Free Speech – A Personal View
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Free Speech – A Personal View
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DEBATE ABOUT free speech rages on and on, so I’ll add my halfpenny’s worth to it.
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A POSTER produced by the National Liberal Party in support of Free Speech.
Over the last few years, there have been extremists (from all groups, be they religious, far right or far left) whose prime focus is to close debate.
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The reason such groups do this is not just to air an opinion, but to ensure their respective opinions are translated into law. And if such opinions are of an intolerant nature this is where the problem arises.
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The philosopher Karl Popper once made the shrewd comment that if we are tolerant on the intolerant, then the intolerant will always win. So, to my small mind, we shouldn’t let the views of such extremists go unchallenged (no matter where such views emanate from).
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The answer is not to close down debate but to open it up.
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Everyone should be free to air their views. To do otherwise will give a free meal ticket to those who wish to impose their respective narrow-minded views/laws on us all.
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If we don’t open debate to all, democracy will just wither and die a slow death.
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No group (or individual) should dictate what books, films, plays, music we should or shouldn’t read, view or listen to. I believe that we should be given a choice & decide for ourselves as to the merits – or otherwise – of any given point of view.
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We shouldn’t allow any arrogant third party decide (on our behalf) what is right or what is wrong and what is the correct viewpoint. Let folks decide for themselves.
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In effect, what such extremists are claiming is that they are superior to the rest of mankind. They believe that we’re all too stupid to make valid conclusions for ourselves.
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We should never forget that there’s no clear demarcation line between religion, culture and politics. All should be open to a critique.
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The old Medieval blasphemy laws that were brought about to stop debate were abolished in England and Wales in 2008, and in Scotland in 2024. (They remain in force in Northern Ireland.) However, it seems to me that the likes of Facebook are trying to bring back blasphemy laws via the backdoor as they are desperate to close debate. They even have a special button to press if you think any comment is offensive to your religion. (It should be noted that it doesn’t matter if any such comment is factual – but just might give offence.)
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We’re allowed to give offence to our political parties. So why should any religion feel they are exempt?
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We live in a dangerous world. We shouldn’t allow any group to close debate in the name of any cause. I fear the sands of time may be against us, but we should try and make a moral stand whilst we can!
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Cllr Brent Cheetham (National Liberal Party), Cuffley, Hertfordshire.
Date: April 7, 2025
Categories: Articles