What has happened to our country? Why does our Government slavishly believe that the European press were wrong to publish these cartoons. Is it any wonder that other European Governments have criticised Jack Straw.
I have seen the cartoons and they are no more offensive than Monty Python's The Life of Brian or The infamous Jerry Springer the musical - as shown on the BBC. Should they have led to death threats and the calling for a new wave of terror? In fact I will bet that many of those protesting in London have not actually even seen the cartoons.
I feel worried and disturbed by what I have read and seen. How do you feel?
Read more at opinion.telegraph.co.uk...
5 comments:
I'm more worried by our spineless press, the BBC and Government in the face of such provocation.
I sorta agree with Jack. 'Freedom of speech' is being abused, in order to give an excuse to print racist literature. Of course, it is *legal* to publish the cartoons, but that does not mean it is *moral*.
btw, although the muslim extremists are clearly nutters, I think comparing the cartoons to the Life of Brian is a bit off the mark. The Life of Brian did not imply Jesus, and Christians in general, are mass-muredering terrorists.
I think Russell in part you are right. However, if literature pokes fun at a religion does that make it racist? I know you have a different view but was The Life of Brian or Jerry Springer racist? I am not sure they were. They poked fun at people's religious belief's.
The interesting dichotomy here is that the Middle East conflict has always been between religions (Jewish or Judao-Chtistian against Muslim). What worries me is that Muslim extremists in this Country want to take that conflict onto a wider stage but cannot do that against a largely peaceful Christian religion and therefore challenge the authority of the state. I know they are always attacked in these circumstances but why did those in Beirut destroy the Danish Embassy? They Danish Government did not print the literature although they did defend the laws that allow such literature to be printed. Those campaigning against Jerry Springer picketed the BBC, recognising that Government had little to do with it.
Not easy this stuff but it is clear that the mood has changed from the number of emails I have received from concerned residents who do not understand why there have been no arrests.
I was not aware of the personal experience that Francis Maude has recited here.
I think it is an interesting debate that many gay people should be supporters of the party. Many of them are but have not always been comfortable with this in the past and I do not think Section 28 is the only reason for that. Section 28 became a clarion call to be anti Conservatives but it affected very few gay and lesbians!
There are also clearly many in all walks of life that feel uncomfortable with the issue of homosexuality.
I have said before on this blog that I have many gay friends (two of which are going through a civil partnership ceremony this week!)
However, David Cameron is right to say the party must change. If the party is to change it cannot go on putting forward the same policies because that is "no change".
I'm still trying to work out how the convicted drug dealer just happened to have a 'suicide bombers' belt or whatever it was he was wearing. Not the sort of thing you find in Bit'n Bobs fancy dress hire is it?
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