By Tola
I think maturity can be said to have set in at the point where an individual realises that yes, while he has the right and freedom to say, do and carry on as they please; there are consequences and that one must bear responsibility for ones choices.

One of the greatest lessons I learnt growing up was realising that though you lump human beings into broad basic stereotypes, we are all kind of different and that wisdom laid in recognising and understanding basic human nature with a bid to enhancing  inter and intra personal relationships.

I have also come to understand boundaries. That my freedom and rights end when and where they begin  to encroach on another’s.  I have also come to understand that while all things may be lawful, not all are expedient and that there are times, where for the greater good I would choose not to exercise my freedom to say or do as I please.

Once again the Middle East has been set ablaze because someone somewhere decided to exercise their freedom of expression and shot a film that some other people found offensive. The offended party responded by exercising a little freedom of their own – by blowing up a few embassies and killing a handful of people including a sitting Ambassador not to mention the scores that got caught in the cross fire.

That’s what happens when we all do as we please without any regard or consideration for other peoples sensibilities. Don’t get me wrong. I am not in any way justifying the carnage and extreme reaction of the religious fundamentalists. After all the God that I worship has been globally ridiculed and called every name under the sun, you don’t see us setting buildings and people on fire but hey, what can I tell you? …Basic human nature.

I was watching footage of the young royals’ tour. There was a shot of the Duchess as they arrived some country, not sure which now, but one with strong Islamic leanings and she had on her signature simple yet elegant dress, this time though with a thoughtful addition. She had her luxurious hair wrapped in a matching veil – in deference and as a sign of respect to the prevailing culture – International diplomacy at its best.

While I don’t agree that we should live our lives in fear or be cowered into silence because some people erroneously believe that they possess the sole monopoly on violence, being intentionally provocative is just plain stupid.

A group of people have shown that they have zero tolerance when it comes to certain issues and will go to any length to prove their point and defend their position. Nothing is forgiven and everything is avenged. To think that a film, a figment of one individual’s warped mind could spark off events of such global proportions. Did the producer set out to be provocative, perhaps?  He or she certainly set out to get a reaction; well maybe not just the kind they were expecting.  An unfortunate turn of events you might say; sparked off by a harmless (?) and thoughtless (?) act.

On the other hand, reports that someone in France is about to publish cartoons making fun of the on-going uprising is just plain mischievous and outright irresponsible. Isn’t the situation precarious and volatile enough?

The French Government while encouraging responsibility and restraint is careful not to cross that thin line called censorship. But isn’t there a time when one should censor one’s self for the greater good? So there it is freedom and responsibility… the freedom of speech and the inalienable right to self –expression. In this instance is it really worth the cost?