The Fear Factor

"It promotes tolerance of different ideas and different viewpoints within Canada.  It shows the value of tolerance to Muslims and the Islamic community and teaches them, in Canada, we do have tolerance and diversity and they are simply going to have to tolerate diverse viewpoints and opinions without rioting and without going berserk."  Ron Banerjee, director, Canadian Hindu Advocacy

Mr. Banerjee has decided that his organization should produce a public screening of the Innocence of Muslims, the film produced in the United States by a few Coptic Christians who have a dim view of, and a grudge against Islam and planned to showcase their version of the character of the Prophet Mohammad, as somewhat less than piously well-mannered.

Mr. Banerjee has informed the press that he is in communication with a number of contacts; a Christian Coptic group for one, in his attempts to take possession of a full-length, professional version of the movie, said to be two hours in length, clumsily produced and certain to raise the hackles of Canadian Muslims if it were to be shown in Canada, as planned.

It is highly doubtful that Canadian Muslims would lend themselves to anything remotely resembling what is occurring across the Muslim world in dangerously raging, violent riots.  But it could be assured that running the film anywhere in Canada for whatever proposed reason, including that of "promoting tolerance", would guarantee the exact opposite.  Particularly on the international scene.

A furious mob of enraged Muslims would not descend en masse on Canada, certainly not, but such a deliberate act of contemptful mockery of Islam would most certainly serve to give additional fodder to the collective paranoiac hysteria in the Muslim world.  More mobs of furiously avenging worshippers would roam the streets wherever they live, and they would turn their vicious ire on any vestiges of Western presence.

Just as has occurred in Tunis, where an American school has been attacked and ransacked.  Innocent people might die in the melees that would result.  There is little point in further exacerbating an already dangerous situation with an even more heightened sense of emotional fervour among people for whom there are few civilizing restraints, where the mullahs send the faithful out after Friday prayer to create further havoc.

So, sorry, no, Mr. Banerjee, not a good idea.  Doing so might make Mr. Banerjee feel good about taking some kind of initiative under the banner of furthering tolerance, but what it would actually be doing is demonstrating a lack of common sense, let alone tolerance.  "We are going to end up getting a copy, that is the least of our worries.  The bigger concern is to find a location and provide security."

Shelving that idea would be far more appropriate.  Mr. Banerjee, who is without doubt a decent man should be aware of how volatile the situation is, should be fully understanding of events thinking back to the strained relations in his native India between Hindus and Muslims, and not wish to furnish any more fuel to a hugely incendiary situation.

It's hard to really feel comfortable about agreeing with anything the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations has to say, but on this occasion, it might be a good idea for Mr. Banerjee to take seriously what they are saying, through spokeswoman Maryan Dadabhoy: "Everyone has a right to freedom of speech and can show whatever film they want but, at the same time, you should show respect to those around you.

"This just doesn't make any sense.  If they know it is only going to hurt people and incite more hatred, I don't see how that fits in a multicultural community like Canada.  By doing this it is only going to make things worse.  Just because it is your right to do doesn't mean you have to do it.  The only purpose that comes to mind is inciting hate and upsetting Muslims.  I don't see the purpose of showing it here."

When, in response to his cautionary plea, Mr. Banerjee cites the perceived insults his community feels with the production of films by Canadian directors that show Hinduism in a socially poor light his argument becomes tediously petulant.  "As a minority community, we get victimized because we're peaceful:  We don't behead people, we don't blow up embassies. We are sick and tired of this moral inversion."

"Meanwhile, when it comes to Islam, here are these horrible, horrible reactions and, what's almost worse, is the reaction of society - democratic societies - that seem to bow to it and apologize.  The message seems to be:  You have won because you are violent."

Mr. Banerjee, you are quite correct.  But screening that film will most definitely not be helpful.  It will not, as you suggest, "remove the fear factor".  In response to what Canadian Muslims see occurring across the Globe with their co-religionists it well behooves them to condemn not the foolish film but the extraordinary reactions of those who join insane mobs screaming for revenge.

Maryam Dadabhoy and her associates should make common cause with moderate Muslims and advance the long-overdue cause of bringing enlightenment to Islamic rituals and values and customs to embrace the modern world and to deny those anachronistic elements of Islam that have no place in a modern world of community and mutual respect.