An article in The Guardian today features an essay written by Philip Pullman extracted from a new book, “Free Expression is No Offence” (published December 1st in the UK). The essay covers the incitement to religious hatred bill and the notion of religion as identity. Read more.
Free Expression is No Offence
November 19, 2005
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So that means that im an apostate and lable to the death penalty? How fun for me :crying:
as ever, he's so right.
All I have to say is that as I read the article I felt a surging thrill of relief. I am thankful, as I think many people should be, that there are men and women willing to rise to the defense of freedom of speech, freedom of thought, like Philip Pullman, Monica Ali, Philip Hensher and Salman Rushdie. They are no less than knights in shining armour, though they rise to the defense of that which must be defended not with swords, but with the well written word. As far as I am concerned that is, if not, then close to, the pinacle of what every human being is capable of and what they should stive to do.
To cynically indulge injustice, indulge prejudice and bigotry (gender, class, race or otherwise) is about freedom HOW exactly?
"Freedom" abstracted to accord the male, white and borgeois a "right" to vilify people of colour, women or working-poor citizens is idiotic.
Such ain't Freedom, real Freedom.
Hate speech shouldn't be indulged.