Within the span of several days, two news items concerning two Terry Joneses helped illuminate the different paths by which speech critical of Islam can be gradually extinguished.
Terry Jones the Pastor
The pastor. Lawyers for one Terry Jones, the Florida-based minister who oversaw a Koran burning in March and handed global jihadists an excuse to rampage, were in a Detroit courtroom on October 6, trying to reverse a half-year-old decision curbing his right to speak and protest. [The verdict is expected November 10th]
Jones had planned a demonstration on public property outside a Dearborn mosque in April, but a prosecutor petitioned for it to be stopped due to the potential for violence — not by Jones, but by Muslims in earshot of him. The jury found that Jones’ not-yet-uttered words would risk sparking disturbances. The judge then ordered him and a comrade to post a token “peace bond” and stay away from the mosque for three years; they initially refused and were jailed. Note that the conditions imposed in April are likely unconstitutional: the Supreme Court has ruled that authorities cannot suppress a speaker’s rights in an attempt to soothe opponents who respond violently to unpopular views (e.g., Terminiello v. Chicago).
The appeal, with a decision expected in November, calls attention to the first path to freedom’s demise: official stifling of speech about Islam. In the U.S., the trend often is seen in the abuse of public order statutes to muzzle Christians; other Western legal systems prosecute critical remarks via hate speech laws. Say what you will about Jones, but his determination to defend his rights is laudable. The Thomas More Law Center is handling the case and can be thanked here.
Terry Jones the Comedian
The comedian. The second Terry Jones, a Welsh actor famous for his roles in Monty Python films such as Life of Brian, which spoofs the story of Jesus, underscored the other path — self-censorship — in a recent interview. Jones stated that while “religion seemed to be on the back burner” in 1979, religious belief has “come back with a vengeance and we’d think twice about making” a similar movie these days. What about a film lampooning Islam in particular? “Probably not, looking at Salman Rushdie,” he said. “I suppose people would be frightened.”
Given not only the targeting of Rushdie, but also the murder of Theo van Gogh, the many plots to kill those involved with the Danish Muhammad cartoons, and so forth, it is likely that Jones’ fear of reinvigorated religion has more to do with Islamists than, say, Church of England types. In any case, Jones blames the West for tensions with radical Islam. “I think it’s whipped up by the arms industry,” he opined, citing the alleged need to manufacture enemies.
The comments of this Terry Jones reflect the cowardly, ignorant, and ultimately defeatist phenomenon of voluntary censorship regarding Islam, especially among artists and entertainers. The guilty are legion, from film directors and cable networks to potters and magicians.
This is the more ominous trend. As long as there are lovers of freedom, coerced censorship (e.g., Jones #1) is sure to inspire resistance and can be beaten back. But metastasizing self-censorship (e.g., Jones #2) indicates a loss of resolve to remain free, ensuring that we will not.
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This editorial by David J. Rusin originally appeared in Islamist Watch, of the Middle East Forum.
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Thoughtful article. Gratifying that you see the self censorship as the more dangerous. And coming from a media source. The media in general is heavily politicized and simply will not print the truth. Some say we are not only at war with Islam. We are also at war with the media!
America is about to loose it”s freedom, if no more people stand up like Dr. Terry Jones (#1). The awful and so easy attitude of letting it all happen and either think it’s not going to hit ME or just simply pretending all will be fine is just about to bring America down. We need to get past compromise and sweet talk, only reality and action will now make us able to swing things around. May God give America grace!
How true! The article and the two prior comments are sobering and valid. Facts are facts. Period. You’d understand it better if you were an Arab.
Terry Jones proves that only as long as you believe like a Muslim do you get consideration in their communities. Such intolerance is not the medias fault. It’s the failure of Muslim society to stand up for other religions and people who are different. I suggest that instead of trying to transform the USA, there are great options waiting in the Middle East. But that makes me wonder why Muslims are not scrambling to move there (to the Middle East). Maybe because the end state of Sharia law is high in intent but brutal in it’s conclusion. Don’t ruin the USA for yourselves and everyone else.