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" All Britons, whether they are in favour of homosexuality or not, should be allowed to freely express their views in an atmosphere free of intimidation or bullying. We cannot claim to be a truly free and open society while we are trying to silence dissenting views."
The excerpt is from a letter to the Times on January 14th signed by 22 leading muslim figures (see link below). Anyone see the irony here?
Let those without sin cast the first stone. I and many other students of the time used to shout cheerfully "disembowel Enoch Powell".
Are you suggesting that every Muslim thinks the same way as every other Muslim? Does every Tory think the same way as every other ditto? I believe there are some Tory voters claiming the dole and others who have views with which you might not care to be too closely associated......
Not at all Lady Finchley, I'm only pointing out that those who would deny freedom of speech to others on the grounds that it may cause offeence have no problems with being offensive to a large proportion of British society, and indeed claim that the right to be offensive is necessary for free debate.
Inded, the problem is further compounded by the fact that 'Islamaphobia' does not equate to homophobia or racism because noone is born muslim, just as noone is born into the christian, jewish or hindu faiths. Individuals choose those beliefs, just as they choose political beliefs, and while I accept indoctrination may occur at an early age, beliefs can still be rejected and should be open to criticism.
Freedom of speech means allowing the likes of Galileo to publish his ideas on a heliocentric solar system, even if it caused offence to deeply held religous beliefs. It means allowing Iqbal Sacranie and the other 22 Imams who signed in signed in favour of him to hold their beliefs, despicable as they may be, and it means allowing publications of the Danish cartoons.
‘Responsibility,’ as the writer Phillip Henscher puts it, ‘is in the eye of the Government, the Church, the Roi Soleil, the Spanish Inquisition and, no doubt, Ivan the Terrible'.
Maybe irony was the wrong word to use in my original post. Hypocrisy was the word I was looking for.
Hat tip to Jeccy from B3ta.com
9 comments:
It will be a clash if we allow it to be!
I've always thought a clash required two civilisations.
In order to have a clash of civilisations you need to have two civilisations.
The barbarians are within the gates...
" All Britons, whether they are in favour of homosexuality or not, should be allowed to freely express their views in an atmosphere free of intimidation or bullying. We cannot claim to be a truly free and open society while we are trying to silence dissenting views."
The excerpt is from a letter to the Times on January 14th signed by 22 leading muslim figures (see link below). Anyone see the irony here?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,59-1984362,00.html
Wake up and smell the coffee, Jamal. We already have one.
Anon, are you comparing homosexuality with incitement to murder?
Let those without sin cast the first stone. I and many other students of the time used to shout cheerfully "disembowel Enoch Powell".
Are you suggesting that every Muslim thinks the same way as every other Muslim? Does every Tory think the same way as every other ditto? I believe there are some Tory voters claiming the dole and others who have views with which you might not care to be too closely associated......
Not at all Lady Finchley, I'm only pointing out that those who would deny freedom of speech to others on the grounds that it may cause offeence have no problems with being offensive to a large proportion of British society, and indeed claim that the right to be offensive is necessary for free debate.
Inded, the problem is further compounded by the fact that 'Islamaphobia' does not equate to homophobia or racism because noone is born muslim, just as noone is born into the christian, jewish or hindu faiths. Individuals choose those beliefs, just as they choose political beliefs, and while I accept indoctrination may occur at an early age, beliefs can still be rejected and should be open to criticism.
Freedom of speech means allowing the likes of Galileo to publish his ideas on a heliocentric solar system, even if it caused offence to deeply held religous beliefs. It means allowing Iqbal Sacranie and the other 22 Imams who signed in signed in favour of him to hold their beliefs, despicable as they may be, and it means allowing publications of the Danish cartoons.
‘Responsibility,’ as the writer Phillip Henscher puts it, ‘is in the eye of the Government, the Church, the Roi Soleil, the Spanish Inquisition and, no doubt, Ivan the Terrible'.
Maybe irony was the wrong word to use in my original post. Hypocrisy was the word I was looking for.
http://freebritannia.6.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=1445
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