The gravity of the situation

This has been sent as an email to the authorities at Clare College Cambridge.
My postings "Sir Isaac Newton regarding Islam" and "Policy Exchange report" have been appended.



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The gravity of the situation


Regarding the recent re-publication of the Danish cartoons:


I would be grateful if you would forward this email to the student involved. It may be that he does not quite understand what he has got himself into, and would benefit from the information below.


I would hope that the University authorities will properly exercise their duty of care towards this student, even though his actions are a little foolhardy.


May I draw to your attention to the report prepared by the Policy Exchange think tank, on behalf of the Conservative Party.
( www.policyexchange.org.uk ): "Living apart together - British Muslims and the paradox of multiculturalism".


A pertinent quote from the report is:


"An integral aspect of this liberal model is the right to cause offence and criticise other people’s cultures. Today, with increased sensitivities about Islamophobia, many Muslims feel entitled to have their religious views and identity protected. Their attitudes towards women, homosexuality, or politics are seen to be so inalienable that they are out of bounds for criticism." page 89


In addition, during BBC Question Time (21st September 2006):


Regarding the lecture by the Pope, Sir Christopher Meyer, former British Ambassador to the U.S. said:


"The freedom of speech comes with the freedom to be offensive. It comes, from time to time, with the freedom to upset people. The important thing is: When it happens, be it said by a Catholic Pope, or by a Muslim, the reaction of the authorities and the law should be an absolutely level playing field for everyone, and we don't have that."


In the context of the offensiveness caused by Muslims who have slaughtered and maimed innocent civilians in London, and the threat to blow up airlines and more recently the plot to torture and execute a British soldier, how does the offensiveness of a cartoon compare? Of course there is simply no equivalence whatever.


The wise course of action is to stop pandering to those who get so agitated, and to point out the harmfulness to community relationships that is caused by Islamic terrorists, which far outweighs in its significance the publication of a few daft cartoons.


I trust that the University will not penalise this student out of all proportion to the nature of the offence. The University must also do what it can to ensure his safety.


You may also like to ponder over the points below.


Yours sincerely,

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Message sent to:

CONTACTS AT CLARE COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE

Bursar - Hearn, Mr D bursar@clare.cam.ac.uk

Dean - Greeves, Revd R dean@clare.cam.ac.uk

The Master - Badger, Prof A J master@clare.cam.ac.uk

MCR President - Doupe, Mr David dpd26@cam.ac.uk

UCS President - Davey, Mr Calum cd361@cam.ac.uk

Acting Senior Tutor - Fara, Dr P pf10006@cam.ac.uk


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Humanity needs peace not Islam.