An Offensive Post

There been a lot of talk about offense lately.

As in what offends people.

People get offended by all kinds of stuff. In Denmark and parts of the Middle East a real- live poop-storm has erupted. People are (or were) rampaging over the publication of a few anti Islamic cartoons and we are talking about a few here, like a dozen. The cartoons (really caricatures) are offensive – most are pictures of the Prophet Mohamed, one shows him wearing at turban-shaped bomb.

They all depict Islam in an unflattering light and any depiction of Mohamed is thought to be offensive–to believers of Islam. Some of the cartoons are suggestive that Islamic people are prone to violence. Others suggest that Islam is responsible for the waves of terrorism that have swept the world since the dawn of the 21st century.

The cause of recent terrorist attacks cannot be rendered down to ““they are just bad people,” or ““they have a crappy religion.” Like anything else there area layers of history, economy, attitude and belief which create a tapestry making such horrendous actions like the 9-11 attacks possible.

Not all believers in Islam are terrorists, just like not all Jewish people are money grubbers, all Polish people are stupid, all skeptics are idiots, all woos are fools or all US Americans are arrogant boobs. Such assertions amount to bigotry and stereotypical junk-thinking. Whenever someone says “all” in relation to a large group of people they are almost certainly wrong.

I once heard someone say “If I’m offended you must respect that. Anything that offends me? You have to stop it immediately!.”

Well the same thing is happening in some quarters of Islam. Extremely scatological caricatures against Israel, Europe and the United States are a daily staple in Middle Eastern newspapers. Horrific editorials calling for violence are regular features. Children are dressed up as terrorists with wooden suicide belts, a new generation is being told how to think.

To these people, communication and mutual understanding are no longer an option. They feel (erroneously I think) that they cannot come out better by negotiating, the only option (in their minds) is a direct violent protest. This I think is the final action of desperation. The reason for that desperation is simple.

It comes the moment people stop talking.

But what does it mean to be offended? What is an offense?

No one can answer that question.

Offenses are like art, it”s impossible to get a handle on what is offensive because no two people can completely agree on it. Offenses are subjective, everyone thinks that whatever offends them is offensive  — period.

That’s when people run into problems.

Offense is subjective. I can’t control what offends you. I can only control what offends me.

I’m not offended by some artist putting a crucifix into a flask of urine. I think it’s stupid, but I’m not offended by it. The artist might think I’m being offensive for saying that it looks stupid, a polite artist would say “I don’t agree with your opinion but you have a right to speak it.” A boorish artist would start shouting insults but that’s another topic altogether.

Likewise I’m not offended with those Danish cartoons; I don’t find them particularly amusing, not really (the “no virgins left cartoon” was worth a chuckle.)

I am offended by people hurting one another. I’m offended every time someone attempts to control me, I’m offended every time someone lies. I’m offended by those idiots in the Middle East chopping off the heads of people, making videos and sending them to the Internet.

I’m not shocked by that, but I am offended.

Does that give me the right to go after them? To punch them in the eye? Burn down their homes? Harass them? Publish their parent’s phone numbers?

No it doesn’t. Not even a little bit. Offense is one of those things that everyone’s going to feel one time or another. As it’s subjective, no one can have a real handle on what is offensive and what isn’t. No one has a right to say “you are not allowed to offend me.” No one has a right to say,”“you can’t criticize me because it’s offensive.” Or “you can’t criticize my beliefs.”

Yes I can. If it’s offensive to you? I guess that’s a demonstration of my control over your feelings. In other words, you’ve given ownership of your feelings to a complete stranger!

Doesn’t that bother you?

Your anger is your problem. Your feelings are your problem. I have no control over them and if I (or some Danish cartoonist) offends you? You don’t have an option of going after me or trying to punish. You can tell me or them that you’e offended, you should as a matter of fact. But, I am not responsible for your feelings, only you are.

I don’t think it’s a good idea to allow access to a person’s soul, which is basically what happens whenever someone gets offended.

There is a solution for people who can’t own their feelings. There are rules to curtail criticism. There are laws to keep people from offending each other and stiff punishment is meted out to those who dare speak in an offensive manner.

Thankfully, most of those laws are in places like Iran, China, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. In the US (and the Odd Empire) it’s still possible for one to say whatever is on his or her mind without fear of sanction.

Christopher Hitchens says in a recent Slate article

“A civil society means that free expression trumps the emotions of anyone to whom free expression might be inconvenient.”

We can only wonder if this is true or not.

I don’t wonder.

Now, boys and girls; how does this relate to the Paranormal biz?

Very closely. Just look around and see!

Share and enjoy!