The Political Asylum

Vintage Girl · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:39 pm Post subject: Bardot fined over racial hatred

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7434193.stm

BlueEmperor · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:23 pm Post subject:

From my point of view, what Miss Bardot wrote or the views she holds on Islam are neither here nor there. I take on board your point about the clash of cultures and the somewhat skewed consequences of so-called 'multiculturalism' but, to my mind, the bigger question in this case (and with our own 'anti-hatred' legislation) is the implications for free speech. The problem I have with the race-hate laws and their like is that they seem to me to be totally incompatible with the principles of a free society. Obviously, European society is one that recognises the rule of law - which is why most European countries quite rightly legislate against incitement to commit criminal acts, including racially-motivated violence - but it seems to me absurd to try to legislate against how people think. In a rational, civilised society people will disapprove of what Miss Bardot says, but, to paraphrase Voltaire, will defend to the death her right to say it.

B.E.
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The doctor is in!

Merak · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 214

I don't have a problem in principle with anti hate inciting legislation. Trouble is, knobheads in positions of authority misinterpert it, so, whilst standing in speaker's corner of hyde park shouting death to [whoever] is inciting hatred cause it's encouraging people to share and act upon a viewpoint, whereas posting a blog or whatever stating personal views or opinions without encouraging them to be shared, isn't inciting hatred. Perhaps the way round it would be to put a disclaimers on such things before posting them saying the standard "the views expressed are purely the author's own and not intend to encourage anybody to share them or act on them", or something like that.

Interesting though that after those cartoons got published in denmark, there were no arrests of the nutters protesting in london with placards calling for massacres, and it took long enough to do something about the 'hook' bloke inciting hatred outside finsbury park mosque. It would appear that selective application of the legislation is being applied here.

JuanaLaLoca · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 4:09 pm Post subject:

Speaking of those cartoons, it's been quite a while since then, but al-Qaeda just bombed a Danish embassy earlier this week in retaliation for them.

Merak · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 214

ooer.. haven't heard about that yet. Makes me want to draw more cartoons and post them to everybody in the middle east.. if my artistic skills were up to scratch that is. If they think they can get their own way with what is basically an ultimatum - be silent or we'll bomb you, then they can fek off.