12-06-2015, 03:04 PM
some interesting thoughts.
whereas it is true that it doesn't separate the racists–who would probably limit freedom of speech if the question were specifically different–from those genuinely concerned about freedom of speech, it does, however, indicate unambiguously the majority of people either are not concerned with, or do not understand the implications of, limiting it. and, despite the somewhat tongue in cheek title of this post, it is less 'well done 67% of americans' and more 'what the fuck are the 49% of europeans thinking!' and germany! 70%! i mean, if there was a country that one would have thought would have learnt a lesson or two from the not too distant past, stick a pin in germany.
you see, what i just wrote there, about the germans, if 49% of europeans had their way i could be locked up! if 70% of germans had their way, i could be gassed.
what books will we be burning today? i vote darwin's 'on the origin of species'. what we'll lose in scientific understanding of the natural world, genetics, medicine, biology, evolution, etc. we'll more than make up for in spared religious sentiment! i mean, if that's not progress, well, i just don't know what is.
"well, three things. firstly to make the point that a symbol, be it an icon or a flag or whatever, is only as worthy of respect as the values of the people that appropriate it. secondly, that if a symbol goes out into the world, perhaps into places where it's not understood or wanted or valued, you shouldn't be too upset if it takes on a shape that you don't recognise as your own. and thirdly, that if you attempt to apply limits to freedom of expression, either through legislation or intimidation or threats, what will then happen is that reasonable people, often against their own better judgement, will feel obliged to test those limits, by going into areas they don't feel entirely comfortable with."
–Stewart Lee
whereas it is true that it doesn't separate the racists–who would probably limit freedom of speech if the question were specifically different–from those genuinely concerned about freedom of speech, it does, however, indicate unambiguously the majority of people either are not concerned with, or do not understand the implications of, limiting it. and, despite the somewhat tongue in cheek title of this post, it is less 'well done 67% of americans' and more 'what the fuck are the 49% of europeans thinking!' and germany! 70%! i mean, if there was a country that one would have thought would have learnt a lesson or two from the not too distant past, stick a pin in germany.
you see, what i just wrote there, about the germans, if 49% of europeans had their way i could be locked up! if 70% of germans had their way, i could be gassed.
what books will we be burning today? i vote darwin's 'on the origin of species'. what we'll lose in scientific understanding of the natural world, genetics, medicine, biology, evolution, etc. we'll more than make up for in spared religious sentiment! i mean, if that's not progress, well, i just don't know what is.
"well, three things. firstly to make the point that a symbol, be it an icon or a flag or whatever, is only as worthy of respect as the values of the people that appropriate it. secondly, that if a symbol goes out into the world, perhaps into places where it's not understood or wanted or valued, you shouldn't be too upset if it takes on a shape that you don't recognise as your own. and thirdly, that if you attempt to apply limits to freedom of expression, either through legislation or intimidation or threats, what will then happen is that reasonable people, often against their own better judgement, will feel obliged to test those limits, by going into areas they don't feel entirely comfortable with."
–Stewart Lee