Suing 'Tempo' magazine?

Tue, 02/26/2008 12:49 PM | Reader's Forum

The Alliance of Christian Students and Youths (AMPK) is going to sue Tempo magazine for alleged blasphemy in which the weekly news magazine's cover depicted a satirical version of Leonardo Da Vinci's The Last Supper.

The group contends that Tempo was in violation of Article 156 of the Criminal Codes on public defamation, hostility and hatred against certain communities, including religious groups when it depicted the late former president Soeharto having dinner with his six children in the same composition as Da Vinci's painting.

There are several observations I can make regarding this legal petition and, more importantly, the Tempo cover.

One, if there is anyone who should complain about blasphemy, it should be the Soeharto family, friends, foreign dignitaries, fans, cats, birds and whoever continues to deify him.

Two, what has become of Indonesia? Has it become so litigious that the slightest provocation would result in this? Indeed, "religious blasphemy" charges in the country have commonly been leveled at Islamic sects or individuals regarded as "heretical" by mainstream religious groups.

Three, let's look at it from a scientific, technical, legal and practical view. Despite the glorious artistic renditions of people in the past 2,000 years, there really hasn't been any scientific evidence of a picture of Jesus the Christ, least of all his last meal with his friends. And so the reference to the Last Supper was nothing but Leonardo Da Vinci's interpretation of such an event.

Technically speaking, Tempo magazine, if anything, blasphemed Leonardo Da Vinci, not Jesus the Christ. (Christ isn't his last name; it's a word for savior.)

Hence, legally, Tempo magazine cannot be held liable despite all the references to the so-called last meal that Jesus the Christ and his friends had.

This may well go into the night with so many righteous debates that the right-wing Christians and fundamentalists can go into but, to be practical, it's better to comport ourselves according to the actual teachings of Jesus the Christ and attend to the needs of the many people that require assistance: the flood victims, the sick, the elderly, the displaced. The cost of litigation would be best served there, rather than seeing ordinary employees go to jail for a crime that is so outdated.

God is great, indeed, and in His greatness lies in pain of seeing all His creation killing one another under His name.

N. MARK CASTRO
Manila

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