current affairs Yay or Nay? Nikael Kalre's Open Letter and the FNS

[Anen]

HAVE YOUR SAY: Nikael Kalre's Open Letter

The Issue:

Two weeks ago the Federation New Service received an open letter from known terrorist and leader of the Maquis Reborn Nikael Kalre which spured a hot debate in the offices. Eventually Editor in Chief Reza Kardgar made the decision the publish the article with a short foreword from himself, over the strong objections of many staffers including notable columnist Maronida Shiir. Since that time Mr. Kardgar has been personally vilified in the press and media, despite framing the action as an exercise in free speech.

Protestors have gathered outside the FNS headquarters in Paris, which publishes the Core Edition, and have demanded a formal apology from the FNS and the resignation of Reza Kardgar. No official statement has been made by either Mr. Kardgar or the FNS but the topic continues to be debated across not only Federation News Service publications and broadcast, but the Federation media at large.

Many in the Federation see the publication of a terrorist's open letter where he seeks to justify his actions as ghoulish and in poor taste, but Reza Kardgar and his supporters say they were only doing their duty as journalists and respecting the right to free speech and a free and open press.

Read more about the crisis:

• To My Beloved: Heart Of Ohmallera
• Editorial: The Pen and The Sword: Maronida Shiir on Nikael Kalre
• Protests continue outside FNS offices

As with all FNS stories, your comments on the current situation are welcome below.

FNS Home • FNS Forum • FNS Data Feed• FNS on FB • Join the FNS Team

Edited March 12, 2015 by Anen/Zayar

[+ LtCmdr Alexander Richards]

From: Lieutenant Commander Alexander Richards

To: The Federation News Service

Subject: To be published immediately RE: Nikael Kalre

To whom it may concern. Though I as a Starfleet Officer can not condone the actions of a terrorist organization or its members, I can stand for their right to be heard through peaceful means such as the open letter that was received by your service. Though I may find the actions of any terrorist organization deplorable we can not censure any Federation citizens rights to freedom of speech and expression.

With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured...the first thought forbidden...the first freedom denied--chains us all irrevocably.'

Words spoken many years ago by Judge Aaron Satie. I believe that to censure Reza Kardgar for publishing the letter from Nikael Kalre would be the first link in a forged chain that sends us irrevocably towards a path of censorship and control, a path that moves the Federation away from the very ideals on which it was founded.

In closing, we do not need to agree with the thoughts or actions of Nikael Kalre and his terrorist organization but we must continue to provide him with a means to legally express his views and concerns and those of his group. It is for the general public of the Federation to decide on whether or not to believe him and listen, not for the Federation News Service, the Council or Starfleet to dictate who has a right to speak and where.

Thank you for your time,

Alexander Richards,

Citizen, husband, father, Starfleet Officer.

Edited March 12, 2015 by LtCmdr Alexander Richards

[+ Nadeshiko]

FROM: Lt. JG Ceciri Ariadust

Re: Nikael Kaire's open message

If we stand for something, stand for something. It's not like he refused to run Maronda Shiir's message, and both sides of an argument must be allowed to run. Unless, of course, he's hiding actual actionable threats. But I doubt that.

The right of free speech and an independent press means from time to time that the FNS will post unsettling things, but that is never a reason to censor speech.