From the many news reports and comments made with regard to this unfortunate incident, one idea seems to feature quite prominently - the idea of space. As individuals residing in a common space, issues of navigation and of finding our own space are inevitable. How do we as a society and as a community, create spaces where individuals are free to express our own beliefs? How do we as individuals, carve out such spaces for ourselves without impinging on those of others? As much as we are social beings, we are also individuals who desire our individual space; furthermore, our membership to various groups also complicates the spatial dynamics between people and people; and between people and their spaces.
Not too long ago, I came across an article on BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7204635.stm) which highlighted what I thought to be a somewhat similar issue. The article recounted how a digital book, a CD-Rom digital version of the traditional story of the three little pigs, called Three Little Cowboy Builders, was turned down by a government agency's awards panel as the subject matter could offend Muslims and builders. Specifically, the judges warned that "the use of pigs raises cultural issues". This to me, seems to highlight the difficulty of creating a common space where everyone can be truly comfortable. Is this an impossible dream?
1 comment:
I think the question is also one of the approach to managing space.
There is a difference between space that people have to go to/pass by/interact with, and space that people can choose to avoid without too much inconvenience.
Denying the award to the mentioned digital book, however, is not wrong because intercultural sensitivity could be a criterion for evaluating a book. The fact that such a thing can happen, though, is a reflection of the continuing lack of tolerance today among certain cultures of values and practices different from their own.
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