Publishing Islamic Cartoon. I would like to examine this -kind of…
By: Selin Erdem
Tags: Freedom Of Speech, Freedom of Expression, Racism, Journalism, Muslim

I would like to examine this -kind of- conflict under 2 main concepts:

1. Philosophical& Ethical:

· My very first question is that, Isn’t it as racist not to publish a cartoon just because Muslims may get offended? For instance; isn’t it more racist to have an African American play in the movie so they wouldn’t seem discriminative and racist?

To do nothing is also doing something. Not publishing is also an action and it has a meaning.

· That very cliché but also an important fact of our lives, ‘a person’s freedom ends where another man’s freedom begins’. A problematic statement when we’re discussing about intangible themes. If this liberty of speech doesn’t have certain limits, then we’re giving that ‘journalist’ the ‘freedom of speech’, while we’re ignoring the rest of people’s rights and feelings. Some of the countries do have ‘Punishment of Insult’(like my country, Turkey) and some of them don’t (like USA, where people could easily make fun of Trump etc..) And due to my observations I could certainly say that it has both positive and negative consequences. Yes, our journalists could easily get arrested and sent to jail, but also I hear that citizens feel more secure and protected, because if they being insulted by someone, laws will be on their side anyway in a very straight and powerful way.

So what is the criteria, where is the borderline for that liberty of speech being right or crime? In my opinion, we can draw the line when there is a ‘harm’ against weak minority groups, or individuals who can not defend themselves.

· Do we harm other people by expressing our thought? Physically not, so does it mean that we’re harming them emotionally? Isn’t it their own responsibility to protect their own mental and emotional health no matter what comes? If we use the verb ‘offend’ in that form: to be offended by.. The subject becomes passive, not active. Taking control of our own feelings and thoughts is another kind of responsibility.

· But in this case public comes in to place so this isn’t a personal issue which I was discussing above. By publishing cartoons, newspaper creates a public opinion. A common image.

2. Political& Economical Business Model:

Is the newspaper trying to serve news in a most probable ,objective and informative way or aims to express some kind of opinion and vision?

With publishing those kind of image, cartoons; the newspaper could be effected in two different ways: negative and positive.

The newspaper could gain or lose consumers due to their political opinion and religious beliefs.

And here comes another discourse: What is an illustration/ a cartoon?

Why do we use cartoons, what is its purpose? To make fun of something in a crucial way, or serving the upsetting reality in a softer way? It could be used in both ways.

Due to these explanations and brain storming:

If I have had a digital media source (in this case newspapers), means that I have the power on public opinion and thoughts. But power comes with its responsibilities. Journals have freedom of writing and expressing; but also must have the responsibility of this freedom. When especially media sources produce some kind of product, they automatically create a public image and idea of that topic. We, as people consuming that media product, are so vulnerable and a lot of people, the majority don’t have enough capacity to make correct observations and reasoning. So tend to believe what has represented.

Another critical thing of this discourse of the use of language. For instance, saying something with an article or a cartoon illustration has a huge difference in the basis of signification process of mind. Because the language we choose to use, has a huge influence our thoughts and opinions, that determines our reality and subjective vision of the world.

My final decision would be publishing all kind of cartoons no matter what. Cartoons of Muslims, Buddhist, Jews, Christians, Africans, Americans, Asians, Europeans.. all kind of human-beings. Or nothing. All feelings, thoughts, opinion should be expressed under some conditions with respect and understanding. Otherwise suppression causes bigger social problems and uncontrollable chaotic circumstances.