Sir,
It was with deep dismay that I read your Feb. 17th editorial, calling for the banning of Salman Rushdie’s “Satanic Verses.”
While no person with religious sensibilities can fail to be shocked and offended by such an offensive approach to the beliefs and traditions of one of the world’s great religions, one must remember that freedom of speech also gives freedom to offend, hurt and insult. It is a price we have to pay.
T urge the editor of WSN to reread his words, but imagine some well-intentioned person calling for the banning of WSN using the same arguments. It would fall right into place. And who would be the one to decide which book or journal should be banned?
Could the WSN be published in any of the countries that have banned “Satanic Verses”? And in how many of these countries can Sikhs freely practice their religion?
It is likely that, in this Godless society in which we live, we Sikhs may have to endure similar such insults. Perhaps we already have. If our reaction is as arrogant,
unsophisticated and brutal as the Islamic reaction to “Satanic Verses” it will only serve to lower the image of Sikhs in the Western World.
We Sikhs who have the privilege to live in the United States enjoy freedom which is without parallel. Even the Sikhs in Canada or UK do not have quite the same opportunities we do,
But great individual freedom carries great responsibility. Time and again that freedom will be abused to the pain and hurt of others. Part of being American means to be tolerant of the right of others to express themselves, no matter how much we are hurt by it. We, in turn, have the opportunity to defend ourselves by using the same right of expression. This is the greatness of the American Constitution.
The World Sikh News must stand for freedom of speech, no matter what the cost.
Vikram Singh Khalsa San Diego, CA92103.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 9, 1989
