How would you respond to a nude, provocative image of Jesus on NY Times front page?

Thomas Paine, famous author of Common Sense, offered treatise on how we should treat religious opposing views

In the controversy regarding the cartooning of the Prophet Muhammad and the violence that occurred against the publication in France that carried the cartoons, few have asked the question about making fun of a specific religion and whether or not the provocative nature of it is a necessary way to express free speech, as folks continue to discuss the nature of expression and how we communicate ideas.

France has historically led the way with its philosophers, who like kings of congresses set precedents for people to use in developing a path to constitutional freedom.  Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States during the early days of the country, was known to be a fan of Voltaire and Rossaeu, using many of their ideas to formulate his own, even in reference to his development of America's foundation of freedoms, its Constitution and Declaration of Independence.

Baha'is report Iran's "grim picture" of human rights abuses

[caption id="attachment_9844" align="alignleft" width="252"] Baha'i principles[/caption]

Carol Forsloff---The Baha'i Faith is a world religion with origins in Iraq and Iran, but it is not an Eastern philosophy, as it espouses views alien to Iran's dominant themes of repression.  The following news article received directly to this journalist reveals the serious problems members of this religion face in simply trying to practice the principles of freedom of religion and expression in a country where freedom is suppressed and punished.

(BWNS) – Iran's human rights record continued to display "many negative trends" last year, according to a US government spokesman.

Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Michael H. Posner, described the current situation as "a very grim picture."

Speaking at the press briefing on the 2011 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Mr. Posner noted – among other abuses in Iran –intolerance of dissent, restrictions on freedom of speech, unfair trials, and extensive use of the death penalty.

He also particularly highlighted the 20-year prison sentences given to each of Iran's seven former Baha'i leaders. "It is a human rights situation that is very disturbing, and we'll continue to call it out," he said.

The 2011 annual report, released last Thursday 24 May, devoted some 77 pages to the situation in Iran, detailing a continued "crack down on women's rights activists, ethnic minority rights activists, student activists, religious minorities, and environmental activists" – including members of the Baha'i Faith.

View the full report here.

One section describes, for example, how the constitution in Iran allows the government to seize property acquired "in a manner not in conformity with Islamic law" and how this law has been used to harass religious minorities, particularly Baha'is.

The annual Human Rights Reports assess each country's situation against universal human rights standards. Their findings inform U.S. policymakers and serve as a reference for other governments, international institutions, non-governmental organizations and other interested individuals.

Launching the report, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said, "These reports, which the United States Government has published for nearly four decades, make clear to governments around the world: We are watching and we are holding you accountable. And they make clear to citizens and activists everywhere: You are not alone. We are standing with you."

Some Americans question whether freedom of religion should apply to Muslims

 

[caption id="attachment_11896" align="alignleft" width="180" caption="Islam - Wikipedia commons"][/caption]

WASHINGTON –Carol Forsloff -  A Muslim group points out a growing trend towards animosity towards Islam and wanting to
restrict its freedom of religion First Amendment rights.  What’s the story behind this?

The Council on American Islamic Relations questions  Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey’s recent statement,
“We’ve got a threat that’s invading our country from Muslims.  What’s your stand?”

 According to the Muslim group, rather than
backing down from his statement, Ramsey instead underlined his defense of religious freedom but in
response to the expansion of a mosque in Murfreesboro, Tennessee claimed, “You
cross the line when they start trying to bring shariah (Islamic law) into the
state of Tennessee, into the United States.”

 "You could even argue whether being a
Muslim is actually a religion or is it a nationality, way of life or cult,
whatever you want to call it. . .this is something that we are going to have to
face," continued Ramsey, in a statement issued in his official position as
the arm of justice in the state of Tennessee. 

"We see a disturbing trend in
our nation in which it is suggested that American Muslims should have fewer or
more restricted constitutional rights than citizens of other faiths," said
CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. "We urge Lt. Gov.
Ramsey to meet with representatives of the Tennessee Muslim community who can
offer him balanced and accurate information about Islam."

The issue about Muslim rights to
protection under the First Amendment has been raised a number of times, with
growing threats to religious freedoms, Hooper says.  He observes retired General William Boykin
evidenced Ramsey's views during a recent interview given by the general when he
said: "What we are not seeing first and foremost is the fact that Islam is
not religion. It is a totalitarian way of life. There is a religious component.
But we still treat it as a First Amendment issue when in fact it is a
totalitarian way of life."

While this is happening, people are
protesting the building of a mosque near Ground Zero in New York City using
many of the same arguments, according to Muslim groups and that there is a
nationwide movement to restrict the practice of Islam in the United States as
demonstrated by the examples raised in this article as well as a demonstration
in Florida where an anti-Islamic group demonstrated against the Muslims.

The following links provide
additional evidence of the movement of some groups to restrict First Amendment
rights to Muslims according to CAIR:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNolsXjPpIc


Okla. Legislator's Proposal Would Ban Use of Sharia Law

http://tinyurl.com/32koova


CAIR Video: Fla. Anti-Islam Group Seeks to Disrupt Muslim Event

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhK_yFAXVus


CAIR Video: Okla. Neighbor Posts Yard Signs Opposing New Residents

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9lW7OsO5no


A church in Florida is also encouraging
Americans to desecrate the Quran, Islam's revealed text, on September 11.

SEE: Florida Church Hosting "International Burn a Koran Day" on 9/11

http://tinyurl.com/29jusn3

The First Amendment specifically
underlines freedom of religion as basic to human freedom.

Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the basic principles and was the chief architect of the Bill of Rights,  studied Islam and

had a Koran in his book collection.