Walking home in a sea of Muslims

BEGIN RANT:

There was a large protest outside Bradford town hall today (against the awful film supposedly depicting Mohammed).

I don't really get the point, you can't put pandora back in the box. Once something escapes onto the net it's impossible to remove it from all sources & copies.

Should there be such a thing as blasphemy laws?

Perhaps the real question should be "Is it right that people who hold beliefs that are irrational & therefore dangerous be allowed to go unchallenged?"

Im pretty much of the opinion offence is something those who are offended have chosen to get upset by.

Many muslims couldn't give a damn what people say about Mohammed.

Maybe those muslims have faith thats stronger than those muslims who choose to be offended.

Those who truly believe don't care what others say & laugh it off. (This whole thing is ridiculous especially when it comes to religion & who's imaginary friend is best.)

Free speech means you might have to listen to things you disagree with & you can object but should you silence those you disagree with? Who decides whats offensive & what isnt? Despite being a gay man I would fight for the right of the BNP, homophobes, the religious etc to say whatever they want.

That's the point of free speech.

However I don't have to agree with them.

Furthermore I wouldn't force my views on them.

If someone is offended by a representation of Mohammed then don't look. You can disagree with something without forcing your views on others.

In the case of the BNP or homophobes etc I would attempt to reason with them & mock them through satire (free speech again).

I think it's perfectly reasonable to satirise religion in the same way that I would make fun of someone who believed the moon is made of cheese. I respect the right of anyone to believe what they wish even if they think the moon is a dairy product but again I don't have to agree with it if its nonsense (and not all religions can be correct so the majority must be nonsense).

Sticks & stones may break my bones...

(By the way I do think the guy who made the awful movie is an idiot as he created it to deliberately stir up conflict & it worked) but I defend his right to have made it.

Peter Tatchel is campaigning to have British laws restricting freedom of speech repealed (this would mean people would be able to cause offence to gay people as well if they so wished):

"Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, another supporter of Reform Section 5, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What constitutes insults is a very subjective judgement. It's been used in very different ways."

He added: "We may disagree on some those views but I don't think they should be criminalised in a free and democratic society.

"We should have the right to speak our minds and I think putting up with insults is one of the prices we pay for that freedom."

Mr Tatchell, who said he had been arrested under Section 5 for protesting against "Islamic extremists", added: "There's no requirement under the law to prove that anyone has been harassed, alarmed or distressed. A likelihood is sufficient to secure a conviction.

"What's dangerous about this law is that an offence is committed regardless of the person's intention."

Other groups signed up to the campaign include Liberty, Big Brother Watch and the Freedom Association."

BBC repeal Section 5

RANT OVER