. When the Taliban destroyed the Bamiyan Buddhas, they screamed murder. But is destruction of history alone blasphemous, but not the attempted destruction of a people's faith? This is the perversity of postmodernism, which seeks the right to destroy and deconstruct selectively.

Aftab Ahmad,
New Delhi

The re-publication of the cartoons was certainly not about solidarity or freedom of expression. Muslims have every right to protest but it is hoped vested interests do not manipulate the protests for their own political ends.

N. Sivaraman,
Maraimalainagar, T.N.

The media that published the cartoons are wrong because the freedom of expression does not include hurting religious sentiments. And the protesters are wrong in thinking that the legal way of protest has now ended and violence alone will pay. One just had to appeal to the higher judiciary in Netherlands or the International Court of Justice in The Hague. That would have been the only successful way to bring the newspaper to book.

J.G.A.M. Leushuis,
Zeist, The Netherlands

The cartoons depicting the Prophet were unfortunate and deplorable. Publicity skills should not be tested at the cost of one's religious sentiments. Religion is one's pride. Efforts to tarnish it gives rise to revolt and hatred.

Hina Khan,
New Delhi

To express one's opinions, one needs not just the freedom to do so. It should be tempered with respect for one another. There seems to be a social acceptance for mocking Islamic tradition in the West. Can one interpret it as racism in the civilised world?

A. Esra Tasneem,
Chennai

The cartoons have hurt the sentiments of Muslims all over the world and they have every right to protest peacefully. Indulging in violent protests will jeopardise the image of Islam, which preaches peace and harmony.

Shujaath Ahmed,
Chennai

A better way to express angst over the cartoons would have been peaceful protests. But democratic governments of late have been showing utter disregard for such tactics. The demonstration in February 2003 against the impending Iraq war, for instance, was huge. Yet more than 30 countries sent their soldiers to war. Peace activist Rachael Corrie was crushed beneath a bulldozer in Gaza. But suicide bombers were rewarded with retreat from Lebanon and Gaza. The people who incited mass murder in Mumbai and Gujarat were rewarded with electoral wins. When we slam the door on peaceful means, we open the door to the ugly spectre of violence.

Riaz Amin,
Bangalore

Muslims are not helping their cause by showing signs of provocation against a senseless, immature work carried by Jyllands-Posten. They should treat the cartoonists and the media that carried their work as immature and not worthy of attention. Violent reaction will only provoke more papers to reprint the cartoons.

Praveen V. Ram,
Pune

Amartya Sen argues that India has a long history of heterodoxy, and this has contributed to the survival of democracy and emergence of secularism.

This heterodox practice should be extended in all directions and should not be abandoned in the name of hurting the religious sensibilities of communities. We can equate Hinduism with heterodoxy where debates are given precedence over violence.

M.S. Radhakrishnan,
Chennai

Of late it is becoming the culture of certain categories of people like politicians, self-professed activists, and film artists to take a dig at religious beliefs and customs under the guise of rationalism.

The Hindu religion, in particular, has been picked up for ridicule. Let us accept that every religion has its share of superstitions and customs. People have a right to believe in their gods and customs, and non-believers have no right to impose their views on them.

Aravind Vummidi,
Chennai

The publication of the cartoons has been unnecessarily hyped. I have seen cartoons in various Western media that make fun of Christian values too. Animated cartoons like The Simpsons regularly poke fun at the concept of god. Cartoons should be appreciated for their humour value. If someone does not find them amusing, they can ignore them.

If they want to protest, they should do so peacefully. The same argument holds for the so-called deplorable portrayals of Hindu deities. The beauty of one's religion lies within the person who follows it, and cannot be scarred by mere drops of ink.

R. J. Harshad,
Bangalore

This refers to the report that painter M.F. Husain has apologised (Feb. 8). India's leading painter gets away with a mild apology every time he offends Hindu sentiments.

K. Venkataraman,
Mumbai

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