Innocence of Muslims - Free Speech and Hate Speech

Details are still emerging concerning this whole debacle but it now appears that there is no Sam Bacile and the references to Mohammed and Islam were dubbed into the 14-minute trailer for Innocence of Muslims during post-production. In fact, several of the actors involved in the movie have come forward to say they were deceived by the filmmaker and did not willingly work on such a film. They thought they were making a film called Desert Warriors, about life some 2000 years ago.

The film is widely being blamed for protests in the Middle East that may have lead to the deaths of American citizens in Libya. Authorities have suggested the attack on the US embassy may have been planned and used the protests as a convenient diversion. Whatever the case, the protests themselves seem to have been inspired by an Arabic translation of the trailer that was only recently posted on YouTube. Scenes have been broadcast repeatedly on Arabic-speaking media.

Several Democrats have condemned the film and the violence, while many Republicans are championing the right to Free Speech. No doubt the blame should rest with the actual murderers but some suggest the filmmaker is guilty of incitement and hate speech. Again, the details are still emerging, but it appears they may be right.

The sad fact of the matter is that most "hate speech" is still a matter of Free Speech. Think of all the inflammatory things right-wing Christians say on an everyday basis here! Usually the easiest way to handle "hate speech" is to ignore it outright - just don't listen to it! This isn't as easy when someone is actively spewing hate speech right down the road but when it exists solely on a website you have to actively visit then view for 15 minutes? That's a lot easier to avoid.

Much of the protests turned into a laundry list of complaints against the United States, leading some to suggest that the film was just a convenient excuse. I believe there's a lot of truth to that. And though there is no question that this film was made specifically to inflame and provoke a response, the filmmaker has every right to make it.

One guy told reporters something to the effect of 'Freedom of religion is more important than freedom of expression.' Well I, and many others, certainly disagree. And that's the great thing about America: We can disagree and there's nothing wrong with that. That's not the way with these people; if you disagree with them, you must be imprisoned, punished, or put to death!

Furthermore, we do not have to respect all religions and cultures and so forth; we have every right to be critical of whatever we choose, even if we are ultimately incorrect in our assumptions. I sure as hell do not treat a Level 5 Thetan or whatever with the same amount of reverence I do a nun and I'll shut the door right in your face if you try to hand me a copy of The Watchtower. If this guy wants to hate on an entire religion then more power to him! If he offends you so terribly then never watch anything he makes ever again. The end.

Whoever made the film has every right to make such a thing, just as we have every right to ignore it.

© C Harris Lynn, 2012