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Rushdie and Scorsese: No Comparison
Taking a look at freedom of expression
by Pete Weichlein
Collegian Staff Writer
My, my, how short my
memory is.
"Freedom of expression," was
the fust thing I yelled, "Freedom
of Religion" was the second. "Let
the man write his book, this is
the 20th century, nobody is
going to get shot for writing a
book."
So if anyone has a problem
with Salman Rushdie openly
expressing his views on the
Islamic religion, he's going of
have to answer to me. In this day
and age, where democracy is
clearly the most civilized and
intelligent form of government,
any artist should be able to
openly express himself.
An opinion is meant to
stimulate thought and discussion,
and the "Satanic Verses" is just
that, an opinion. This book
expresses Rushdie's understanding
of the Islamic religion, and it is a
Letter To The Editor
Are We Losing
Our. Rights?
Dear editor,
Let's lynch Salman Rushdie,
burn all copies of "The Last
Temptation," turn Manhattan
into an isolated, quarantine
facility for AIDS victims, shoot
all foreigners (which the Indians
would love to see), and force all
minorities to re-accept second
class citizenship.
Here are a few of the bumper
stickers which could be sold in
white supremist's camps around
the country: "Increase your
hunting abilities, shoot a
minority," "Enslave all women
as porno-sex toys," "Smoke a
smoker with an elephant gun,"
"Snuff all people who chew,
unless they are (members of) the
ruling class," etc., etc., etc.
Oh yeah, let's not forget last
semester's Collegian article
which classed all women smokers
as "men-haters." The new
warning on cigarette packs would
read: "Warning: Cigarettes cause
social stigma and thoroughly
exaggerated over-generalizations."
People will be outcast, even
on college campuses, as social
deformities, and be otherwise
subjected to ignorant ridicule.
We seem to be regressing into
a modern form of humanitarian
barbarianism. Our international,
Dear Andy,
As always, we appreciate your letter. We
also sympathize with your ultimate point, the
idea that smokers may be having their rights
stripped away. But I've got to ask, what does
this have to do with enslaving women as
porno sex toys? - ed.
sign of pure barbarism and stone
age thinking if certain leaders of
the Islamic religion get all
worked up, just because
somebody openly disagreed with
their views on religion. Thank
God we Christians are above such
thinking.
And then it hit me. Wasn't
there some really disgusting
movie about Jesus Christ not too
long ago? Somewhere around
September I think. What was that
movie called? "The Last
Temptation of Christ" -that's it.
But that's something completely
different. You can't compare the
one to the other. Whoever
directed that movie, openly
attacked fundamental beliefs and
truths of Christianity. Things
taught for generations were made
to look like lies.
The director, Martin
Scorsese, expressed opinions for
which he'll surely go straight to
hell. And certain members of the
church were ready to send him
foundational base of Human
Rights is being eaten away. Non
smokers enjoy a new-found
autonomy at the expense of the
rights of others.
Don't get me wrong, a lot of
non-smokers I've talked to feel
that, while their rights need to be
protected (through the
implementation of the Smoking
Ban set to go into effect April
3rd), that the smoker's rights
should not suffer and that there
should be an effort made by the
University to set aside a smoking
area. Many people feel that by
pushing the smokers out doors,
their basic rights are being
stripped away, and they are being
treated as just more unwanted
dogs which should be put out.
If the minority (of smokers)
lose their rights, where will it
end? How many doors are opened
which could begin the systematic
stripping away of human rights
(piece by unnoticed piece) until
there's nothing left? If we allow
this to happen, then we will soon
become so riddled with holes (of
stripped away rights) that we'll
become biotic masses of Swiss
cheese.
Sincerely,
Andrew Festa
there promptly and personally.
But Scorsese's movie didn't
really hurt us that much. We
were able to get it out of the
movie theaters before too many
disbelievers had a chance to
indulge in it. And all our beloved
Perspective
religious leaders let us know
what eternity would be like if we
even dared to start thinking along
Scorsese's lines.
It wasn't that we were afraid of
what Scorsese might have to say,
or that we feared open-minded
Christians, it was just so
upsetting to be exposed to such
clear lies about our religion. I'll
be the first one to admit that I
thought Scorsese should be
burned publicly for his
But is it fair that I should see the dawn he waited for?
Can I with conscience behold this and sigh, while he can see no more?
"The dawn he sees, he views with me, the love he knows is whole,
His hopes, his dreams were not in vain, either way he's reached his goal
This poem was written in memory of Tom
Ainendola who along with a friend, Justin Skol,
was killed tragically in an auto accident last
week. We'd like to dedicate this poem to the
memory of both Tom and Justin.
The Behrend Collegian's editorial opinion is determined by the editor, with the editor holding final
responsibility. Opinions expressed in the Collegian are not necessarily those of the Behrend Collegian
or the Pennsylvania State University.
Letter Policy: The Behrend Collegian encourages letters on news coverage, editorial content and
university affairs. Letters should be typewritten, double-spaced and signed by no more than two
persons. Letters should be no longer than 400 words. Letters should include the semester and major of
the writer. All letters should provide the address and phone number of the writer for verification of the
letter. The Collegian reserves the right to edit letters for length and to reject letters if, they are libelous
or do not conform to standards of good taste.
Postal Information: The Behrend Collegian (898-6221) is published weekly by the students of the
Behrend College; The Reed Union Building, Station Road, Erie, Pa 16563. •
blasphemy, but that would have
been such a barbaric way of
handling things. And since all of
this cannot be compared to what
is going on with Salman Rushdie
and "The Satanic Verses," why
even bother getting all excited
Pete's
again. Rushdie is clearly a case of
freedom of expression, Scorsese
clearly one of offensive
blasphemy.
A revolutionary mind could,
however, ask a very logical
question now: are there certain
double standards at work here. In
other words, did we in September
choose to ignore Scorsese's
freedom of expression while we
now condemn Islam for doing the
same to Rushdie? Or, since in
This is for Tom who was taken in a car accident. He deserved the
opportunities more than I did but I believe he made it either way, life
or death . . . he made it.
A Conversation-wittr6od
Where aie we going now? Where will those books lead us?
Who will hold us up in life, care for us and need us?
"All of the lutowledge you've attained can only bring success,
reaching for your goals and.dreams never settling for less"
But I can't help but think of those who travelled but never arrived
suffered for the price of wisdom only to be cheated and deprived
"Don't let misfortune make up your mind, go on and learn your way
to a brighter future, peace of mind, fulfillment and a prosperous day"
But I feel so guilty like I've taken his chance to play the game and. win,
the feeling hinders my motivation and crushes desire to achieve within
"Don't look behind for even though the sunset has it's colors,
the sun which brings in the new day shines above all the others"
Editorial Policy
The Collegian Thursday, March 30
=Mil
- A Friend
September we demanded the
disappearance of "Last
Temptation of Christ", is Iran
right in demanding the removal
of "The Satanic Verses"? But
why even bother asking such
questions, since these two
matters are of completely
different nature and have
absolutely nothing in common.
In this day and age, one
cannot call himself a columnist
without making reference to Vice
President Quayle on a rather
regular basis. Danny surprisingly
enough had a thought on "The
Satanic Verses." He found the
book "very offensive and
disturbing." Asked whether he
had actually read the book before
forming an opinion of it, the
Vice President smiled sadly and
shook his head. Obviously he
doesn't feel the one is a
prerequisite of the other.