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.

[Psykhronic]

I am sick of people who are afraid of Muslims to the point where they have to baby these people and cover their eyes from depictions of their own religion, criticism or otherwise. Where is that god damn Wambulance.

[Minimalist]

I'm glad to see the French cracking down on this muslim bullshit. Maybe someday soon the Brits will grow a pair of balls?

[Fidel_Castronaut]

I'm glad to see the French cracking down on this muslim bullshit. Maybe someday soon the Brits will grow a pair of balls?

Issue is that a lot of the political class on the left here are almost held to ransom by the sensibility police. LSE has a history of alignment to the left. Coupled with the fact it's in central London and you probably start to see why the fear of reprisals mixed with the ideological cause of inclusion at whatever cost (which is what I believe this boils down tp) has led to this shirtstorm.

And note this is only about a few guys and girls wearing a t-shirt. They weren't chanting death to muslims or anything like that, which is actually what some muslims did in response to this a few months back.

[Minimalist]

Issue is that a lot of the political class on the left here are almost held to ransom by the sensibility police.

That can go out the window in a hurry. People have to get tired of being dictated to by "guests" in their own country.

[Kayenneh]

Oh hell no! Shit like this vexes me to no end! You don't have to be tolerant of others (just be prepared to back up your opinions somehow, especially if they're strong ones). Somehow cultures and traditions are revered because they're 'exotic' or 'we have always done like this!', but that doesn't make them any more valid. Faith and beliefs even less so. On the topic of Muslims for instance, the ridiculous notion that you can't eat pork, because the pig is a 'filthy' animal. That's absolute bull and anyone with some knowledge in food hygiene knows that the parasitic worm, that can be carried by pigs, dies when the flesh is cooked in at least 70oC for 7 minutes (and less if the temperature is higher). No topic is holy, everything and anything can be questioned, and if it can't stand up to scrutiny it's most definitely not the fault of the one pointing the flaws out. Boo for London School of Economics!

[Minimalist]

You know what, if they don't want to eat pork that's fine. Fuck 'em. Who cares?

But when they walk around telling other people how to live in their own fucking country it is time to push back on the fuckers.

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2013/jan/190...london.htm

'Muslim Patrol' demand women cover up in London
Locals are being terrorised by a gang of hooded men who confiscate alcohol and order women to cover up in Muslim neighbourhoods

[Kayenneh]

Yeah, I saw a video a while back regarding that particular topic, and frankly it scares me that local law enforcement does nothing about it.

[Mister Agenda]

I'd like to think that, were I a Muslim, I'd be offended by the idea that people have to be banned from wearing a t-shirt because someone is afraid that it will be offensive to me, and I will lose my mind over it. I suppose there must be some Muslims who would agree with that sentiment.

[Minimalist]

I'd like to think that, were I a Muslim,

I could never be a muslim. A thought-stifling creed fit for sheep. At least a lot of xtians just pay lip service to xtianity but these fuckers treat it as if it were real.