Double Standards … Double Speech

The United States of America, using the most sounding phrases and communicating through senior levels, denied any relation between its administration and the producers of the offensive film insulting Prophet Mohammed. However, on the other hand, it is keen to confirm its respect to the right of every American citizen for freedom of expression and opinion. The whole situation is in favour of Washington. We cannot believe the American official’s story when we see the freedom of expression concept being respected in some cases and violated in others, then we re-talk about the double policy standards. The freedom of expression in America and the western countries in general is restrained when it comes to Israeli interests. Only then this freedom turns out to be a criticism against Israel, anti-Semitism , incitement to hatred and the accused should be subject to accountability and inquiry. The American laws do not allow chasing any citizen for his opinion or stance, even if it is tampered with history and religions and abuses its concepts and symbols and doubts the messengers and the divine messages. Freedom of expression and belief is protected by the constitution. The United States of America boasts that it can provide its citizens this right whatever the consequences are and the reactions towards their disgraceful acts. On the contrary, the valuable and legal system immediately falls, when a writer or an artist dares to doubt any chapter of the Zionist official narration of the Holocaust or questions God’s promise to his selected people to own the sacred territory. The freedom of expression and opinion is undoubtedly guaranteed in America, but this does not prevent official and civil institutions from dropping some websites and closing media offices and removing TV channels from satellites, if their policy or media message is directed against Israel or to resist its expanded hostile aggression. Immediately, the strict anti-Semitism sword is used and the entire synonymous are extracted from the “War on Terror” dictionary. We, unlike many protestors against the offensive film, do not suggest for Washington to enact freedom-restricted laws under any pretext. We ask it to honestly apply the freedom law on all people, without discrimination or double standards. As for our reactions - Muslims and Arabs – towards such incidents were always irrational. The latest responses have reached its peak. The suppressed violence has erupted and the expression of conviction and anger has turned out to be a destructive energy that targets public and private property. The events of the film have become a suitable gate for settling accounts between countries and instead of punishing the abusers; we punished ourselves and destroy our countries. The Islamists in the offensive film crisis failed to confront and pass one of the most important power tests, since they have reigned in many Arab countries. Their performance was unsuccessful. They responded as usual as oppositions, not as governments. Their speech was a double discourse. They tried to gain the street by calling for demonstrations in the countries on one hand, but they also tried to satisfy Washington and protect the relations and expand the “Honey moon period” which distinguishes their relation with the US recently. Probably their failure in addressing this test will have consequences; either in favour of the relations between the West and the Arab Spring countries, or of some critical files in the region, most notably- The Syrian crisis. So, although history may write one day that a mean hater who committed a cheap and fallen action, had succeeded in bringing changes in the course of policies and alliances in the Middle East, some unknown people who had never aspired to be mentioned in the local newspaper, have now been included in the list of celebrities and world event makers, the event however still has a sequel. --- The views expressed by the author do not necessarily represent or reflect the editorial policy of Arabstoday.