I don't see why many of my fellow Americans are making a big deal about this. Yes, Austria has a law against denying the Holocaust. As far as I can tell, Austrians consider this law on par with our law against falsely yelling fire in a crowded theater. Given Austrian history, they may have a point.
I find it fascinating that many of those that make a big deal about this are more complacent about other restrictions on free speech all over the Western World. In much of Europe and Canada, you can be jailed for pointing out that homosexuality is a perversion according to most (all?) the major religions and that homosexuality was considered a mental disorder by the psychologists until the homosexuals applied political pressure to change this definition without any scientific rationale whatsoever.
In the US, some forms of political speech have been banned right before an election - so much for the 1st Amendment which was specifically written to protect political speech. Our Supreme Court claims that the First Amendment protects virtual pornography and lap dances, but not political speech. Why are the American "defenders" of free speech not more outraged over this local problem than the jailing of one harmful lunatic in Austria? Let's clean our own house first. We have more serious free speech problems that need to be addressed. If and when we have our own house in order, then we can pay attention to more trivial problems.
Note: My title is not aimed at James (whose blog I enjoy) nor Sebastian (of whom I had never read until today). It is aimed at everyone who makes a big deal over the speck in Austria's eye while ignoring the beam in America's eye.
Category: Domestic Politics , Category: International , Category: Quests for Change
C,
I take it you are new to the roundtable? Welcome. Let me explain the ground rules. Anyone is welcome to post their views and dissenting views are especially welcome. However, you need to keep it clean, young adults are welcome here too and we want to set a good example. We also follow the rule that the first person to cuss, or make a gratuitous Hitler comparison loses the argument. However, since this was your first post, we will not count this one against you.
Since you obviously disagree with my statement that In much of Europe and Canada, you can be jailed for pointing out that homosexuality is a perversion, let me draw your attention to some recent news.
In 2003, Sweden passed "hate crime" legislation that also criminalized speech against people because of their sexual orientation. I first became aware of this when Sweden sentenced a preacher to a month in jail for preaching what the Bible says about homosexuality. Fortunately, this was overturned by an appeals court, but just imagine how many people have been dissuaded from speaking up because of his arrest and original conviction.
That same year, a British bishop suffered a criminal investigation for suggesting that homosexuals can change their orientation, but at least the Brits had enough sense not to press charges.
In 2004, the Catholic church in Spain was recently threatened by government officials claiming that the Roman Catholic Church would likely lose public funding if it continued to speak out against the legalization of homosexual marriage.
Meanwhile, in France, Brigitte Bardot received her fourth fine for inciting racial hatred because of her negative opinions on on gays, immigrants and the jobless.
In 2005 Canadian pastor Stephen Boissoin was charged with violating hate crime laws because he criticized the homosexual lifestyle. The charges were originally thrown out, then reinstated, and his case is still pending. Again, imagine how many people have been dissuaded from speaking up because of his experience. At least some people are starting to speak out about this nonsense.
To my shock and dismay, when I was looking up the Swedish reference, I found some news that I had never before seen. Even in the US, people who criticize homosexuals may be charged with a hate crime. On Oct. 10, 2004, 11 Christians were arrested for expressing their Christian views on homosexuality and displaying signs with biblical messages at a pro-gay event in Philadelphia called Outfest.
And just one year later, in Vermont A lesbian couple filed a discrimination complaint against a family-run inn because the Roman Catholic owners said they would be reluctant to plan and host a civil union ceremony.
Yes, I'm worried about our free speech when these examples exist. Even when free speech wins these rounds, we are losing ground because these items went to court at all. No one should have to fear being arrested, sued, or otherwise harassed by the government because of their opinion. No one.
For more in the US see any number of Mike Adams' posts (from your sidebar link)
We have become far too focused on a person's mythical right to not be offended by anything someone else says.
What's the First Amendment in comparison to something as supremely importnat as that?
/Tongue so far in my cheek that its out of my mouth/
"In much of Europe and Canada, you can be jailed for pointing out that homosexuality is a perversion"
bullshit