[boracay]

I think the idea that we can fight extremism with freedom of speech is wishful thinking. There's very clear indication that pictures as those published not only increase extremism in muslim communities, but also in far-right groups. I also think we are being a bit arrogant if we think that it's a few pictures and not global conflicts that are the main reasons for the existence of these attacks.

[MichaelGG]

So attackers that explicitly call out "offensive" materials as the reason for their attacks are simply unaware of their own motives? The calls for Rushdie to be killed was due to global conflicts, not his writings?

[mc32]

Let's keep in mind that shifts in zeitgeist can shift somewhat quickly --the rise or decline of racism, or the rise or decline of women's rights (say in Russia or China). Things can change due to how people perceive things... but at the same time I don't think anyone outside those societies are or should feel responsibility for how societies change with change in the world...

It'd be like saying, yeah, Japan in the 70s - 80s was at fault for the steel workers in America feeling alienated, emasculated and crushed. No, absolutely not. We needed to adjust, not the Japanese. The world at large changes, you need to change with it.

[deciplex]

They are aware of their own motives, but they are probably not aware of why they have those motives in the first place. Offensive materials drive a person to violence, but the question you should ask is "what created this type of person, who kills over a cartoon?"

Note that this does not excuse the actions of the murderer. They are still responsible and still must be punished. But you can punish murderers for their crimes, and adjust your policy so that you don't create so many murderers. They are not exclusive goals.

[mc32]

I'm not so sure about that. What _drove_ the Spanish to drive out the Arabs from Iberia and execute those that stayed behind? What made them act like that? Or what made the Huns go and conquer half of Europe and kill about half of those and subjugate the rest? Was there something which could have prevented that had the Europeans just been different in some way?

[MichaelGG]

Sure, I agree! The policy of being polite, of not calling people out on inane beliefs is what generates these problems. We have failed as a civilization where someone ends up believing it's OK to kill someone for renouncing their faith, for instance.