The Slow Death Of Free Speech

[silverfaun]

A scroller but intensely interesting to anybody who cares about our rights and freedom.

How the Left, here and abroad, is trying to shut down debate —  from Islam and Israel to global warming and gay marriage

April 2014

These days, pretty much every story is really the same story:

• In Galway, at the National University of Ireland, a speaker who attempts to argue against the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) programme against Israel is shouted down with cries of  effing Zionist, effing  pr…..… Get the eff  off our campus.’

• In California, Mozilla’s chief executive is forced to resign because he once made a political donation in support of the pre-revisionist definition of marriage.

• At Westminster, the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee declares that the BBC should seek ‘special clearance’ before it interviews climate sceptics, such as fringe wacko extremists like former Chancellor Nigel Lawson.

• In Massachusetts, Brandeis University withdraws its offer of an honorary degree to a black feminist atheist human rights campaigner from Somalia.

• In London, a multitude of liberal journalists and artists responsible for everything from Monty Python to Downton Abbey sign an open letter in favour of the first state restraints on the British press in three and a quarter centuries.

• And in Canberra the government is planning to repeal Section 18C — whoa, don’t worry, not all of it, just three or four adjectives; or maybe only two, or whatever it’s down to by now, after what Gay Alcorn in the Age described as the ongoing debate about ‘where to strike the balance between free speech in a democracy and protection against racial abuse in a multicultural society’

http://www.spectator.co.uk/australia/australia-features/9187741/the-slow-death-of-free-speech-2/?

[lakeland27]

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@silverfaun wrote:

As for racially discriminate against jews!!!!!

The left do all the time, the Labor party did it and the leftist university elites advocate to boycott jewish business and divest jewish businesses.

Hypocritical and sickening actions by the left on show every day. Weasel words come to mind every time I hear the bleating for freedoms to be curtailed, the chattering classes are not going to be heard.

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so carr setting up labor -israel  groups and hawkes endless tears escape the immediate memory ?

[freakiness]

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@silverfaun wrote:

 Australia is NOW being governed just for the squeaky wheel lobbyists and rent seekers.

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[silverfaun]

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@freakiness wrote:

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@silverfaun wrote:

 Australia is NOW being governed just for the squeaky wheel lobbyists and rent seekers.

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You know that do you? do you have first hand experience? 

[lakeland27]

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@freakiness wrote:

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@silverfaun wrote:

 Australia is NOW being governed just for the squeaky wheel lobbyists and rent seekers.

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it becomes more apparent to the public everyday. i doubt even murdoch can save them now.

[boris1gary]

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@silverfaun wrote:

All with theri own barrows to push, their own axe to grind. Australia is NOW being governed for ALL  Australians not just the squeaky wheels and rent seekers.

The vast majority of voters are happy with this government, they said in the campaign that they would repeal 18c and got a whopping mandate to do so.

Poor poor disappointed, nobody's listening. nobody cares.

As for Brendan O'Niel, what a breath of fresh air, a true libertarian, a real social commentator and journalist, I wish he lived here.

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So are you now calling the Australian Jewish News rent seekers or squeaky wheels, which by the way has a prominent Liberal message at the top their website. so not from the left.  Anyway, the LNP have not kept one single promise made before the election so i fear it will be yourself who is disappointed because it is highly unlikely they will be keeping this one.

Please enlighten us on your opinion of Australia's Jewish community, who have been quite vocal in their opposition to repealing 18c.

[spotweldersfriend]

Yes the chattering classes should shut up and let the born to rule brigade run things.They obviously have the best morals money can buy.

[the_great_she_elephant]

No job is lonelier than defending freedom of speech in Q&A land

I'm curious, Silverfaun. Do you force yourself to watch Q&A every week so you can offer constructive criticism here of what the panelists actually say, or do you merely read and regurgitate the selectively chosen opinions of others ?

[i-need-a-martini]

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@silverfaun wrote:

Calling Bolt a racist is totally untrue and calling up the race card when your argument is not holding water is a bit like the Godwin effect.

Bolt is the bete noir of the left so conjure up a whipping boy if that props up your argument.

 There is not one public figure, journalist, Aboriginal or any other commentator who say he is a racist so here we have a perfect example of freedom of speech and thought but exposure to what you really think.

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Umm. Given that Bolt is one of the very few Australians who HAVE actual been formally charged under racial discrimination act(s), then we can confidently state (because the law now backs us up) that Bolt is racist.

That is the reason I specifically used Bolt as a comparative example.

[lakeland27]

the shoe seems to fit . he's the anti-Cinderella

[just_me_karen]

I accidentally watched bolt a few days ago and he called tony abbott a liar haha

Really! Well, nearly...he asked if tony would be a liar if he went back on his promises. I answered yes and quickly switched channels before I caught something.