This is what happens if you dare to point out that Hillary Clinton lied about what happened in Benghazi

This is what happens if you dare to point out that Hillary Clinton lied about what happened in Benghazi

Free speech? Not in Clinton world.

Google, Facebook and Twitter Yield to Government Demand to Censor 'Hate Speech'

Breitbart repoets the anti free speech news that:

'In a deal reached last December, major social media sites said they would work to delete any German anti-migrant sentiments distributed on their networks within 24 hours after a removal request has been made.'

A German government being against free speech, who'd have thought it? 

As John F. Kennedy said:

'Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.'

The trouble is that our overlords in the EU aren't interested in free speech, EUrabia is our decided future.

Oxford marks Hebdo attack with Voltaire per BBC News

Of course this BBC piece approving of free speech, and the Oxford University campaign for it, manages not to mention the Oxford students campaign to rid Oriel College of the statue of Cecil Rhodes. Nor of the campaign to ban Donald Trump from the UK that they have been happily promoting.

The BBC are very capable of simultaneously holding two completely contradictory thoughts, George Orwell would be so unamazed.

Free speech vs 'safe space' - a revealing piece of audio

A fascinating piece of audio.When and how did universities become places where people couldn't bear to hear contrary views to their own? Maybe this video I posted is not too far from the truth.

Germaine Greer on Transexuality on BBC's Newsnight

Because not thinking the right thing is not allowed any more. I do like the bemused expression on Germaine Greer's face. I'm not sure that she can believe that she's gone from revolutionary thinker to reactionary without changing her position.

That Berkeley tolerance for free speech...

BBC3's Free Speech denies censoring debate about being gay and Muslim | Economy | The Guardian

Free Speech? Not when the BBC behave like cowardly dhimmis in the face of Islamic intolerance.

Even The Guardian are embarrassed... http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/mar/14/bbc3-free-speech-debate-gay-muslim

For the BBC, Islam is top of the tree for protection, even outranking homosexuals.

George Galloway attacks SNP's hatred of other opinions - BBC Question Time

'Gorgeous George Galloway attacks the way the SNP have a hatred of views that are not the same as theirs, in particular backing up Nigel Farage's recent visit to Scotland, and how he was attacked by SNP activists, bringing shame to Scotland, especially as the SNP leader Alex Salmond backed the protesters.

Recorded from BBC Question Time, 13 June 2013.'

Oh my word, I agree with George Galloway on something, I feel dirty.


Of course our reasons are different...and there's nothong 'gorgeous' about George Galloway.SNP

Mr Bean talks sense on freedom of speech and religion, or rather Rowan Atkinson does

Can you disagree?

"Free speech, exercised both individually and through a free press, is a necessity in any country where people are themselves free."

Liberty's Human Rights Page contains the following  

 

The right to freedom of expression and the right to protest are crucial in a democracy – information and ideas help to inform political debate and are essential to public accountability and transparency in Government.

Free speech, exercised both individually and through a free press, is a necessity in any country where people are themselves free.

- Theodore Roosevelt, 1918

Freedom of speech and freedom to protest are closely linked – free speech would mean nothing if there was no right to use public spaces to make your views known.

The rights to free speech and protest, along with the right to form and join associations or groups, are found in Articles 10 and 11 of the Human Rights Act.

These rights can be limited by law to protect the interests of others, but only when the limitation is proportionate and necessary in a democratic society.

So, for example:

• the right to free speech will not protect a person who tries to spread hateful lies against another but it will protect fair comment;
• the right to protest won’t protect violent gatherings but it will protect peaceful protest.

In recent years we have seen a variety of measures introduced that undermine the right to protest and freedom of speech.

• Laws intended to combat anti-social behaviour, terrorism and serious crime are routinely used against legitimate protesters.

• Broadly drafted anti-terrorism offences of 'encouragement' and 'glorification' of terrorism threaten to make careless talk a crime.

• Membership of certain organisations can be banned under anti-terror laws even if the organisation is non-violent and political.

• Hate speech laws have been extended in a piecemeal way to ban ever-expanding categories of speech.

• Broad anti-terrorism powers of stop and search have been used to harass and stifle peaceful protesters.

• Protest around Parliament has been severely restricted by laws limiting and overly regulating the right to assemble and protest around Parliament.

Oddly I can see no mention of the plans to implememt the Leveson proposals on the Press. Not a word, odd? Come on Shami Chakrabarti have you opinion?

NYT: Palestine's Democratic Deficit

Free speech in Palestinian Territories example 1

'LAST week, a 26-year-old Palestinian activist, Anas Awwad, was sentenced in absentia by a court in Nablus, the West Bank, to one year in prison for "extending his tongue" against the Palestinian Authority's president, Mahmoud Abbas, on Facebook. Thousands have joined a Facebook group to show their solidarity with Mr. Awwad, but the damage has been done. Free speech has been set back, and a chill sent throughout Palestinian society.'

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2013/02/12/opinion/palestines-democratic-deficit.xml

She believes in free speech but not for those who she doesn't like hearing

'Raw video from CSU Fresno where a student signs a petition to ban conservatives from radio & TV. She admits that they have a right to free speech, but signs anyway after stating how she doesn’t “like hearing them.” '

Another thought provoking video from Exposing Leftists.

Freedom of speech in the USA - some people just cannot take criticism and will use their power to prevent it.

'Jennifer "Jade" Jones -- had her elbow injured (hospitalized) during outrageous and mysterious arrest - disorderly conduct - during peaceful statements at public podium during a town council meeting. Jones had the floor. Police chief Jeff Gilbert (positioned at wall) was directly involved. Many in Quartzsite do not understand why this police chief is not under suspension because Arizona State Dept of Public Safety is already investigating him for criminal accusations by officers in his department. Presiding officer of the meeting (Mayor) could not dissuade police from their mission. Many suspect conspiracy between police chief and council members, other than the mayor.'

Thanks to World Net Daily for the spot.

"Senator Lindsey Graham - you jackass"

Ann Barnhardt rebuts Lindsey Graham's remarks on 4/3/2011 regarding the First Amendment and she does not hold back.

I have seen this video on a few sites and think it is worth repeating.

There is a second video that you can find in many places on the internet that I feel uncomfortable repeating as whilst the Koranic Surahs quoted seem to be quoted correctly, I don't feel that all of the language used whilst she burns pages of the Koran are necessarily in good taste or indeed always accurate.

You may agree or disagree but don't try and find the video unless you are ready to be shocked. I must admit that when Ann Barnhardt gave out her address and her challenge I was left open-mouthed. Was Ann Barnhardt brave, foolhardly or stupid, you decide?

When was free speech outlawed in this country?

The above is video of the Police removing the BNP candidate, Derek Adams, from a hustings in Delph during campaigning for the recent Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election. It seems that the organisers of the hustings invited some but not all of the candidates; five were not invited, Derek Adams being one. Here is a full list of the candidates for Thursday's by-election:

• Debbie Abrahams (Labour)
• Derek Adams (British National Party)
• Kashif Ali (Conservative)
• Peter Allen (Green Party)
• David Bishop (Bus-Pass Elvis Party)
• The Flying Brick (Monster Raving Loony Party)
• Loz Kaye (Pirate Party of the United Kingdom)
• Stephen Morris (English Democrats)
• Paul Nuttall MEP (UK Independence Party)
• Elwyn Watkins (Liberal Democrats)

I assume that the Labour, LibDem and Conservative candidates were invited as they are the main political parties in the country, but which of the minor parties were invited and which were not? I would be interested to see if those invited are the five highest polling candidates or not on Thursday.

The interests of democracy are not served by muzzling the BNP. However vile one finds some of their opinions they are a legitimate political party with views no worse than some parties on the far left of British politics who are never denied a platform.


Thanks to EU Referendum and The Saddleworth News for the spots.

I love the music of The Smiths, so will Johnny Marr 'forbid' me from saying so, as well?

I read on Google News  that

'Former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr has told Prime Minister David Cameron to "stop saying" he is a fan of the band.

Cameron has spoken several times of his love of the Mancunian indie rockers and picked their track, This Charming Man, when he appeared on Desert Island Discs.

Marr, whose jangly guitar style was central to the band's distinctive sound, tweeted: "David Cameron, stop saying that you like The Smiths, no you don't. I forbid you to like it."'

Somehow I don't think Johnny Marr has got a handle of free speech or how music fandom works.

As I have said before Why do the left have the best music?

What is sauce for the EU goose is not sauce for the Eurosceptic Hannan

Once again we see that free speech and the EU seem not always to be mutually compatible.


This is a follow-up to this morning's post about Godfrey Bloom and this post about Nigel Farage's speech.

The EU, Godfrey Bloom, Free Speech and historical parallels

Godfrey Bloom called out "Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Fuhrer" during a speech by Martin Schulz, MEP, the Socialist Group President. I think  Godfrey Bloom might have been upset by Martin Shulz's remarks that the UK's 'special position needs looking at' as it is tearing Europe apart and that Europe needs taking in 'another direction'. Godfrey Bloom, like many in the UK and elsewhere in the EU, is not certain that the EU should move in 'another direction'.

Nigel Farage's logical assessment is dismissed and Godfrey Bloom is removed from the chamber.



So if one day a majority of MEPs decide 'democratically' that all MEPs not in agreement with them be removed from the chamber will that be acceptable to the Chairman & President? If, once these dissenters are removed, the MEPs pass resolutions 'democratically' to keep the removed MEPs from ever re-entering the chamber would that be acceptable to the Chairman & President?

What might follow then?

This is a very slippery slope and before you dismiss my argument I suggest that you brush up on your history surrounding the passing of the 1933 Enabling Act in Nazi Germany before deciding.


Thanks to Grant Tucker at Iain Dale for the video spot.

Freedom of expression in China - claims & reality

"It is an unquestionable fact that Chinese people have freedom of expression and press."

So says The People's daily.

'Chinese police seized a woman from her house in the middle of the night after she tweeted her intention to demonstrate with a banner congratulating jailed dissident Liu Xiaobo on winning the Nobel peace prize, '

So says The Guardian>.

You must not question a liberal

I entered into a brief and generally unenlightening Twitter conversation today. Here is is, what do you think?

From RC
RezinaChowdhury Rezina
I do wish @r4today would stop using the words #migrationwatch and #research in the same sentence. It's misleading. So stop it.
from Streatham Hill, London


From Me
notasheepagoat NotaSheep MaybeaGoat
@RezinaChowdhury #migrationwatch Please explain this slur. MigrationWatch have done more research on immigration than any group I know of.


From RC
RT @notasheepagoat: @RezinaChowdhury #migrationwatch Please explain this slur. MigrationWatch have done more (cont) http://tl.gd/6g6dsv


From Me
notasheepagoat NotaSheep MaybeaGoat
@RezinaChowdhury pardon?


From RC
RezinaChowdhury Rezina
@notasheepagoat just a RT. Hope you don't mind.
from Lambeth, London


From Me
notasheepagoat NotaSheep MaybeaGoat
@RezinaChowdhury I don't mind at all. I was just wondering if you were trying to justify your slur...


From RC
RezinaChowdhury Rezina
@notasheepagoat I assumed you were being humorous and I always RT funny tweets. Mea culpa.


From Me
notasheepagoat NotaSheep MaybeaGoat
@RezinaChowdhury No I was being serious. So can you justify your slur on #Migrationwatch?


From RC
RezinaChowdhury Rezina
@notasheepagoat sure. If you can demonstrate that MigrationWatch conduct and analyse primary research according to MRS code of conduct.


From Me
notasheepagoat NotaSheep MaybeaGoat
@RezinaChowdhury Can you prove that they do not and/or that only research meeting that code of conduct is valid?


From RC
RezinaChowdhury Rezina
@notasheepagoat This is ridiculous. I'm going to have to block you. Don't take it personally.


From Me
notasheepagoat NotaSheep MaybeaGoat
@RezinaChowdhury You're going to block me because I dare to ask you to substantiate a point and I am not expected to take that personally!

No reply to me from RC because I had been blocked but on her Twitter feed I found the following tweets from RC and another...

From RC
RezinaChowdhury Rezina
Just had to block a migrationwatch supporter who thinks MRS code of conduct can be dispensed with.


From PS
philipsidaway philip sidaway
@RezinaChowdhury yes! love the power of the twitter block!!


From RC
RezinaChowdhury Rezina
@philipsidaway he also took great exception to me RT'ing his 1st reply. I thought he was ironic. Turns out he was being serious. Oops.


From PS
philipsidaway philip sidaway
@RezinaChowdhury I had to do the same for some prat TaxPayAll supporter. He was such a fascist!


From RC
RezinaChowdhury Rezina
@philipsidaway I suspect that they may be next on my block list if I slight their research credentials again!


From PS
philipsidaway philip sidaway
@RezinaChowdhury now by 'research credentials' you are being ironic? yes :- ))

So there we have it the standard techniques of liberals: make a slur, refuse to justify the slur, close down argument and call opponents prats & fascists. Thankfully thanks to Twitter's features I can follow this delightful couple and see who else they decide is a 'fascist' or a 'prat' for not having the same world view as themselves.