The price of freedom

The thin line between expression and censorship

Tim Herd

In response to Syed Atif Haseebuddin, “Manitoban graphics offensive” (Letter to the editor, Oct. 31):

I would have to agree completely with you on your opinion of the Manitoban’s choice of graphics. I think that, not only was the graphic in question offensive and completely inappropriate, but also that it was out of place in what should be a professional-quality newspaper. I expect that kind of smut in the Winnipeg Sun, not the Manitoban. When multiculturalism and the acceptance of others’ differences is the way society is moving, it is deeply saddening to see that, while every possible cultural and social minority gets respected to the point of absurdity, no one seems to care about offending the morals of people like us whose only difference is in our worldview. For that, shame on the Manitoban for its foolish indiscretion.

This being said, this is simply the way that the world is. The Manitoban is not guilty of anything that the rest of society isn’t just as guilty of. I would say, however, that your claim to leave the University of Manitoba over this is foolish, as you are likely to see similar content wherever you go. This is the price of freedom. Freedom means that everyone is free to do what they want, even if it may upset others. I do not believe that the newspaper should be printing such images, but, they are as free to do so as we are free to be upset at it.

I once read a quotation that went something along the lines of: “I don’t understand why people are so offended by literature. It’s easy not to be offended by a book; if you don’t like it, put it down.” It is unfortunate, in my opinion, that society seems to be ever more accepting of such crude and offensive things. But, the fact of the matter remains, that’s how society is today. If you have so much of a problem with those images in the Manitoban, then I’m thinking you will probably continue to have such problems with North American society as a whole. If you don’t like what you saw in the Manitoban, the best idea for your progress and spiritual development would simply be not to read the Manitoban. Especially considering that the U of M administration has very little, if any, control over the Manitoban, it would be silly to take it out on them.

Freedom means that everyone is free to do the wrong thing, too. And, since in my experience, the vast majority of people are somewhat unintelligent, that means that many people are free to do stupid things. But ultimately, I think the freedom I have to do what I think is right is more important than taking away others’ freedom to do what I think is wrong. If you don’t like what you read in the Manitoban, maybe next time consider reading a different paper. Because, no matter how much we complain, the Manitoban is not going to change what it does. The editors are free to print what they see fit. And if they see differently from us, there is nothing we can do.

P.S. I’m very impressed in your standing up for what you believe in. If more people took stands for what they believed in, in peaceable, non-offensive ways, the world would be a better place.

Tim Herd is first-year student in the faculty of engineering.