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Free Speech On Trial Today Or Bigotry In The Dock?
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ."any individual who lives in a country, and preaches racial and religious hatred against other people who live there could be classed as 'an enemy of his country'".
Where was the accused preaching racial and religious hatred against "other people", Andy? I think what he actually said was that "Islam is heathen and Satanic", which, although I'd express it differently, is exactly my opinion. He MAY be the moral equal of Choudary; on the other hand he may not. Expressing hatred and contempt of a creed is NOT equivalent to hating and despising all (or even any) of the people who follow that creed. If he'd used exactly the same words about the Jehovah's Witness religion or Scientology (or any other belief not on the protected species list) would the law, or you, or Ichkeria have given a damn?
Where was the accused preaching racial and religious hatred against "other people", Andy? I think what he actually said was that "Islam is heathen and Satanic", which, although I'd express it differently, is exactly my opinion. He MAY be the moral equal of Choudary; on the other hand he may not. Expressing hatred and contempt of a creed is NOT equivalent to hating and despising all (or even any) of the people who follow that creed. If he'd used exactly the same words about the Jehovah's Witness religion or Scientology (or any other belief not on the protected species list) would the law, or you, or Ichkeria have given a damn?
vetuste - //Where was the accused preaching racial and religious hatred against "other people", Andy?//
What is any religion but the sum of its believers? To say that this man is preaching hatred against a creed is again, a piece of semantics.
// I think what he actually said was that "Islam is heathen and Satanic", which, although I'd express it differently, is exactly my opinion. //
I personally view that as an ignorant and bigoted viewpoint, but as a man of the cloth, this man is not entitled to the freedom of opinion enjoyed by the rest of us, when he is in his position as a religious minister.
His remit is to preach about the teachings of his own faith, not denegrate another in such inflamatory terms.
//If he'd used exactly the same words about the Jehovah's Witness religion or Scientology (or any other belief not on the protected species list) would the law, or you, or Ichkeria have given a damn? //
I cannot speak for Ichkeria, but the law and I would certainly give a damn.
Religious bigotry does not suddenly become acceptable because it is a white Anglican minster doing it - no matter what the faith or creed he is denigrating.
What is any religion but the sum of its believers? To say that this man is preaching hatred against a creed is again, a piece of semantics.
// I think what he actually said was that "Islam is heathen and Satanic", which, although I'd express it differently, is exactly my opinion. //
I personally view that as an ignorant and bigoted viewpoint, but as a man of the cloth, this man is not entitled to the freedom of opinion enjoyed by the rest of us, when he is in his position as a religious minister.
His remit is to preach about the teachings of his own faith, not denegrate another in such inflamatory terms.
//If he'd used exactly the same words about the Jehovah's Witness religion or Scientology (or any other belief not on the protected species list) would the law, or you, or Ichkeria have given a damn? //
I cannot speak for Ichkeria, but the law and I would certainly give a damn.
Religious bigotry does not suddenly become acceptable because it is a white Anglican minster doing it - no matter what the faith or creed he is denigrating.
"What is any religion but the sum of its believers? To say that this man is preaching hatred against a creed is again, a piece of semantics."
Semantics? No. I mentioned three belief systems in my post. I consider them all odious, although not equally so. The Bronze goes to the Watchtower, silver to Scientology and gold to Islam. You have no right to infer my attitude and behaviour to any or all of the people who fall in these medal-winning category. In fact it's an impertinence.
As for calling me a bigot please learn something about Islam before you throw your meaningless insults about.
Semantics? No. I mentioned three belief systems in my post. I consider them all odious, although not equally so. The Bronze goes to the Watchtower, silver to Scientology and gold to Islam. You have no right to infer my attitude and behaviour to any or all of the people who fall in these medal-winning category. In fact it's an impertinence.
As for calling me a bigot please learn something about Islam before you throw your meaningless insults about.
vetuste - //As for calling me a bigot please learn something about Islam before you throw your meaningless insults about. //
If you re-read my post, you will observe that I did not refer to you as a bigot -
"I personally view that as an ignorant and bigoted viewpoint ..."
I expressed an opinion about one of your points of view, that is not the same as calling you a bigot.
If you re-read my post, you will observe that I did not refer to you as a bigot -
"I personally view that as an ignorant and bigoted viewpoint ..."
I expressed an opinion about one of your points of view, that is not the same as calling you a bigot.
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andy-hughes, //What about the forces in Afghanistan and Iraq - British and American, both Christian countries by some margin I think you'll agree. //
Christian countries - but not fighting in the name of religion nor with the intention of suppressing all critics and ultimately ruling the world - and therein lies the difference.
Christian countries - but not fighting in the name of religion nor with the intention of suppressing all critics and ultimately ruling the world - and therein lies the difference.
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