<<If I wanted to help Amnesty International by
writing and sending cards my cards and letters
would be censored. You posted that fact
yourself. I like the mission of AI and have
thought about them before. But how could a
christian who is interested in human rights fit
into an organization that endorses censorship of
christian speech. Isn't that a profound
contradiction for AI being a beacon for human
rights to censor specific speech? >>
No, no, no! Maybe I should have explained the reason Amnesty requests those who sends cards to chose secular ones, to avoid a confusion about that fact and my atheism. (By the way, it is a suggestion only; AI does not see the messages sent on the cards, and people can chose their own; AI only hopes that when one understands the reason, one will cooperate.)
The reason AI requests that non-denominational, or secular, cards, be selected is simply that cards are more likely to pass through the screening of the authorities, if they don't bear a specific religious message. It isn't always true-- a Christian card would be fine sent to Guatamala, no doubt; but sent to Pakistan or Communist China, might be offensive to those who have power over the prisoner. For the same reason, one would suggest that a Hannukah card and message not be sent to a prisoner in an Arab country or a Buddhist message not be sent to a Tibetan prisoner held in China.
It is a matter of sensitivity to the helpless circumstances the prisoner is in, and of trying not to anger or offend those who have the power over the prisoner of life or death, of a meal or hunger, of a beating or a night's sleep, to pass on messages of hope or toss them in the trash. For exactly the same reason, AI asks, one might say begs, that letter writers not insult the individual to whom a letter of complaint is addressed, however brutal the human being addressed, or brutal the regime the individual represents. Amnesty always requests, "Write a courteous letter to General so and so." Not being censors, AI can only hope people see the reason for this, and comply.
I hope that now that you understand this, you will become involved in Amnesty International. I would trust you not to send cards with messages, either printed or written by you, that might cause difficulties for the prisoner you are trying to inspire with hope. |
