Few days ago, it emerged that a certain journalists with Daily Graphic- Mr. Daniel Kenu had asked Ghana’s Black Stars’ captain-Asamoah Gyan a “stupid question” and apart from the fact that, Asamoah Gyan and many others were angered by the question—Asamoah Gyan’s older brother-Baffour Gyan was later reported to have gotten the journalist beaten/assaulted, by some macho men he hired.
As a strong Human Rights advocate, the above makes me wonder what sort of animals some of us are or have become, at a time when we are relentlessly fighting to move away from such barbaric happenings…
From what I’ve heard, the ‘absurd’ question the journalist asked was to get a confirmation or otherwise from Asamoah Gyan on whether he actually “sacrificed” his friend-Theophilus Tagoe popularly known as Castro for riches—considering the mystery surrounding Castro’s recent disappearance at Ada.
This question may seem unnecessary in relation to the timing but no one can totally ignore the fact that the hovering superstitions and speculations somewhat make this a valid question—and if a journalist wants to ask, he has every right, be it legal or moral to ask.
Asamoah Gyan has a RIGHT to answer or choose not to answer and for a person in his position, answering the question even if he thought it was absurd would have been the best option.
I do not think it would have taken much of his breath or taken anything away from him to have just answered with a smile by saying; that is a far-fetched superstition and nonsense; I do not know anything about this and I can never do this to anyone, talk of my own friend I love.
It is interesting to know that Asamoah Gyan has played and stayed in the United Kingdom before—and currently plays and stays in a foreign land where you have some very provocative press men well protected by Press Freedom or Freedom of Speech who could have asked this same question. And I wonder if he would have treated them the same or his brother would have proceeded to have a journalist from UK’s Mirror or Sun Newspaper beaten for asking this same question.
Such occurrences do not just bring to light our poor understanding of the most important RIGHT we may have as human beings, Freedom of Expression but also, it puts to test how much we’ve developed out of the animal skin—and more importantly, how we believe those whose words offend us must be treated.
I’ve always maintained that, the true essence of free speech is the RIGHT to be offensive. And no one has any right to punch another person because he finds his words revoltingly offensive.
As Voltaire said; “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”. This is the true essence and test of how civilized a person is, not how much money the person has sitting in his bank account.
This cannot happen anywhere in the West but it will happen in Ghana and you will have some esteemed people supporting such actions, instead of subjecting them to the commendation they deserve.
Perhaps, being a third world country citizen makes you more of an animal than those in the West, where tolerance and respect for Free Speech have become a hallmark of their existence.
I’ve heard some pretty absurd questions being thrown at world leaders and politicians including President Obama, David Cameroon, Tony Blair and the others—but I am yet to hear that any of those who simply asked the questions have been beheaded or beaten.
Just as Carl Sagan, in his work-The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark stated: “There are naive questions, tedious questions, ill-phrased questions, questions put after inadequate self-criticism. But every question is a cry to understand the world. There is no such thing as a dumb question”.
And I will add that, no person deserves to be beaten for simply asking a question, even if the question is self-styled to be stupid.
Asamoah Gyan, his brother-Baffour Gyan and all those who are in support of this caveman brutality must bow their heads in shame…
The ignorance and anger already in most people is too much!
Kanye West, justin bieber, Britney Spears even the Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin, Russell Brand and A lister Sean Penn have all attacked and had a scuffle with media men and they don’t live in third world countries! Surely u could have just touched on the sometimes irrational and animalistic behaviors exhibited by EVERY human. There is nothing 3rd world about this. What they did was wrong as both humans and famous people and I’m sure justice would be served should the victim press charges. Kanye west beat up a kid because he called Kim all sort of offensive names but u didn’t chastise him for his behavior on here. U r from a third world country too, don’t be a sellout.
I am sure you lost yourself in the article, saying third world citizens does not apply only to geographical proximity, but mainly mindset—and you can cite Kanye West and others, those are in no way the same as this situation.
Those people were not attacked for asking a question, and the attacks were instant, not going to hire some people later on to go and beat someone—that is more barbaric.
People out of anger react to things different and Kanye does a lot of that, even that, the law finds him his position and his actions are widely condemned. I may be from a third world country, but I certainly do not have a third world mindset—and I do understand the essence of free speech.
The problem is, most people just like you have done fail to call a spade a spade, always looking for some non-existing justification for the actions of their people, even if these people acted like animals.
Thank you.
Our problem is that, some of us have been brainwashed to see ourselves as animals. Very sad!!!
Asamoah Gyan and his brother should be ashamed of themselves. what is wrong with the question the journalist asked? oh Ghana
Have you ever disagreed with Chris for once? Not that I disagree with him on this though. Just asking. You seem to agree with him on everything.
LOL. seriously that got me laughing………….
@akosuaghana:disqus is Chris’ longtime girlfriend. I know them from London. Akosua is currently in Germany right now
WHATEVER
So I should disagree with him for disagreeing with him sake you mean?
Loooooool
So what point did Asamoa & his people prove by beating the journalist?
lol errrrm as far as i know..the players were being interviewd by some of the journalists who got the chance to interview em,and one of them asked him that question buh gyan thought it was funny at first then got kinda mad,besides the other journalists thought it was not the right question he shd have asked or better yet it was a bias question,they were even like ah massa what kinda silly question is that..so later on gyans big brother went to confront the guy and things got heated up and the journalist got arrested or so…buh chale it really was a nonfa question,u couldnt ask any other question than “just to clear the air,there r have been rumors that u used castro for money”i mean c´mon who wouldnt be pissed at such a question.
Hahaha,Chris n Akosua??? Chris n his girlfriends wahala charlie if u talk some u go become 3rd party , leave dem n let dem enjoy each other , hahaha dis is real NEWS…
Ghana is indeed a backwards country.
How is Ghana a “backwards country” cos AG & his bro allegedly hired some thugs to beat up a journalist? Such generalisations aren’t called for. SMH
Asamoah gyan is very guilty. He needs to answer some questions surrounding castro’s death. He has too many death issues surrounding his tournaments. I think he sacrificed his friend n the girl.
Why should he? Aside from inviting Castro to Ada, what else did he do? Do you know anything the police don’t know. If so I suggest you call the Ghana cops. Anything else is pure hogwash and that includes all the juju talk and visions. Asamoah Gyan had no hand in Castros death. It was a tragic accident. It happens all the time around the world. People drown tragically and it is not due to ‘sika dro’ or ‘mammy water’. Were it not for the ignorance and stupidity of Ghanaians such fantastical stories will not be entertained. Funny but every kid in North America know mermaids are fantasy- Disneyesque -. It is therefore pathetic that grown ass men and women think Castro is being held by Ariel from the little mermaid. Or Asamoah Gyan cut a deal with it for money. It is bullocks! And it explains the lack of intellectual growth in Ghana. Religion and the belief in superstition has rendered Ghanaians infantile in their thinking.
Ghana is a lawless country where people do whatever they want. Even in the Animal Kingdom there is order and Chris is right to call this behaviour animalistic
My take is that sometimes journalists take themselves to seriously and place themselves above those they cover. The fact that you are a journalist doesn’t make you above humans. What he asked was insensitive considering the circumstances. Asamoah Gyan lost a dear friend. For a journalist(who is educated and therefore should be about the superstitious guff), to ask such a painful question was sickening. He should have known better. I am a staunch believer in freedom of speech but there are limits. You cannot yell ‘FIRE’ in a crowded theatre, cause panic then claim freedom of speech. Those exercising their freedom of speech should also be made aware that there are consequences. Look at what the bastions of free speech, the west, is doing to Manning, Assange and Snowden. What the journalist did was vile and provocative. So he got what he deserves. He can claim he was exercising his free speech and the same can be said of Baffour Gyan. Tanning someone’s hide is an expression of free speech too. So the journalist experienced Baffour Gyans free speech in a sense.
Your understand of free speech seems well tainted. Because if someone shouts FIRE in a crowded theatre to cause fear and panic—and the action does not come under free speech, the law must determine this, not that someone can go and punch the one who shouted.
That is not free speech at all…So if a journalist asks a question and you don’t like it, you go and beat him? That is animalistic…
Nope. Not at all. There are inherent responsibilities which most offenders ignore. If a white supremacist enters a black neighbourhood and starts screaming white power etc etc. Guess what? He deserves a beating. He may be exercising his free speech but the natural response of those he’s insulting is equally apt. The law courts cannot judge emotional response to provocation and so cannot be asked to judge it. Your belief in free speech devoid of personal responsibility is not correct. As it has been shown time and time again there are limits. In an ideal world, where there are no emotions, yes you can expect someone to logically process an action and react. But that is not what happens in the real world. If you choose to exercise your free speech at the wrong place, you will be pummelled despite what the law says. You are in the UK right? Ok go to a Hammers game and exercise your free speech by cheering for their opponents and see what happens to you.
Also if you blindy believe in free speech without consequences to the speaker then what stops them from fabricating stories, like Judith Miller of NYT? Common sense should not be jettisoned when exercising one’s freedom to speak.
When a claim of freedom of speech hurts others with hateful remarks, accusations and false statements, it is not freedom. It is oppression!
You are a fool, you know why? None you typed in here makes no sense and yet has the guts to flood this site with your silly writting. Who the hell are you? seriously, learn to comment in one paragraph and stop this shyt.
Ama, please sit this one out. It is beyond your pay grade. All your brain cells can’t compute this far so please find a corner, sit and continue your drooling. Big boys are talking. Have some humility and stop interrupting. You are a worthless piece of taint and on your best days worth less than a piece of pork.
Journalist should be made aware of what they set in motion when they ask those insidious questions. Like Idi Amin’s famous quote goes “There is freedom of speech, but I cannot guarantee freedom after speech”. Yes by all means exercise you freedom of speech but that doesn’t guarantee you freedom.
Chris, Wouldn’t you have preferred for someone to plug Hitler when he started exercising his freedom of speech by promoting the Aryan principle? Under free speech should we tolerate the intolerant?
And finally to finish my point;
Slander (verbal defamation) and libel (written defamation), threats, treason, copyright infringements, trade secrets, and promoting unlawful acts are some of the areas where free speech does not apply.
I really don’t see the direction of your argument in relation to the above article. All the same, if you are indeed interested in the Free Speech discourse, See below link, containing a recent paper I wrote on the subject—you may find some understanding and answers to your questions there.
http://www.ghanacelebrities.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/FreeSpeechEassyVincent.pdf
The direction is simply you cannot scream free speech when you intend to do harm. I have read your article and I am glad you brought up Stuart Mills ‘harm principle’. Which is paramount in determining what should be protected under Free speech and what shouldn’t be. When a claim of freedom of speech hurts others with hateful remarks, accusations and false statements, it is not freedom. If the journalist had reported just the facts of the case it would have been a different story. By insinuating motives and allegations, he gave up the right to be protected under the free speech umbrella. It is my belief that free speech comes with personal responsibilities. If you don’t recognise these responsibilities then you may be inadvertently trigger other responses. Free Speech in human matters can never be absolute.
I don’t think you understand free speech even if after reading my essay you are still here saying this. No one said free speech is absolute though some people think ought to be.
Limitations can be placed on free speech since it is not absolute as I analysed in my paper. The limitations must however take certain forms or meet certain steps, any limitation out of that sphere such as the above, going to beat someone for exccersising free speech is unlawful and animalistic.
This is not part of free speech limitation so I don’t see how you can evoke free speech limitations in your argument in relation to the above animalistic behaviour.
If the journalist had exercise some control rather than the ‘free for all approach’, he would not have suffered the consequences. My point is you cannot hide behind free speech and provoke others. Because free speech is not absolute.The law has limits and doesn’t cover everything. There are blind spots and you shouldn’t entirely rely on it for your protection. Secondly, are we not animals? We may have composed a sonnets and written arias but in the end we are still animals. Our reptilian brains is still very active. And no law can stop it from reacting to provocation. Therefore one shouldn’t expect others to automatically respect your free speech. As a libertarian I believe in free speech but I am also aware of the propensity for humans intending to cause harm to wrap themselves in it. Which is why I don’t believe the law should be the arbiter but rather those for whom speech is meant. They can decide on th ebest way to approach it. Perhaps express themselves physically.
Nice one
shut up ignorant ignoramus…
thank you jay, this manasaaehatsu is confusing me on this whole article. Whats the point of proving himself on some odd level? Am highly confuse here.
” ignorant ignoramus”? I guess you must be a Ghanaian and don’t know the meaning of the words and rather than consult a dictionary you just go with your gut.. English is not your first language. I can pay for an ESL class for you if you want. Here let me help you . “ignoramus” means an extremely “ignorant” person.
See “ignoramus” already contains “ignorant” so adding ignorant in front of it means you don’t know the meaning of the word. And attempting to use a word you don’t know the meaning of makes you extremely ignorant. Ergo you are “ignoramus”. See how simple that was?
Do your self a favor by blocking him. He’s an attention seeker.
Foolish fool,an intellect is here knocking sense into da frog head of chris n u ignorant fool is calling him attention seeker,wot atrention is he seekin? Chris needs to be told dat journalist n bloggers r not above da law or humans so dey shld think responsibly before dey talk or write useles artiticles..my guy go on n tell him wot it is,ur making sense.is only illetrates who wont understand wot ur saying.
Bless you
Whats wrong with you Ama? I have read through all the comments above and realise you have left two comments so far but non of your comment is saying anything important about the article but instead insulting someone. Do you have any personal issue with Manassehatsu? Anyway, Chris I think the whole third world and animalistic thing didn’t go down really well. Manassehatsu has a point about the freedom of speech u know. I can’t totally ignore what he is saying. I think the journalist was wrong, so was Gyan and his crew.
Ama, YOU my friend, are the fool and the attention seeker. I believe that you have absolutely no idea what the debate is all about. This is so typical! Go and learn some basic English and whilst you are at it, learn some manners.
Bless you