In class today, we watched a documentary version of the life of Mr. Salman Rushdie, a man in hiding from a Fatwa. Generally speaking, a death warrant was issued simply because he wrote a book. However, the Muslim world sees it as insulting to their belief and way of life. So they must kill him?!?! Outrageous I say, and yet, the entire religion does not seem to understand how it is not logical to kill someone for a book, an opinion, a view on life. One man in the documentary talked about how the Fatwa was itself an opinion, and not an order. That’s ridiculous, of course! An opinion from a strong religious leader, even a slight statement, is just too strong to be considered just words. All Muslims understood it as an order. Of course, Mr. Rushdie is still alive and well, but this does not relieve him of the day-to-day stress that is a death warrant.
I must say: I am impressed with the support from the British government. They showed much optimism from free speech and the freedom to express opinions such as writing a book. They offered Salman Rushdie federal protection and jeopardized peace between Iran and Britain in order to protect the freedom of speech, also represented in the first amendment of the United States Constitution. (What whaaat!! U.S. representing!) I really just wish that the world was without ignorance and foolish behaviors–a world were no one would ever consider death as the consequence for writing a novel (and a best seller).
Salman Rushdie wrote a book (a pretty good one, too; I am half-way done), and as a consequence, a good part of the world wants him dead because their feelings were “hurt.” Well, I say too bad and get on with your life! I question the angry Muslims, do they have so little to do, that they must parade around with banners saying “Kill Rushdie”?
(This is not the first time that a religion rejects a book for blasphemy. The Catholic Church has an entire list of “bad” books. Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons found its way on the list. I also want to point out that the Church, though it does not like the views expressed in Angels and Demons, does not plan on killing Dan Brown anytime soon.)
