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“Hate speech” and human rights
In early March, the Martlet, UVic’s student newspaper, published an article in its opinion section that condemned the Koran (Islam’s Holy Book) as “hate speech,” which is rooted in violence. The suggestion was that all Muslims are grounded in a violent religious understanding, which is incendiary and patently false. As the fallout continues to settle around the publication of this article, I believe this is an opportunity for some worthwhile examination of our university community and the culture we want to create.
In the wake of this incident in which a minority group was the subject of a discriminatory media portrayal, I have had some illusions about the university culture evaporate. At its idealistic best, the university is a place where the dignity of humanity and its pursuit of knowledge and wisdom are paramount. But when marginalized groups of our cultural mosaic are slandered in the name of “creating debate” I think we need to wonder if we have gone off the rails somewhere.
It seems like we would do well to return to the question of what human rights are and why freedom of speech has been enshrined in our democracy. Human rights are those things that may not be transgressed with moral approbation. No matter how lively we anticipate the debate to be, criticism and slander based on gender, race, colour, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, etc. are not fair game in the public arena.
It is easy for those of us who are part of the upper middle class white majority to forget about human rights because, chances are, none of us have had ours transgressed. However, this lack of sensitivity is disheartening when it is exhibited at an institution that should provide one of the antidotes for our ignorance: education. What is university for if not to broaden our awareness of the many and various expressions of human life and the value and beauty particular to each?
The cries of “freedom of speech” and “freedom of the press” that are employed to justify public discrimination are gross manipulations of the spirit of these freedoms. Freedom of speech and the media are enshrined as safeguards for a moral minority to defend itself against a dominant and oppressive force who would otherwise seek to silence its voice. It is the height of despair-laced irony when these freedoms are trumpeted by a dominant culture so that they might discriminate and slander a minority in their midst. Sadly, in these cases the point has been completely missed.
All in all, I think the University of Victoria makes a great effort to be a place of sensitivity, inclusivity and safety. But there has been clear evidence this term that we still need to work at this. Let’s re-dedicate ourselves to the deliberate education and awareness that can transform discrimination to acceptance and fracture to unity.
Ernest Morrow, Anglican chaplain, UVic Interfaith Services
The Ring welcomes letters to the editor on issues of direct concern to the university community. Letters should be signed with university community affiliation noted, not exceed 500 words in length and not be submitted to other media outlets. The editor reserves the right to select letters for publication and to edit for style, grammar and length.
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