Sticking to the theme of this thread (free speech v inciting hatred), let’s take a step back and look at it from a different angle. IMO it is naïve to think that free speech means someone can say what they like when and wherever they like without expecting any consequences. I’m going to use the biking community in a hypothetical scenario with two different outcomes to try and illustrate the point I’m trying to make for two obvious reasons. One, it is a biking forum and secondly many of us are passionate about biking and see it as a way of life. That is the end of any similarity between biking and religion and I’m not trying to draw a comparison between the two. A man walks into a well known biking pub late on a Friday night. The pub is full to the rafters with bikers and he shouts at the top of his voice, “All bikers are w**kers and should be killed at birth!” Outcome 1; The pub landlord calls the police and a few of the bikers restrain the man with the minimum amount of force required until officers arrive to arrest him. The man is subsequently charged with breach of the peace. The pub landlord and the bikers are commended by the police and the wider community for dealing with what was a volatile situation in a fair and proportionate way. All concerned are unequivocal in their condemnation of the man’s behaviour. Outcome 2; a physical struggle ensues and a number of the bikers wrestle the man to the pub floor. He is punched and kicked repeatedly until he stops breathing. Police officers arrive and the bikers involved are subsequently charged with murder. The entire community condemn the bikers for dealing with the situation in a totally OTT and disproportionate way. IMO, the actions of the bikers in outcome 2 is indefensible and cannot be justified under any circumstances. But why did that man walk into that pub on a busy Friday night? Was he exercising his right to free speech or was his sole intention to incite hatred and provoke the bikers into a reaction? I believe passionately in free speech, but recognise that it comes with a degree of responsibility and I should be held to account for what I say. I don’t see any difference between an Islamic extremist marching down a high street shouting, “All British soldiers are murderers” and a member of a rightwing extremist group on the other side of the street bellowing, “All Muslims are terrorists!” Neither is acceptable in a tolerant democracy and cannot be defended on the grounds of free speech in my view. Apologies, this is a bit long winded.
Originally Posted by wiltshire builders
