Freedom of expression in danger

By Roujin Mozaffarimehr

How do we define freedom of expression? Inherently, I think that to speak or express one's opinion without consequence is the best definition for this right that we, as Americans, possess. But after reading several headlines in the past weeks, I'm starting to wonder if we've lost the meaning of freedom of expression in this world.

I just finished watching an episode of "Dateline" which covered the uproar that British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has set off with his fictional character in the upcoming film "Borat," where Cohen plays a Kazakhstani reporter. Cohen is best known as his comedic characters Borat and Ali G, a gangster wannabe.

Apparently, the entire country is deeply affected by Cohen's crude depiction of a man emigrating from Kazakhstan to America. But this story is fiction -- it's a comedic routine. In his skits (the movie has yet to be released), Borat travels across America, playing the role of a backwards man who drinks horse urine, shoots dogs for sport and has a dead wife, but is excited because he can now look for another companion.

Ironically, his show ends up making jokes on the backwards, ignorant people in the United States; it doesn't in any way bash the nation of Kazakhstan. Cohen has a right to depict a fictional character in whatever way he pleases, correct? Is this not the point of freedom of expression?

Let's take another current issue, this one coming from Berlin. An opera house was recently forced to shut down its show because the opera, based on Mozart's symphony No. 40, depicts prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, with his head cut off.

Please keep in mind, the heads of Jesus Christ and Buddha are also included. The play, in general, is famous for Mozart's criticism of organized religion, but apparently, the freedom to express that criticism is being challenged by people who are offended by the depictions and are fearful of the possibility of implications of terror.

This play opened in 2003, and up until now there have not been any problems with the opera. But suddenly, fears of terrorism are threatening the artistic expression that Mozart had envisioned. Are people not allowed to express themselves in whatever way they please? These examples seem to suggest that they don't have this right.

Where do we draw the line? Is it okay for people to criticize and critique whomever and whatever they please, or is there a defined line for what is appropriate and what is not?

This is a question that desperately needs to be addressed, especially when taking into consideration the many different issues that are present in the world regarding the freedom of expression.

It is a difficult feat to overcome; how can one be completely unbiased when drawing the line for what is appropriate and inappropriate? One's morals and opinions will undoubtedly conflict with another's. Essentially, by censoring one's expression, the world ends up with the censorship of freedom. Shouldn't we be fighting for freedom, or in this case, the freedom of expression?

The decision is up to you. I find many things offensive in this world, but if it's okay for one person to express his opinion, then I hope that I still have a right to express mine. If you take that away from one person, eventually you will be taking it away from everyone.

I love Cohen's Borat, and I hope that society never takes Cohen's social commentary away from me. We must allow the freedom of all expression in order to avoid a slippery slope of censorship.

Roujin Mozaffarimehr is a junior political science and Italian major.