Fepruary
      22,
      2005
     
    
   
   
    
     
      THE
      CADRE
      e
      17
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      and
      SMU
      campuses.
      The
      ability
      of
     
     
      university
      faculty
      and
      students
      to
     
     
      study
      and
      more
      fully
      understand
     
     
      contentious
      issues
      without
     
     
      administrative
      interference
      is
      of
      great
     
     
      importance.
      fo
     
    

    
     
      Suppressing
      material
      vital
      for
     
     
      the
      study
      of
      significant
      world
      events
     
     
      is
      the
      opposite
      of
      what
      our
      universities
     
     
      ought
      to
      be
      doing:
      Promoting
      open,
     
     
      impartial
      study
      and
      debate.
      Your
     
     
      administrations
      are
      in
      error
      both
      in
     
     
      demanding
      that
      the
      cartoons
      in
     
     
      question
      be
      removed
      from
      Peter
     
     
      March’s
      office
      door
      and
      in
      the
      removal
     
     
      from
      citculation
      of
      a
      recent
      edition
      of
     
     
      The
      Cadre.
     
    

    
     
      University
      students
      and
     
     
      professors
      should
      be
      afforded
      absolute
     
     
      freedom
      to
      post,
      publish
      or
      teach
     
     
      about
      any
      article
      of
      controversy
      they
     
     
      see
      fit.
      How
      can
      you
      foster
      debate
      on
     
     
      what
      should
      or
      shouldn’t
      be
      the
      limits
     
     
      of
      a
      free
      press
      if
      the
      material
      in
     
     
      question
      has
      itself
      been
      censored?
     
    

    
     
      Your
      actions
      have
      made
      what
     
    

    
     
      may
      be
      the
      most
      influential
      pieces
      of
     
     
      political
      and
      religious
      commentary
      less
     
     
      accessible
      to
      your
      students.
     
     
      This
      restriction
      could
      lessen
      the
     
     
      capacity
      and
      motivation
      of
      your
     
     
      students
      and
      faculty
      to
      observe
      and
     
     
      study
      the
      factors
      that
      have
      led
      to
      a
     
     
      seminal
      standoff
      between
      freedom
      of
     
     
      the
      press
      and
      Islamic
      values.
      I
     
     
      sincerely
      hope
      the
      manner
      in
      which
     
     
      your
      universities
      have
      chosen
      to
      deal
     
     
      with
      this
      situation
      is
      not
      mirrored
      by
     
     
      other
      institutions
      —
      that
      would
      be
      a
     
     
      sad
      day
      for
      those
      who
      believe
      in
      the
     
     
      free
      exchange
      of
      ideas
      and
      ideals.
     
    

    
     
      I
      appreciate
      the
      difficulty
      of
     
     
      the
      situation
      in
      which
      your
     
     
      administrations
      find
      themselves
      as
      the
     
     
      result
      of
      the
      actions
      of
      Peter
      Marsh
     
     
      and
      Ray
      Keating.
      There
      has
      been
     
     
      violent,
      hateful
      reaction
      to
      the
     
     
      publication
      of
      the
      controversial
     
     
      Mohammed
      cartoons
      throughout
      the
     
     
      world,
      and
      nobody
      wants
      such
     
     
      malicious
      behavior
      to
      rear
      its
      head
      on
     
     
      Canadian
      university
      campuses.
      But
      if
     
     
      peace
      and
      calm
      can
      only
      be
      achieved
     
     
      through
      the
      suppression
      of
     
     
      controversial
      material,
      the
      price
      is
     
    

    
     
      simply
      too
      high.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Sincerely,
     
     
      P.
      K.
      Smith,
      BA
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      The
      latest
      chapter
      in
      the
      unhappy
     
     
      chronicles
      of
      the
      early
      21st
      Century
      is
     
     
      a
      clash
      of
      cultural
      values
      in
      a
      modern
     
     
      world.
      Intolerance
      and
     
     
      misunderstanding,
      orchestrated
      with
     
     
      the
      sound
      of
      chanting
      mobs
      and
      the
     
     
      threat
      of
      the
      sword,
      the
      gun,
      and
      the
     
     
      bomb,
      has
      been
      generated
      by
      a
      simple
     
     
      exercise
      of
      freedom
      of
      expression
     
     
      most
      Canadians
      take
      for
      granted.
      This
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      is
      the
      freedom
      for
      which
      generations
     
     
      of
      our
      forebears
      sacrificed
      their
      lives.
     
    

    
     
      The
      reaction
      of
      our
      university
     
     
      administrations,
      in
      stifling
      free
      debate
     
     
      on
      this
      or
      indeed
      on
      any
      subject
      is
     
     
      distressing
      and
      irresponsible.
      Students
     
     
      are
      the
      cream
      of
      our
      intellectual
     
     
      society
      and
      our
      future
      leaders.
      They
     
     
      must
      be
      allowed
      the
      right
      to
      debate,
     
     
      within
      the
      law
      and
      under
      the
      protection
     
     
      of
      that
      law,
      without
      censorship
      and
     
     
      fear
      of
      reprisal.
      This
      clash
      over
      the
     
     
      publishing
      of
      the
      Danish
      cartoons
      is
      a
     
     
      further
      wake-up
      call
      that
      our
     
     
      supposedly
      tolerant
      multicultural
     
     
      society
      is
      more
      fragile
      than
      we
      could
     
     
      imagine.
      But
      more
      worrisome
      is
      the
     
     
      possibility
      that
      multiculturalism
      is
      not
     
     
      the
      whole
      of
      the
      explanation,
      but
     
     
      rather
      that
      the
      same
      forces
      that
      have
     
     
      engendered
      media
      self-censorship
      in
     
     
      much
      of
      Europe
      are
      beginning
      to
      have
     
     
      the
      same
      effect
      in
      this
      country.
      That
     
     
      is
      a
      truly
      fearsome
      prospect
      to
      behold.
     
    

    
     
      _
      Twenty
      years
      ago,
      newspapers
     
     
      would
      have
      republished
      those
      Danish
     
     
      cattoons,
      no
      matter
      how
      offensive.
     
     
      Editors
      have
      traditionally
      defended
     
     
      their
      freedom
      to
      offend,
      yet
      this
      time
     
     
      they
      sat
      on
      their
      hands.
      Does
      the
     
     
      restraint
      indicate
      sensitivity
      towards
     
     
      a
      minority
      community?
      Is
      it
      due
      to
     
     
      concerns
      over
      threats
      of
      violence,
     
     
      either
      within
      Canada
      or
      to
      Canadians
     
     
      living,
      working
      and
      fighting
      abroad?
     
     
      Whatever
      the
      case,
      the
      impact
      of
      this
     
     
      affair
      on
      our
      freedoms
      demands
     
     
      continuing
      attention.
     
    

    
     
      The
      University
      of
      Prince
     
     
      Edward
      Island
      is
      gripped
      in
      trepidation
     
     
      of
      circulating
      “The
      Cadre’
      ...
      for
      fear
     
     
      of
      a
      perceived
      reaction.
      As
      a
      writer,
     
     
      this
      flies
      in
      the
      face
      of
      everything
      I
     
     
      hold
      dear.
      By
      refusing
      to
      allow
     
     
      students
      to
      see
      and
      explore
      these
     
     
      editorial
      cartoons,
      the
      university
      is
     
     
      preventing
      a
      crucial
      issue
      from
      being
     
     
      debated
      by
      the
      students.
      It
      is
      critical
     
     
      for
      such
      a
      debate
      to
      take
      place
      on
     
     
      campus
      at
      a
      university.
      It
      is
      an
     
     
      unbiased
      environment
      where
      students
     
     
      can
      ask
      questions.
      Universities
      have
     
     
      to
      be
      forums
      for
      asking
      difficult
     
     
      questions.
      For
      students,
      it
      is
      all
      about
     
    
   
   
    
     
      coming
      to
      grips
      with
      very
      difficult.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      world
      issues
      and
      trying
      to
      understand
     
     
      them.
      It
      is
      an
      aspect
      of
      the
      student
     
     
      experience.
      The
      diversity
      of
      the
     
     
      observations
      and
      questions
      from
     
     
      students,
      faculty
      and
      staff
      would
     
     
      clearly
      validate
      the
      event’s
      relevance.
     
     
      Now
      would
      be
      the
      time
      for
      the
     
     
      University
      to
      cover
      the
      story
      and
      add
     
     
      context
      and
      knowledge
      to
      what
      should
     
     
      be
      a
      full
      airing
      of
      censorship,
      deep
     
     
      religious
      traditions
      and,
      at
      the
      same
     
     
      time,
      a
      dangerous
      global
      flash
      point.
     
     
      In
      journalism
      telling
      the
      truth,
     
     
      not
      letting
      anyone
      suppress
      the
      truth,
     
     
      being
      forthright,
      giving
      the
      reader
      or
     
     
      the
      viewer
      the
      full
      story
      is
      what
      we
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      do.
      The
      very
      highest
      calling
      of
     
    
   
   
    
     
      journalism
      is
      to
      explain
      complex
      issues.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      This
      is
      certainly
      a
      complex
      issue.
      And,
     
     
      by
      definition,
      you
      cannot
      possibly
     
     
      explain
      a
      raging
      debate
      about
      cartoons
     
     
      if
      you
      do
      not
      show
      the
      cartoons.
     
    

    
     
      Freedom
      of
      speech
      and
     
     
      expression
      is
      and
      ought
      to
      be
      an
     
     
      extremely
      popular
      cause.
      Sensitivity
      to
     
     
      Islamic
      tenets
      is
      also
      a
      politically
     
     
      correct
      motivator.
      The
      proper
      reaction
     
     
      to
      the
      cartoon
      episode
      should
      come
     
     
      in
      the
      form
      of
      adopting
      a
      strategy
     
     
      aimed
      at
      persistent
      enlightenment
      of
     
     
      primitive
      religious
      and
      social
      taboos
     
     
      that
      are
      behind
      the
      enslavement
      of
     
     
      vulnerable
      minds.
      If
      it
      takes
      pen
      and
     
     
      paper,
      fingers
      and
      keyboard
      strokes,
     
     
      computers
      and
      internet,
      let
      everyone
     
     
      exercise
      their
      freedom
      to
      express
      their
     
     
      thoughts
      about
      any
      religion.
     
    

    
     
      For
      the
      truth
      to
      prevail,
     
     
      freedom
      of
      expression
      is
      the
      way.
      Seek
     
     
      the
      truth
      and
      debate
      it.
      Either
      that
      or
     
     
      let
      historic
      lies
      and
      deceit
      linger
      around
     
     
      to
      feed
      backwardness
      and
      violent
     
     
      temptations
      indefinitely.
     
    

    
     
      In
      the
      words
      of
      the
      great
     
     
      Canadian
      poet
      Lieutenant
      Colonel
     
     
      John
      McCrae,
      let
      us
      remember
      once
     
     
      again
      the
      sacrifice
      of
      those
      who
      fought
     
    
   
   
    
     
      and
      died
      for
      freedom.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      To
      you
      from
      failing
      hands
      we
      throw
     
     
      The
      torch;
      be
      yours
      to
      hold
      it
      high.
     
    

    
     
      If
      ye
      break
      faith
      with
      us
      who
      die
     
    

    
     
      We
      shall
      not
      sleep,
      though
      poppies
      grow
     
     
      In
      Flanders
      fields.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Patricia
      Gray
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Bravol?.
      You:
      «are:
      sight,
      the
     
     
      administration
      wrong.
      The
      UPEI
     
     
      President
      needs
      to
      take
      his
      thumb
      out
     
     
      of
      his
      mouth
      and
      grow
      up.
      The
     
     
      cartoons
      need
      to
      be
      published
      so
      that
     
     
      people
      can
      see
      how
      the
      sons
      of
     
     
      Ishmael
      react
      to
      freedom
      of
     
     
      expression.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Peter
      Woods,
      70
      years
      old,
      retired
     
     
      engineer
      and
      priest.
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      The
      decision
      to
      publish
      the
      infamous
     
     
      Muslim-riling
      cartoons
      was,
      IMHO,
     
     
      neither
      bold
      nor
      brave
      nor
      noble,
      it
     
     
      was
      just
      redundant
      and
      stupid.
      Not
     
     
      quite
      as
      stupid
      as,
      say,
      threatening
      to
     
     
      kill
      or
      actually
      killing
      people
      in
      an
     
     
      insane
      reaction
      to
      said
      cartoons,
      but
     
     
      plain
      stupid
      nonetheless.
     
    

    
     
      Sure,
      you
      have
      a
      right
      to
     
     
      publish
      these
      things.
      Any
      fool
      already
     
     
      knows
      that;
      it
      didn’t
      need
      to
      be
     
     
      proven.
      “It’s
      been
      done.”
     
    

    
     
      What
      great
      illumination
      did
     
     
      this
      add
      to
      the
      debate?
      Will
      it
      help
      to
     
     
      bridge
      cultural
      divides?
      Or
      does
      it
      only
     
     
      serve
      extremists
      of
      every
      stripe,
      from
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      the
      mountains
      of
      Afghanistan
      to
      the
     
     
      halls
      of
      the
      White
      House,
      who
      would
     
     
      have
      us
      in
      a
      state
      of
      perpetual
     
     
      conflict?
     
    

    
     
      Perhaps
      you
      should
      publish
      a
     
     
      running
      series
      of
      tasteless
      cartoons
     
     
      stereotyping
      Christians,
      Jews,
      Hindus,
     
     
      Buddhists...
      oh
      heck,
      why
      not
      whites,
     
     
      blacks,
      natives,
      Asians,
      Alberta
      oil
     
     
      jockeys,
      BC
      bud-
      heads...
      and
      pea-
     
     
      brained
      racist
      hicks
      from
      P.E.I.?
     
    

    
     
      You
      are
      certainly
      free
      to
      poke
     
     
      a
      stick
      in
      a
      beehive.
      And
      when
      people
     
     
      are
      running
      around
      getting
      stung
      and
     
     
      being
      sent
      to
      hospital
      with
      venom
     
     
      reactions,
      you
      can
      stand
      there
      proudly
     
     
      and
      declare
      “I
      had
      a
      right
      to
      do
      that.”
     
     
      Everyone
      is
      free
      to
      be
      an
      idiot.
      Just
     
     
      don’t
      expect
      to
      be
      invited
      to
      the
      next
     
     
      picnic.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Sincerely,
     
     
      Scott
      Willing
     
     
      Boggy
      Creek,
      MB
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Hi
      Ray,
      a
      fellow
      student
      here
      from
      the
     
     
      far
      reaches
      of
      York
      University.
      I
      just
     
     
      wanted
      you
      to
      know
      that
      I
      entirely
     
     
      support
      your
      decision
      to
      publish
      the
     
     
      cartoons
      and
      urge
      you
      to
      continue
      the
     
     
      struggle
      against
      your
      administration’s
     
     
      attempt
      to
      limit
      free
      speech.
      The
      right
     
     
      to
      critically
      examine
      that
      which
      is
     
     
      socially
      relevant
      should
      be
      protected
     
     
      above
      all
      else
      within
      the
      academic
     
     
      community,
      and
      it
      is
      truly
      unfortunate
     
     
      that
      some
      would
      seek
      to
      prohibit
      such
     
     
      a
      crucial
      discourse.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Bravo
      to
      you
      and
      your
      staff,
     
     
      Stephen
      Zwir
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      I
      am
      a
      Saint
      Mary’s
      student
      who
      is
     
     
      greatly
      interested
      in
      the
      freedom
     
     
      controversy
      currently.
      I
      see
      that
      you
     
     
      and
      Peter
      March
      (of
      SMU)
      have
      stood
     
     
      up
      for
      what
      is
      right.
      As
      I
      believe
      in
     
     
      freedom
      for
      the
      Muslim
      faith,
      I
      greatly.
     
     
      believe
      in
      freedom
      of
      speech.
      I
      like
      to
     
     
      be
      very
      political
      of
      my
      views,
      as
      today
     
     
      I
      provided
      security
      for
      Peter
      March,
     
     
      and
      listened
      to
      the
      whole
      protest.
     
    

    
     
      You
      are
      justified
      in
      your
      way
     
     
      of
      expressing
      freedom
      of
      speech,
      but
     
     
      make
      sure
      you
      sensor
      yourself
      no
     
     
      matter
      what
      you
      believe
      in.
      The
      water
     
     
      is
      boiling
      hot,
      and
      you
      don’t
      want
      to
     
     
      fall
      in.
      The
      Muslim
      faith
      is
      very
      serious,
     
     
      and
      testy.
      I
      think
      this
      is
      well
      over-
     
     
      reacted,
      and
      should
      be
      dealt
      with
      in
      a
     
     
      mote
      civil
      way.
      The
      ridicule
      should
     
     
      remain
      in
      Denmark,
      without
      violence,
     
     
      not
      here
      in
      Canada.
      You
      were
      merely
     
     
      advising
      of
      the
      current
      news
      around
     
     
      the
      world.
      You
      shouldn’t
      be
      chased
     
     
      around
      for
      that.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Thanks
      for
      you
      time,
     
     
      Will
      Shatford