The trouble for me is this is such an abstract argument. What motivates us to take it on? Is it an underlying belief (expressed by Kismet Hardy) that threatening artists leads on to threatening all of society? Or threatening expression of one kind leads to threatening expression of many kinds (expressed by squared)? They are persuasive fears, but fears like these can be turned on their heads.

Artistic expressions which humiliate or demonise another social group could also be believed to lead on to further expressions of hatred ending in massacres. If we were motivated by our fears for the impact on society, we should be just as sensitive to these fears.

People who feel threatened because they are a minority or have been targeted by violent groups should be defended. And that includes both the artist and their sympathisers and those who feel attacked by the artist and their sympathisers. Building respect for peoples’ feelings does not feel oppressive to me. It is an expression of my values. It might require me to think before I speak and to apologise if I say things clumsily. But I am willing to do this and would ask for other people to be respectful to me in return.

This also isn’t easy, but it is constructive – just as this site is constructive because it is built on a form of censorship monitored by Sunny.

I agree with Jay that we should be censoring threats and expressions calculated to intimidate, but I also think like Sunray and DivyaQ and others we cannot stand aside from also expressing disappointment with an artist who cannot see how their art hurts people and appears not to care. The artist too has a responsibility, just like those offended by them. Both sides can be contributing to hatred and yet believe they are defending important principles which protect a free society.

By projecting fears on one another we close down dialogue, and that does not seem like the kind of free speech I am motivated to defend.

=>”I’ve been to India more times than you have probably……”

I’m not quite sure exactly what you’re basing this statement on — I usually go to India almost every year and have done so for a very long time, my family owns property there in major cities, and most of my (extended family) relatives still live in India too, spread from the north of the country to the south.

Ismaeel,

You have a sense of humour ! I knew it

Jay Singh,

=>”Is there anyone out there willing to comment on how this issue is playing out amongst Hindus from their level?”

The people who actually know about it regard it as being beyond the pale, although Hindus familiar with MF Husain’s work over the past few years are not surprised that he is still trying to push the envelope and regard him as a slightly crazy old man with a dirty mind; many Hindus just ignore him because of this.

5 more and it’s gonna be 206

If you post at 02: 06: 2006 then that’ll prove things

John

Read my post. It wasn’t an attack on you, so please don’t take it so personally.

I specifically said that I do NOT think the art in itself is progressive or even good for that matter.

What isn’t progressive is censorship. I don’t know what people have been saying that makes you think they think the actual piece is meant to be progressive, but my view concerns the way the art is dealt with.

And yea, I do take the piss out of conservatives too – because I still can.

I will reiterate: you start stopping people from offending religious groups and you become DANGEROUSLY close to putting a cap on even criticising ANY ideology for fear of offense.

It’s not about how crass the art is, it’s about the very principle of censorship.

to wear as a makeshift hat of course to stop eschelon permeating my senses of course

Why start a campaign with a support for a moron who clearly respects his religion but likes to mock Hindus? If anything else sunny should be organising a protest against MFH for his bias against the Hindus. The one thing that seems to be overlooked is the immensely tolerant nature of the Hindus in India and here. Instead of praising this community some of you are out to make them into some kind of mobsters. Had he offended other religions he would either be dead or in hiding by now.
I can’t even believe some of the posts which tries to imply the ferocity of the Hindu protestors or the way some posts have been worded it seems all hell had broken loose and that we should not tolerate such a thing.

Yes lets campaign in support for these painting as a lesson to teach all the nasty evil Hindus who really cant tolerate simple artistic paintings. Obviously we don’t want to upset the other peaceful communities now do we.

Im also not saying only Hindu offences I’ll not protest for or only nonHindu offence I’ll support. There are some issues like the Hindu stamps or the ‘Water’ protest which I am able to tolerate or don’t find offensive enough to support violence in cinemas of India or make a big fuss over. They are not detrimental to the Hindu religion.
I was generalising those examples of what I can tolerate and what I cannot. Freedom of speech is great, but has its limits; but then again the words ‘freedom and ‘limits’ contradict each other, don’t they. It’s a balance which you have to work out for yourselves.

I can put up with photos of Gods on cake but not photos of Gods on Bras.
I don’t find photos of Hindu Gods in pubs offensive but would find offensive photos of Gods depicted as holding a beer bottle.
Im holding my reservation for photos of Gods on Shoes but would not tolerate photos on toilet seats.

I cannot fit into many of your liberal mindset but this is me. I really don’t care if you don’t agree with me. You can sit there and scrutinize my post all you want.

I also don’t think all those Representatives of each Religions are as mad as Sunny makes them out to be. More questions then ponder on!
Well what is right and what is wrong?
Or should that be When is it right and When is it wrong
or should we ask How is it wrong and How is it right?

But just let me know, what was the roll of tin foil for?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/08/15/INGMC85SSK1.DTL

Yes and no, which I think is the reality, horrible as it may seem. I’m not saying it’s right, though. I’ve even heard and read British commentators, historians and the like referring to the people who participated in the Sepoy Mutiny as terrorists.