“The moment you say that any idea system is sacred, whether it's a religious belief system or a secular ideology, the moment you declare a set of ideas to be immune from criticism, satire, derision or contempt, freedom of thought becomes impossible.”
— Salman Rushdie
Simplified Meaning:
When you decide that certain ideas or beliefs cannot be questioned or made fun of, it stops people from thinking freely. Imagine a world where no one is allowed to question the rules of a game. If someone says the game is unfair but isn't allowed to speak up, everyone continues to play by unfair rules. This hinders improvements and better understanding. For example, in some countries, criticizing the government is forbidden. People can't point out mistakes or suggest better ways of doing things, so the government never changes or gets better. In our daily lives, if we aren't open to hearing different ideas and discussing them, we miss the chance to learn or see things differently. To keep our minds free and our society open to progress, we must allow all ideas to be talked about, questioned, and sometimes, even laughed at. This way, we encourage growth, understanding, and true freedom of thought.