[WSIS CS-Plenary] RE: Call for silence

[info at virtualactivism.net]

A final comment from me on this issue:
The problem I see has to do with the human rights issue in general,
which is why I am saying it is a final comment from me since this is not
the place for its debate. In any lecture/talk/class I give about human
rights in the Arab World and about that pretext issue of cultural
specificity and universality, I always say that there is a fine line
between supporting and showing solidarity on the one hand, and being
aggressive and 'attacking' on the other. No one listens to attacks. And
if anyone listens, it will be done, if ever, with resentment. [Like the
current policy of the US towards the Mideast]. 
The best way is always to support and show solidarity. If the Tunisians
are not speaking out, we cannot speak.. but they ARE speaking out, and
we are showing solidarity - not only as 'Westerners' but also as Arabs
and as individuals who believe in the universality of human rights. 

Sometimes it is not appropriate to be aggressive unnecessarily. I have
Western students all the time who tell me we will go and speak our minds
no matter what because it is a 'human rights issue'. I think this is a
wrong approach and it will only morally satisfy the speaker. If the
speaker wants results, there is a different way. We need to always take
into consideration local issues lest we end up doing more harm than
good, mostly to those we are trying to 'save' or 'protect' or show
solidarity with. It is about doing a logical yet moral assessment, and
knowing when to speak our minds either aggressively or calmly. This,
again, does not exclude being aggressive at times, nor speaking out our
minds. 
Apologies for any diversion. I think we do need to get back to business.

:-)  

Marlyn Tadros, Ph.D
Executive Director
http://www.mengos.net
http://www.virtualactivism.org 
مارلين تادرس
 

-----Original Message-----
From: west Asia [mailto:westasiaregion at hotmail.com] 
Sent: Friday, July 23, 2004 3:54 AM
To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
Subject: Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary] RE: Call for silence

Dear Ronald

Thanks for clarification, it is exactly the same pretext that Islamic
regime
in Iran is misusing to deny freedom of expression and closing every week
a
newspaper in this country, the say we should obey the Islamic values and
cultural values, what the hell these two have anything to do with
freedom of
expression and human rights, its just an excuse to keep us quiet.

Human rights and freedom of expression are global values, beyond
religion
and country, we should all respect and advocate it.
I ma also very happy that the international and especially the western
community is pushing for this and criticizing governments, otherwise
they
will mute us inside.

Thanks

Amir

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ronald Koven" <rkoven at compuserve.com>
To: <plenary at wsis-cs.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2004 9:52 PM
Subject: [WSIS CS-Plenary] RE: Call for silence


Dear All --

There is a name for what the Nile Basin Society is asking us to do.

It is called self-censorship.

Neither Tunisian hospitality nor Arab culture are the issues.

Tunisian regression from the free speech and human rights situation
inherited from Habib Bourguiba is the issue.

Human rights, by definition, concern everyone -- not just citizens of
the
host country. When freedom of expression and press freedom are
diminished
in one country, they are diminished for all humanity.

Sorry if that sounds preachy, but it is one of those self-evident truths
of
which we need to keep reminding ourselves.

It certainly would be nice if we didn't need to keep repeating such home
truths.

The broken record that human rights advocates feel they must keep
replaying
merely reflects the bad human rights record with which they are
confronted.

Rony Koven

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