The headline news today (or rather, yesterday) was on the two bloggers who were sentenced to a month's imprisonment for racist remarks. In my honest opinion, I think it is a bit too drastic to jail them. No doubt the remarks are very racist and they should know better, but a jail term is too much.
This is considered nothing compared to offences like murder or drug-trafficking or molesting or physical abuse or theft. These two guys have not physically hurt anyone; they were just stating their own feelings about certain issues, albeit in a not very sensitive way. Besides, it was their first offence so they could be let off with a stern warning and a fine instead of imprisonment. A jail record will practically ruin their futures, especially since both still have a whole life ahead of them.
This issue got me thinking of what can or cannot be written on a blog. A blog is an online diary where people can express their thoughts and opinions. No matter how sensitive or insensitive something is, should an individual be punished so harshly for expressing his or her own opinions on things? I have seen "wilder" blogs where the entire blog is like some sort of porn film, blogs where there are very vulgar words after every few words, and even a blog that belongs to a certain thick-skinned character who posted a disgusting nude picture for all to see and claims he is even more handsome than Brad Pitt!
My point is that there are blogs that have more sensitive content. Putting down a certain race and religion is not right, but is pornography, vulgarities and insulting others through the Net right then? I guess it is all very subjective, but ultimately a blog is an individual's online sanctuary for freedom of speech. Thus it should be up to the individual what he or she wants to write about.
Even if there are times when a person is frustrated or out of the mind and mentions things which offend others, we are but humans who do stupid things at times without thinking. So we should be more forgiving towards others since we are not perfect ourselves. Those two have already been punished by being shamed through the media and being forced to close down their blogs. Must it really be so drastic as to jail them as well?
This is considered nothing compared to offences like murder or drug-trafficking or molesting or physical abuse or theft. These two guys have not physically hurt anyone; they were just stating their own feelings about certain issues, albeit in a not very sensitive way. Besides, it was their first offence so they could be let off with a stern warning and a fine instead of imprisonment. A jail record will practically ruin their futures, especially since both still have a whole life ahead of them.
The judge who sentenced them remarked that he did this so as to prevent another racial riot like what happened forty years ago. But in this day and age, I believe most people are more educated and civilised, and highly unlikely to just burn down others' houses or beat others up just for the sake of race and religion.
This issue got me thinking of what can or cannot be written on a blog. A blog is an online diary where people can express their thoughts and opinions. No matter how sensitive or insensitive something is, should an individual be punished so harshly for expressing his or her own opinions on things? I have seen "wilder" blogs where the entire blog is like some sort of porn film, blogs where there are very vulgar words after every few words, and even a blog that belongs to a certain thick-skinned character who posted a disgusting nude picture for all to see and claims he is even more handsome than Brad Pitt!
My point is that there are blogs that have more sensitive content. Putting down a certain race and religion is not right, but is pornography, vulgarities and insulting others through the Net right then? I guess it is all very subjective, but ultimately a blog is an individual's online sanctuary for freedom of speech. Thus it should be up to the individual what he or she wants to write about.
Even if there are times when a person is frustrated or out of the mind and mentions things which offend others, we are but humans who do stupid things at times without thinking. So we should be more forgiving towards others since we are not perfect ourselves. Those two have already been punished by being shamed through the media and being forced to close down their blogs. Must it really be so drastic as to jail them as well?
5 comments:
>>But in this day and age, I believe most people are >>more educated and civilised, and highly unlikely to >>just burn down others' houses or beat others up just >>for the sake of race and religion.
I don't think so.. just see the daily newspaper and count the terrorist attack.
Sorry, didn't make myself clear. I meant in Singapore at least, of course not encompassing the rest of the world.
Maybe it's too harsh. But usually this message is a strong message to all those who would post such remarks in the future. I mean, if we allow just a single hairline fracture of racism to just occur, more people will take lightly of it.
I agree to a certain extent. What makes me wonder is that his blog has certain offensive stuff about Christianity and church-goers as well, yet he was punished for the Malays and Muslims remarks. So does it mean he can get away saying things about the Christian religion then?
As far as I can remember, it will be normal for people of the world to despise Christianity.The Bible talks about how there will be trials and tribulations. But verse continues to remind us to "Be of good Cheer!" I think we have to persevere and still love our enemies.
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