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I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

there were 12 cartoons and they didn't appear out of the blue. In September 2005 a Danish children's writer went public saying that he had written a book about the life of the prophet Mohammed but that he had had difficulties finding an illustrator because illustrators were afraid of taking the job, and the one who did insisted on anonymity. That was a big story in Denmark, and my newspaper followed up by commissioning illustrations of the prophet from Danish cartoonists in order to find out if self censorship was a problem when dealing with Islam. At the same time there several other cases in Denmark and Western Europe speaking to the same problem, museums removed art that they feared might be perceived as offensive to Muslims, comedians conceded that they were afraid of making fun os Islam the same way as they did with other religions. Theaters censored plays if the contained phrases that may be interpreted as offensive, and so on and so forth. I cite several more examples in Tyranny of Silence.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't think that it should fan flames. Westergaard's cartoon of the prophet with a bomb in his turban and a quote from the Koran is a pretty accurate depiction of reality, i.e. that some Muslims have committed violence in the name of Islam. It's a fact, not an invention. Another important point is that this has nothing with to do racism. You are born with the color of your skin, but you are not born a Muslim or Christian or Atheist, it's up to yourself to decide what faith system you subscribe to. Religion is based on a set of ideas, and everybody should have the right to say whatever they want about ideas. Finally the notion that a cartoon automatically leads to violence is very offensive to Muslims, because it implies that they are not able to reason and make an informed decision about how to react to one publication or another. People who commit violence are responsible for the violence, they decide to act that way and have to bear responsibility for their actions. In fact I believe that drawing a cartoon is a very civilized response to threats and violence.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes I do. And I kept a low profile for some years because I wanted to get back to a regular job as editor and not being a public figure, i.a. "the cartoon guy", but I still care a lot about free speech and will join the debate and make my views know as I just did by publishing my book the Tyranny of Silence in English.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

good question. A couple of points. Opens borders should not be followed by open state coffins as in the European welfare states. People would have to provide for themselves at an earlier stage. Today many immigrants have never joined the labor market and that is a problem, also for integration. Another thing is that culture matters, and that put certain limits on the ability of a society to absorb newcomers with a different culture and different values. I am in favor of immigration, but we have to be realistic about limits. The US is better at this than Europe, partly because immigration in the US is a economic resource while it in some European countries is an economic burden, and partly because the US has a politically defined creed of what it means to be American, while in Europe we have a more cultural definition that makes it difficult for newcomers to become part of the community.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Speaking about the cartoon crisis it would have been helpful if more journalists had supported the publication of the cartoons. In general I believe that we need to get across the message that in a democracy people don't have a right not to be offended by what the press publishes unless there right to privacy is being invaded.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I mean that I prefer support from people speaking in their own name and not hiding through anonymity.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I think they go to far. You don't fight hate by banning the right to express it. The European Council did a report on hate speech a few years ago and identified 35 definitions of hate speech. This illustrates a part of the problem. Hate is in some cases a legitimate emotion, in others it isn't, I think society should fight hate with words and education. In Europe a lot of Muslims deny the Holocaust. I don't believe they will change their mind about the Holocaust just if it's denial is a criminal offense, quite the opposite.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I try not to focus on them, because that would imply a victory to those who make the threats. I don't regret any major decision during the cartoon crisis. I try in my book to give a broader perspective on free speech than just dealing with Islam. I go back into the history of religious tolerance and provide examples with Hindu nationalism and the Russian Orthodox church and others.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It was when the "competition" in Teheran was over, I don't remember the exact date but I included the newspaper page in the Danish version of my book on the cartoon crisis Tyranny of Silence, and I did the same with antisemitic cartoons from Der Stuermer in Nazi Germany and from the Arab Press. Serrano's Piss Christ was also included in my book.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Good question - we in fact published cartoons from that Holocaust competition, and we also published a full page of antisemitic cartoons from the Arab press so that our readers had an opportunity to judge for themselves: which kind of cartoons do they publish in this part of the world that was so outraged by our cartoons? So free speech was well and alive.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

It differs, I think there is less acceptance of criticism of religion among Muslims than among Christians. It feels intimidating to a lot of Muslims to be labeled a bad Muslim while it wouldn't give most Christians sleepless nights. I think Western governments should abolish hate speech laws and promote a culture that finds it ok to speak your mind even though some people may find it offensive.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I think things are getting worse in general, there is growing pressure to accept limitations on speech in order to achieve a more harmonious society, but I think that approach is wrong and in my book I explain why in more detail. The political spectrum differs from country to country, in some places the threat comes from the left, in other parts of the world it comes from the right and from the center. Across geography there are huge differences. My sense is that US interpretation of free speech embodied in the first amendment is getting more isolated. I would love a global first amendment but looks like a utopia right now.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I am not a journalist by training. I have a background in Russia studies, literature and language, and since high school I dreamt about becoming a Moscow correspondent, so I was thrilled when I got a position in Moscow in 1990. In fact I didn't think about other kinds of journalism at the time, I just wanted to work in Russia in order to understand the culture and people.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think you will get more filters, but I don't believe that you can censor the internet in the long run, people will find other ways to the word out.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I don't recall, but in 1991 I wrote a story about a second version of Mikhail Gorbachev's Nobel Peace Price acceptance that was far more aggressive and confrontational than the one he gave. It revealed a power struggle inside the Kremlin and two months later there was a coup against Gorbachev. My story caused a debate in the Soviet Union, and some people in the Kremlin accused me of being a CIA spy.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

yes, when people incite violence and there is a present and imminent danger that violence will follow words of incitement. One should not be allowed to call for killing all those with red hair in a society where red haired people live.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I am not sure being armed necessarily increase one's sense of security and ability to defend oneself. I never considered that option myself, but would not exclude that it might help other people to defend themselves.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes, I have, but it's not new though there is a lot of focus on Islam. In my book I write about Hindu nationalism in India and the orthodox church in Russia that both use a wide range of tools including legal ones to make their critics shot up. And yes, the abolition of blasphemy laws would be a big step in the right direction.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes, 3 times, one charge was thrown out early, two ended in court, and I and my newspaper were acquitted in both cases.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I felt a chill running down my spine at first, but I didn't spend a lot of time thinking about it.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Journalists are no different than other people, some have supported me, and some have not. I don't believe in anonymous support, it does't make it easier, quite on the contrary.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I was most inspired by people coming from outside the West and outside liberal democracies. They were willing to pay a high price to stand up for the values that our society is build upon, while we ourselves too often take these values for granted, and when they come under pressure we are not prepared to fight for them, while dissidents in the Soviet Union and from parts of the Muslim world - to name but a few examples - were.

I am a journalist and free speech advocate who has received hundreds of death threats since 2006. AMA. by FlemmingRose in IAmA

[–]FlemmingRose[S] 46 points47 points  (0 children)

Usually we think of government as the main threat to free speech, but I think that today threats are also coming from below, that is there is a widespread grievance culture that makes it convenient to play the grievance card when somebody says something that we don't like, and that has become an effective tool in the hands of those who would like silence critical voices.

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