Reflection 1: A Spark Igniting Violence

Reflection 1: A Spark Igniting Violence

In the span of a week we have seen what ignorance and misplaced zealousness can cause. Ignorance and zealousness on both sides mind you. On the part of the producers of the "Innocence of Muslims" film because their goal was to incite violence from the extremist portion of the muslim population which does not reflect the large majority of Islam. They did so in order to fuel anti-muslim sentiment. Why? Well, that is anybody's guess. It could be out of a desire to renew enthusiasm in the Middle Eastern Conflicts or it could be out of simple anti-Islam bigotry. However that does not stop the fact that they produced this film to trigger a violent reaction from the population of the Middle East and create tension between the West and the Arab World.
Ignorance and Zealousness is also present in the reaction from some of the protesters. When a particularly offensive "piece of art", and I as someone who has seen parts of the film I use the term art lightly, is produced violence is never the answer as the bigotry and hate of the instigators is validated. Peace can not be achieved when both sides foam at the mouth at every occasion. It was a very offensive film but by acting the way these extremists have they are only validating the thoughts of the filmmakers and giving them fuel to preach to people who are currently seeing the violence emerging from the Arab World.
Now, as to the question of the legality or ability to prosecute the filmmaker or makers, I do not believe he or they should be subject to imprisonment. If this film falls under the jurisdiction of the United States Free Speech protects said film. The United States cannot alterate its laws for the purposes of temporarily placating an extremist faction of the Muslim World which, admittedly vocal, is still a minority. Should an apology be made? Perhaps but once again it was a private film. If the United States were to apologize for every private citizen that has offended a country or an important person of a country, the list would be endless.
This is a situation with no true resolution in sight. I firmly believe that time should just be allowed to run its course, we should strive to understand other cultures in order to alleviate this problem of incendiary filmmaking. However, there will always be another bigot or zealot, there will always be someone willing to stir the fires of hate and anger and that, is not a problem that can ever be remedied in my my mind. We can only strive to make it happen far less.