What about Acts of Parliament, statutory instruments, white & green papers, High Court judgments, ... ?
Yep ....even worse. Back in my distant memory The Sun was around 7 on the index and the Torygraph 13-15 and a UB40 claim form (just shows how long ago) was about +18....Good I thought and still do.
Ironically I was chatting to someone last year, who knew an advanced bike rider/trainer and he was booked up (so im told) training special forces/SAS type soldiers to ride bikes at high speed, training apparently consisted of fast road time and track time...
The comparison with Saville is of interest to me. If someone told a joke about him to me, I would explain in a calm manner why I felt it inappropriate , would talk about his levels of offending and the numerous victims blighted and scarred by him. I would not lean over the table and twat them, or slot them between the eyes. I am a great believer in freedom of speech and having an informed understanding of others view points. I don't agree with everything being posted here, but I'm enjoying the debate and I'm glad we are still able to have this freedom.
The point wasnt 'how would you react'. The point was whether it was an appropriate conversation to have with that person. I believe in freedom of speech too. What I question is whether 'the West' needs to bring up the same issue time and again in the same way. It happened in Denmark in 2005 too. Where does it get us each time? Yes, fundamentally, we have the right to draw a picture of the profit Mohammed. But do we really need to draw it bearing in mind we know its gravely insulting to all Muslims, not just those who have extreme views. How can we expect the less radical Muslims to support our beliefs and work against the extremists if we are so blatantly flagrant of their religion and beliefs? Can anyone tell me how we retain freedom of speech without either compromising that freedom or inciting religious hatred?
this is where the doom sayers argument goes out the window, you will never earn respect by taking the piss.
I'm afraid they just have to suck it up. Football supporters regularly incite each other with disrespectful chants and we don't ban that so why should we ban the disrespecting of another special interest group's views? That's our way if life. Anyone who lives her has to abide by our rules and leave their bigoted world view and medievalism back I in the desert. You should really try to watch Sunday's The Big Questions and yesterday's Panorama. Both showed why we need free speech and why we have to protect it if we are to continue to live our lives the way we are at present. I remind you again of Voltaire's words during the French Enlightenment (not a word I would associate with ANY Muslim countries, unfortunately). He said: "The ONLY thing we should be intolerant of is intolerance" and "I may disagree with what you say but I would fight to the death for your right to say it." Please tell me what Islam offers the world that competes positively with those statements.
Yes we need to exercise our right to free speech otherwise we will lose it. It also draws line which says "we have bent over backwards for you and we are not prepared to bend any further". Watch the Panorama program. See what the non-violent Muslims think of you. Concede one concession and they will move onto the next, it isn't a process of give and take, it is a process of creeping Islamification, which will continue until we say no. These people want nothing short of an Islamic world caliphate which will have no place for you or your children unless you submit to the will of Allah.
You know exactly who "they" are fin. They are the hoards of Muslims who despise you and your way of life. One thing that Islam does preach is that you must be polite and courteous to strangers. We in the West misinterpret that as respect or even liking; it isn't.
