Laws alone cannot secure freedom of expression; in order that every man present his views without penalty there must be spirit of tolerance in the entire population.
      - Albert Einstein

Most have heard of Lars Vilks, if not check out the Wilkpedia defination of all the controversy behind this man. So far he has had 150,000 bounty placed on his head, and he has now constantly recieves death threats. Now I respect the right to religion and the equality of it all, however as a writer and artist I respect the right of free speech first. My understanding of this is he drew a musliam prophet with a body of a dog, dont get me wrong but I personally see nothing wrong with it. Its one persons take of the ideal of this prophet. Now Ive seen some pretty outlandish pictures of Jesus and Buddha and other various icons of religion, but I dont see people threating the lives of these people. The rights of free speech has to be met with a certain amout of tolarance.

My sweet father also has had a few death threats on him as well. As it stands right now for people to vote they must show picture ID and show their face, proving that they are the person. Musliam women that follow the strict tenent must not show their faces to anyone out side of their family and husband.  Now going with that they can not vote. No face showing, no proving of ID , No vote. His opinion is just that, it is the law and with in Canada those laws must be followed. Now I agree with my father to a point.  There has to be a certain amout of flexablity with in those laws in order to cohabitate with the ideals of relgious equality. However most that heard his opinon agrees with him, but there is the few that strongly disagree with him and has threatened him on live radio.

Now why I am I bringing up these two points. Its simple, I belive in the rights of equality, however I dont agree with the fact that these ignorant few making death threats and spoiling the image of the rest of the people. I have friends that are Islamic, and Musliam, I am an Anglican, my husbands Family is Catholic. I can see beyond the religion and see that people are people. Above all I believe the power of Freedom of Speech. It is the power of speech that has the ablity to change the ideals of people, change people from the power of love to the power of hate with in a blink of an eye. It brings people together under a cause or causes people to seperate and threatens human life. With out that right of free speech the rights of religion is void and the equality of all life is void.  So with that I give you the one that says it best....John Lennon