Freedom of Speech or Criminal Offence ?

[Supervox]

Ok, so some people are up in arms about a series of cartoons that have been published which are 'derogatory' to Islam.

Others are praising the newsapapers concerned arguing that it's a Freedom of Speech issue.

Nick Griffin & his co-hort from the BNP are charged with a number of offences* relating to "race hatred" speeches that were made.

Should these speeches be considered a criminal offence or freedom of speech ?

Discuss



* Found Not Guilty on some and commited for re-trial on others

[northwind]

Difficult one. To use the classic example, "Freedom of speech doesn't protect the right to shout "FIRE" in a theatre".

If you want a different example with the same principles, traditionally someone causing a disturbance would be done for breach of the peace- if a drunk is arrested for shouting for an hour at 5am, does that restrict his free speech?

Bit out of order imo, but nothing to go protesting about.

It's not only about the cartoons. It looks to me like those are just another escape goat for the middle-eastern people to once again express their hate for the western "cultures", get free air time and shoot AK47s on the streets. Today the cartoons, tomorrow any other thing, maybe some numpty wil make fun of some other muslim sacred symbol and out they will go again shouting abuse and shooting AK47s... That's just the way they are.

I think we should be a bit careful about this thread... this can easily derail into a big political / religious discussion, IMHO.

Freedom of speech means just that. It appears we're only allowed partial freedom which is not the same thing, not at all.

I wonder how many of the protestors who burn and rampage will ever be arrested as you can guess that the police have been told to turn a blind eye - now if it were me that went rampaging you can bet your bottom dollar I'd be banged up.

"Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me" was one maxim that I was taught as a young child, and while not true in a black and white sense, is not a bad yardstick for fully grown adults to turn to. I think that the extremely juvenile behaviour shown by the militant and law-breaking protestors shows precisely why freedom of speech must be upheld at all costs.

Upset and offended? Well I'm upset and offended by the anti-democratic demands of certain religious factions that insist that the majority should curtail, as a matter of course, to the demands of the minority. Should we show any care? Naturally - caring and reasonable sensitivity for all is part of the doctrine of a civilised society (and something I deeply believe in), however the needs and views of the many should never be allowed to be over-ridden and down-trodden because of the views of the few.

To me that's just plain fair.


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Originally Posted by jonboy

Freedom of speech means just that. It appears we're only allowed partial freedom which is not the same thing, not at all.

I grew up believing that my freedom ends where other peoples's start, which, imo, can be written down in one single word: respect. Ok, two. Mutual respect. From the moment one of the parties breaks the mutual respect, it doesn't take much for everything to go downhill. Fast.

Originally Posted by jonboy

I wonder how many of the protestors who burn and rampage will ever be arrested as you can guess that the police have been told to turn a blind eye - now if it were me that went rampaging you can bet your bottom dollar I'd be banged up.

I was thinking precisely the same thing the other day. If I went bananas and went out in the street holding a gun, I'd be arrested the moment a policeman saw me (if not shot right there and then), let alone grab an AK47 and shoot the hell out of it!

Originally Posted by jonboy

"Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me" was one maxim that I was taught as a young child, and while not true in a black and white sense, is not a bad yardstick for fully grown adults to turn to. I think that the extremely juvenile behaviour shown by the militant and law-breaking protestors shows precisely why freedom of speech must be upheld at all costs.

Oh so true...

Originally Posted by jonboy

Upset and offended? Well I'm upset and offended by the anti-democratic demands of certain religious factions that insist that the majority should curtail, as a matter of course, to the demands of the minority. Should we show any care? Naturally - caring and reasonable sensitivity for all is part of the doctrine of a civilised society (and something I deeply believe in), however the needs and views of the many should never be allowed to be over-ridden and down-trodden because of the views of the few.

To me that's just plain fair.


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Once again, mutual respect. IMHO.

Didn't we chuck the guy with the hook out of the country for freedom of speech.