Defend free speech -- repeal the word 'insulting' from Section 5 of the Public Order Act

[JohnnyRock2000]

Abolutely correct. It's authoritarian law. Penalties could be increased. China and Russia enforced laws where the state felt "insulted". Executions occurred eventually.

[armoredinnerjacket]

When I was a 19 year old police officer in the UK I was trained to arrest homosexuals. How times change. I live in the US now where anyone can say anything and I have become used to it. Loss of liberty in the UK is appalling. I am an atheist but I support christians who want to say what they honestly believe. Yes INSULTED should be repealed so that only threatening or violent is a crime. George Bush senior said he didn't regard people like me as citizens - but I am allowed to say it.

[DarwiOdrade84]

I'm completely in favour of freedom of speech, it becomes a matter of policing your own conscience. So, for example, people who are so emotionally damaged and frightened of the world that they need to spend their time attempting to dehumanise others through their ridiculous pamflets are free to do so. At the same time, the rest of society should also be free to lable such action small minded, bigoted, and hateful without evangelical Christians screaming "PERSECUTION!" all the way to court.

[MrDannyJFair]

Freedom of Speech doesn't cover insulting or potentially insulting speech. Why should anyone be allowed to walk around tow centre stating that another person's way of life (homosexuality, for example) is wrong or "against the grace of God"?

[growguyuk]

i find use of this law distasteful--I am agnostic and dont hold with people discriminating against others-I think the B&B case was correct. However this law is written so anyone can theoretically be arrwted for anything. If I tell my sister shes gained a bit of weight she could feel insulted--should I be nicked foir that. Or you boss tells you your work is terrible, you look a mess andyour just a loser--should he be arrested. This law could be interpreted to say they should. Madness

[quantumofhate]

So you'r BEGGING THEM THEY ARE A BORISH POLITICAL ALEET.DID THE PEOPLE OF EGYPT BEEG MUBARIC. THINK DO THEY CARE ABOUT YOU? THE ANSWER IS NO THEY BLOODY WELL DON'T NOW YOU MUST DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. V IS FOR VENDETA VICTORY STRUGLE IT HAS JUST BEGUN.

[Chill197]

Your advocating for facisim you are aware of that arnt you?

[Jools86]

I actually agree with this. As it can be true for oppositional stand points and contradicts democracy in this country.

[shoa31]

Religion implies that God does have human feelings and emotions.

[backtublive]

what is this stupidity , he told the police officers that there is no law , there is laws that police officers enforce what's wrong with you people .

[reineschokolade]

@amsterdammed71 I think we are very much agreed; they are not our books. We must stand aside and leave them to it. Sadly, there are some who will not stand aside and let you burn - not even write on a page of - the so called last testament without...well, I have probably already said enough to provoke an unwelcome response, not from though you dear amsterdammed71 - my apologies for misspelling your name by the way.

[amsterdammed71]

@reineschokolade - haha..well in reality, it's not something i'd bother doing. but so long as my rights, to tell these fools their belifs are nonsense, to ridicule them, and to blaspheme as much as possible, are as protected as their right to proclaim their beliefs, then I'm happy to support the christian institute on this matter! If Jesus actually made an undeniable second coming, e.g. during a televised football game at Old Trafford, I'd readily change my opinion of them. But until then...

[reineschokolade]

@ammsterdammed71 has every right to burn his books if he so wish, but be very careful about which books in public. Some take none too kindly to it. There was one burning which has mixed reactions in October 1526. The Bishop of London gathered together as many copies of the English New Testament as he could find to burn them at St Paul's Cross. Some were sad, but the money provided by the Bishop to buy the books made it possible for Tyndale to carry on with his work of Bible translation. PTL

[amsterdammed71]

@reineschokolade well, you are welcome to regard that as poetic justice. I'd be full of indignation if someone sought to burn books by George Orwell or Saul Bellow or Will Self, but if they aren't my books, I have no right to interfere, unless it causes some kind of physical damage. The only thing that should matter, is the search for truth. If you all truly believed you had the truth, blasphemy wouldn't matter ;-)

[berenjervin]

The only people I know of that would be "insulted" enough to call the police are muslims.

So, use it against them. Every time they call the police for being insulted, use it against them. Be insulted they are insulted, and ask for their arrest.

[terencematthew]

vote bnp the only true opposition

[mrnormaltron]

This is exactly what the Antichrist will use to try and silence the Church,we must stop this bellyaching or all Christians will become guilty of hatecrime for merely preaching the Gospel.Woe upon the Earth.

[fanagot]

Free speech ends when you engage in criminal activity. Ask these people why they don't include Ku Klux Klan "Christians" in their propaganda ? It would be a PR disaster wouldn't it? Learn with them.

[1pen2books]

Jews, Christians, Bahai´s, Hindis and Oriental beliefs and faiths should form a coallition against radical Islam with two "hands":

1) The diplomatic one.

2) the violent one.

We would always atack with the diplomatic one but counteratack or just selfdefence wir te violent one.

There are some decent musslism whose interpretation of scriptures are moderate but they are dominated by the extremists.

We should also boycott every single country who protects such "islamic "countries like Iran (China)

[soloscriptura1]

the Christian Institute is fighting back!

section 5 should give Islam the death penalty....the quran is simply an insult to christians and jews

[jonredhornet]

@soloscriptura1 And equally the Bible and Christianity is an insult to some Muslims.

Lets hope Section 5 will be repealed so everybody can enjoy free speech.

[soloscriptura1]

@jonredhornet in what way can the bible and christians insult muslims

[jonredhornet]

@soloscriptura1

Hi

For similar reasons Islam is an insult to some Christians, their beliefs are incompatible with their own, their morality is different, their existence is a violation of what they know to be absolutely true and correct. Some Christians criticise Islam (nothing wrong with that), which some Muslims can find insulting.

Do a quick Google search and there are lots of instances of Muslims being offended by Christians and Christianity. Search for "muslims offended by christianity"

[soloscriptura1]

@jonredhornet thanks for reply. hmm i cant see why a muslim should be offended. the only reason i see muslims being offended is if you do not belive their religion. the bible and christiany doesnt speak of others or other relgions. the quran came and changed what the bible said when there was no 'real' concerns what the bible preeched. maybe im being biased. ill check out your link. thanks

[historyscoper]

Europe needs a First Amendment - Geert Wilders.

[GoodFightLad]

We've been apathetic for too long in this country, freedom of speech is not about protecting ordinary everyday conversation, it's about protecting speech which may cause offence to certain people, which some regard as "hate speech", if you remove this, then we really have no free speech. Repeal it now!

[amsterdammed71]

@GoodFightLad There is nothing i enjoy more, than to rip the demented writings of St Paul up in front of placard waving christian nutcases, at gay pride. My bible, my koran: my right to rip it up, burn it etc should be protected.

Unfortunately, the christian institute is hypocritical: they want to ban adverts ridiculing catholic priests, and re-introduce the blasphemy law. you can't have it both ways. it is an obligation to ridicule christians because of their beliefs. Get used to it.

[jonredhornet]

@amsterdammed71

Spot on amsterdammed71 . Is it really 'free speech' the CI are concerned about, or only their own right to criticise others (I suspect the latter).

[amsterdammed71]

@jonredhornet thank you, Comrade xx

[ChristiansofAsia]

Yes, repeal it!

[mcap52]

Great example of what the U.N. is attempting to do with Islam. They are trying to pass a law that will make it a criminal act to say anything "insulting"about Islam. If there was ever a group of people being led by satan,the UN would fit the bill.

[amsterdammed71]

i agree - because my freedom to ridicule and mock ludicrous christian and muslim beliefs on e.g sexuality, the age of the earth, when life begins, would be denied. so for once, mike judge talks sense. and yes, scientology, like christanity is a crackpot sect!!! (peace, mike)

[daleyboy77]

Amen !

[jonredhornet]

I agree that people should not have the right 'not' be be offended, to state ones offence is simply to whine and should not impair the free speech of others. Few people want to cause offence but as the video says, sometimes this can happen during the course of debate.

Obviously free speech doesn't exist in the work place, we are bound by our employers and employment law, and have the choice to change career if it conflicts with our beliefs.