Comments on: Storm Track Appeasement: Muslim Appeasement – the Beat Goes On http://www.bloggernews.net/110611 High-quality English language analysis and editorial writing on the news. Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:24:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Abe Linked http://www.bloggernews.net/110611#comment-97242 Abe Linked Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:39:04 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/110611#comment-97242 Keith, you have some nerve as an anti-Christian commie to take credit for that part of the act. It is self-loathers like yourself that has brought the Islamic menace into Europe in the first place. It is also people such as yourself, atheist and bound to make no distinctions between religions, who support the Islamic invasion. So, don't come here with your self-righteous pomp and act like our savior. Christians are already secular, and so are Christian countries. But your intent is not secularism now, is it? Keith, you have some nerve as an anti-Christian commie to take credit for that part of the act. It is self-loathers like yourself that has brought the Islamic menace into Europe in the first place. It is also people such as yourself, atheist and bound to make no distinctions between religions, who support the Islamic invasion. So, don’t come here with your self-righteous pomp and act like our savior.

Christians are already secular, and so are Christian countries. But your intent is not secularism now, is it?

]]> By: Scott http://www.bloggernews.net/110611#comment-96884 Scott Tue, 02 Oct 2007 03:53:07 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/110611#comment-96884 are you sure about the way youre interpreting this law? it reads more like legislation against radicals to me. for example this part makes clear that criticism is protected free speech. 29J Protection of freedom of expression Nothing in this Part shall be read or given effect in a way which prohibits or restricts discussion, criticism or expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule, insult or abuse of particular religions or the beliefs or practices of their adherents, or of any other belief system or the beliefs or practices of its adherents, or proselytising or urging adherents of a different religion or belief system to cease practising their religion or belief system. are you sure about the way youre interpreting this law? it reads more like legislation against radicals to me. for example this part makes clear that criticism is protected free speech.
29J Protection of freedom of expression
Nothing in this Part shall be read or given effect in a way which prohibits or restricts discussion, criticism or expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule, insult or abuse of particular religions or the beliefs or practices of their adherents, or of any other belief system or the beliefs or practices of its adherents, or proselytising or urging adherents of a different religion or belief system to cease practising their religion or belief system.

]]> By: Marie http://www.bloggernews.net/110611#comment-96834 Marie Tue, 02 Oct 2007 01:35:30 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/110611#comment-96834 What happened in the UK was that the Koran itself - or reading of verses in the Koran - could mean that one could be prosecuted under that law. The law in its former state would have worked out - against Islam more than anything else. Unless Muslims take over the UK as many have expressed a desire to do - we will continue to have the freedom to criticise any religion - and this includes Islam. I believe that Islam at the moment is being offered every good carrot that can be given - where it appears that everyone is bending over backwards - but in return, we will expect loyalty and obedience to UK law and norms of behaviour. This is speak quietly - but carry a big stick. The Chamberlain – before the possible - Churchill. What happened in the UK was that the Koran itself - or reading of verses in the Koran - could mean that one could be prosecuted under that law. The law in its former state would have worked out - against Islam more than anything else.

Unless Muslims take over the UK as many have expressed a desire to do - we will continue to have the freedom to criticise any religion - and this includes Islam.

I believe that Islam at the moment is being offered every good carrot that can be given - where it appears that everyone is bending over backwards - but in return, we will expect loyalty and obedience to UK law and norms of behaviour.

This is speak quietly - but carry a big stick.
The Chamberlain – before the possible - Churchill.

]]> By: Keith Porteous Wood http://www.bloggernews.net/110611#comment-96137 Keith Porteous Wood Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:14:55 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/110611#comment-96137 I entirely agree that some Governments and international organisations are intent on "legal muzzling of critics of Islam". And I even agree that might well have been the intention of the UK Government when introducing the "Racial and Religious Hatred Act” But, try as they would for a whole five years, they did not get what they wanted - despite having a significant Parlamentary majority. Earlier attempts to pass the legislation were thrown out completely but this latest one was massively amended to incorproate freedom of expression safeguards, as follows: "29J Protection of freedom of expression: "Nothing in this Part shall be read or given effect in a way which prohibits or restricts discussion, criticism or expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule, insult or abuse of particular religions or the beliefs or practices of their adherents, or of any other belief system or the beliefs or practices of its adherents, or proselytising or urging adherents of a different religion or belief system to cease practising their religion or belief system." The Government fought against the above clause tooth and nail but lost, by 149 votes in the equivalent of the Senate and just one vote in the equivalent of the House of Representatives. The only organisation to fight this battle for the full five years was the National Secular Society www.secularism.org.uk of which I am the Director. We are grateful to the Parliamentarians who took large political risks to back freedom of expression. Things are not so rosy at the United Nations in this area. I fear the attempts to outlaw defamation of religion with the least possible specific definition. It will be used to close down freedom of expression and enable the extremists to silence both the moderates and those those trying to expose the extemists. I entirely agree that some Governments and international organisations are intent on “legal muzzling of critics of Islam”. And I even agree that might well have been the intention of the UK Government when introducing the “Racial and Religious Hatred Act” But, try as they would for a whole five years, they did not get what they wanted - despite having a significant Parlamentary majority.
Earlier attempts to pass the legislation were thrown out completely but this latest one was massively amended to incorproate freedom of expression safeguards, as follows:
“29J Protection of freedom of expression:
“Nothing in this Part shall be read or given effect in a way which prohibits or restricts discussion, criticism or expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule, insult or abuse of particular religions or the beliefs or practices of their adherents, or of any other belief system or the beliefs or practices of its adherents, or proselytising or urging adherents of a different religion or belief system to cease practising their religion or belief system.”
The Government fought against the above clause tooth and nail but lost, by 149 votes in the equivalent of the Senate and just one vote in the equivalent of the House of Representatives.
The only organisation to fight this battle for the full five years was the National Secular Society http://www.secularism.org.uk of which I am the Director. We are grateful to the Parliamentarians who took large political risks to back freedom of expression.
Things are not so rosy at the United Nations in this area. I fear the attempts to outlaw defamation of religion with the least possible specific definition. It will be used to close down freedom of expression and enable the extremists to silence both the moderates and those those trying to expose the extemists.

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