Tuesday, March 23, 2004
What Makes a Martyr?
A french theater owner has denounced "The Passion" as fascist filmaking. Karmitz argued that despite his opposition to the movie, it should be aired so the country can debate its themes; "Because, behind this 'Passion' . . . you can glimpse a whole internationale of religious fundamentalism, a martyrology based on violence, contempt for the body and hatred for the human element."
Aren't all martyrs the victim of some sort of violence? By the very definition, their death or sacrifice is what makes them martyrs. Violence is inextricably linked to the word. I suppose one could be made a martyr by sacrificing their career or reputation, and these might be considered non-violent, but these type of martyrs are not the kind that leave a lasting impact on social consciousness.
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