Freeness of speach - should you be allowed to say anything?

by eyeslice 4 Replies latest jw friends

  • eyeslice
    eyeslice

    Here in the UK this week there has been controversy over a play that depicts violence and rape in a Sikh temple (known as a Gurdwara). Protestors have managed to have the play taken off, which in turn has upset proponents of free speech.

    So, here is the question; should people be allowed to express any point of view, be it considered by some to be racial, blasphemous, anti-religious, anti-Semitic or homophobic?

    Now, as a liberal who believes that people are in the main decent and good (though that is a different debate so don't go there), I would argue that you should be able to say anything and that in a free society those who propagate extremist and dangerous views will be found out to be exactly that. Knowledge and education should liberate us from dogmatism and intolerance.

    But, having said that, I am not sure that I personally could tolerate people advocating pedophilia or sexual violence to women.

    It is even more complicated in that as ex-JWs, we didn't have freeness to express any individual views and surely that was wrong.

    Eyeslice

  • FairMind
    FairMind

    No! Absolute freedom of speech is not practical as there has to be some restraint. For example it is illegal to shout "Fire" in a crowded (unburning) Theatre and this is a good thing. Like everything else, there has to be a reasonable balance.

    FM

  • avishai
    avishai
    But, having said that, I am not sure that I personally could tolerate people advocating pedophilia

    There's a group that already does that in the US. Called NAMBLA. The North american man boy love association. Sick bastards

  • Simon
    Simon

    Freeness of speech should only ever relate to politcal expression.

    It's so easy to provide examples of why absolute freedom in all circumstances is wrong.

    Ironically, the very country that touts its freedom of speech and blows its horn about the whole thing seems to have it completely the wrong way round. Perverts and morons can say what they like and genuine political expression is sanctioned.

    Pitiful.

  • avishai
    avishai
    Ironically, the very country that touts its freedom of speech and blows its horn about the whole thing seems to have it completely the wrong way round. Perverts and morons can say what they like and genuine political expression is sanctioned.

    Pitiful.

    I agree wholeheartedly!!!

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