I just read a piece in a local publication , where Pope Francis, says free speech needs to be-” limited , especially when it refers to someones religious beliefs” He starts by saying “Free speech is not only a fundamental human right, but a duty to speak ones mind for the common good”
B U T , when it comes to religion, there everyone has to shut the fuck up & you can’t offend , particularly religions & their followers.
Well ladies & gentlemen, I have a Huge Problem with that.
Either we have free speech , or we have limited speech , which needs to be officially approved, & then you can say it.
If one cannot openly express their views , except on subjects , decided on by the worlds (I’m assuming here, but am probably right) primary aka popular religions.
Then IMO you have no free speech. That someone as the Head of a religious group should come out & even be taken seriously in their views that free speech should be limited as it relates to them in particular , is ludicrous.
I will admit in a very narrow way I do agree on some very limited restrictions , for example … No shouting FIRE FIRE ! in a crowded movie theatre or other place where using free speech in that context would probably cause panic & a rush to exits that could cause serious bodily harm/death. Or placing a sign up saying ‘swimming hole open’ in a alligator /crocodile inhabited place. But those in my opinion are the only types of restrictions there should be.
I feel that once there is no freedom to criticize religions, then the Government won’t be far behind ,If in fact they are not leading the way in restricting what can be said about them. The Police Services will jump aboard as a ‘Government body , & on & on & on. Saying you can’t criticize us, should immediately be grounds for nonstop constant criticism IMO.
How can anyone ever express their belief on what they think is a subject of common good, if there are restrictions of not only many different types, but being restricted further each & every time someone gets offended by what another says.
If freedom of speech & expression is to be upheld as a basic human right. Then any restrictions must be as few as possible, the fewer the better. This of course also pertains to people expressing hateful views, like the Dal dental group, holocaust deniers, Flat Earth society , Who are those religious nut cases who protest at dead soldiers funerals ?. Just because you don’t like something, doesn’t mean you or they shouldn’t be able to freely say what you think or believe. As I am doing here against the Popes latest comments, free speech Ladies & gents will only stay that way as long as people are willing to fight to keep it. Further more the more we allow conditions & restrictions to be placed on it, the more of them there will be until no one will be allowed to say anything except “yes sir , how high sir” —The Pot calling the Kettle black arse is a good thing
This article appears in Jan 15-21, 2015.
Everybody draws their line in different spot in the sand, and few people are so committed to to ideals or lacking in ego that they are prepared for an “all is acceptable” existence. The devil is, as always, in the details. So, I agree somewhat with what the pope said – “Say something about my mother, expect a punch in the teeth”. The point is very few of us are “Charlie” Hell, even Charlie wasn’t “Charlie”. A couple of years ago Charb and his editors signed a petition calling for the banning of Marie Le Pen’s National Front Party. And some of the survivors don’t exactly like the fact that their new “friends” inclide people like Geert Wilders and Tommy Robinson.
So, no. I’m not Charlie. Nor am I the chucklehead who sells hotdogs outside the sub. I’m not the Voice of (Some) Wimmin. I’m not Westboro Baptist. I may not like what someone says but I know I have the luxury of never being asked to defend to the death their right to say it.
I may curse you out, call you names, boycott your business – but, I’ll never gun you down because of it.
Question to Pakistan – If magazine covers are an offensive provocation, then in fuck’s name what is mass murder?
THE HUGE PROBLEM
“Well ladies gentlemen, I have a Huge Problem with that. Either you have free speech or we have limited speech, which needs to be officially approved, then you can say it.” The Pot
You must fly out immediately to the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq. They would be extremely interested in hearing your views. There will be no need to bring your own cutlery. It comes supplied. Good luck and Godspeed.
A pleasure as always,
Cheerio!
I say let people say or publsh whatever they like. I’d rather it be in the open where we can see it if we wish and learn who the idiots are. By restricting speech, all the idiots go underground.
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful. — Edward Gibbon
Religion is a load of festering bollock boils.
Read the human rights act regarding speech(hate propaganda is the term) and then read the charter of rights and freedoms regarding freedom of expression. both say that within the confines of the laws regarding speech must be observed. So, armed with that knowledge, make your words count by adhering to the laws, acts and charters governing us and you shouldnt have any problems, unless it contravenes the agenda of The Coast moderators. just be ready to defend yourself.
Fuck free speech!!! Ain’t nothing “free” in Canada unless you’re on welfare.
Meh! It’s ONLY the Pope…
I’m sorry did OP say he/she has a problem with not being able to offend people on a religious/racial/sexual level?
You don’t see anything wrong with that statement?
Free speech is free speech. You have the freedom to speak your mind and what “your” beliefs are, not the freedom to demean, degrade and discriminate against others in your speech due to their religious beliefs, background or sexual orientation.
It’s a big world. You can’t expect everyone to “be like you” and “assimilate”!
modrit moozlim?
http://api.ning.com/files/mL7vEimd6q38vRqN…
i haz found one!
actually randomness that is the height of the values of free speech. You ARE allowed to demean, criticize, bemoan etc as long as you arent inciting violence. If you had READ the Human rights act and the charter of rights and freedoms like i had suggested youd have known that. The act and charter allow free speech until it contravenes any laws, like applying hate propaganda(the incitement of violence on a specific group, religion, sex etc) until it calls for violence, it isnt hate propaganda. The Hate speech part of the human rights act was repealed BECAUSE of frivolous petty complaints to human rights by religious groups etc.
As our world grows ever more crowded, walls will close in on many areas of so-called democratic existence. To be blunt, it must grow worse before it gets better. The world, anyone can see, is on a path into some unknown upheaval and destruction, or several.
The ideological hemispheres are generating more static in opposition to one another and eventually a critical-point will be reached and a confrontation will take place.
They already tried in Canada, with a law called section 13, truly insidious. Sure, it claimed to end ‘ hate speeches ‘ but it also tiptoed on the lawn of freedom as well. Say what they may, you can’t put ideas in jail.
A fymynyst tried to tell me, one day, that disagreeing with her was a violation of her right to free speech. I told her get back in the kitchen where she belonged.