London School of Economics and Free Speech Row

[Fidel_Castronaut]

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree...iversities

Long story, short, the University's atheist and humanist society decided to wear t-shirts during a fresher's fair that depicted good ol' Moe and Jesus having a chinwag talking about religion.

Nothing offensive about it at all...except if you're one of the Univeristy's guild staff who, fearing reprisals from Muslims in London who might get 'offended' by this, decided to ban it, and all references to Islam and Mohammed.

Silliness! But it's becoming a theme here recently where religious sensibilities are beginning to trump freedom of speech to criticise and critique.

I posted about it on FB and got a reply from one of my Muslim friends:

Muslim Friend: "Havent read the article. But I cant see how free speech can be used to justify offending someone.

If there is free speech then why should there be any restriction. E.g. racism isnt that free speech? Or making it more personal e.g. attacks directly at someones family shouldnt free speech be used as a justificatiin then?

Rather than harping on about free speech people should not try going about to offending others but pay consideration to others feelings."

Friend 2: "Free Speech is one of my most deeply held principles and I demand an apology for your attempt to smear it with racism, which has deeply offended me.


You see what this leads to? Madness."

Me: nobody has a right not to be offended. Nobody has a right equally to shout fire in a crowded theatre, or indeed to be racist. But since when is Islam a race? It's just a belief, and as a belief, I can ridicule, poke fun, and criticise all I want. If I want to say 'Fuck stupid religious beliefs, including Islam.' Then I should be allowed to.

If you're offended by that, unfortunately it's your problem, not mine. Offence is taken, not given.

Me: Indeed, your implication of offence has offended me. Please apologise.