Rugby Advertiser
March 9, 2006

Editor’s Viewpoint – 09/03/06

THIS week Advertiser Peter Aengenhesiter once again delves deep into
the murky waters of freedom of speech.

WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL HOW WE EXERCISE OUR FREEDOMS…

If i said the D-Day landings never took place, aliens are among us,
and 9/11 didn’t happen, there is really only one possibility.

It is almost certain that I would be dismissed as a complete idiot.

But, for the moment, I would not be imprisoned for my beliefs.

By now, everyone will have heard of the revisionist historian David
Irving who was jailed for three years in Austria for denying The
Holocaust. Actually I don’t think think he did, he denied that it was
as extensive as they said.

Until recently, I was pretty much unaware of this law, which is
actually in force in most of the countries of the EU.

And in Switzerland (of all places, and I simply can’t fathom out
why), it is against the law to deny that Ottoman Turks committed
genocide against the Armenians in 1915.

Many have claimed the reaction of the offensive caricatures of The
Prophet Mohammed published around the world was excessive in the face
of what was only hard-earned freedom

of speech in the West.

We might even think we are ‘better’, but we should be careful lest we
be accused of hypocrisy.

Abu Hamza al Masri, the Muslim cleric, was jailed recently for seven
years. We called the offence incitement to murder and race hate –
others could easily argue ‘freedom of speech’.

And actually, have you ever seen a Christian figure, leader or icon,
carictured in any way by Muslims, let alone in the degrading,
derogatory or insulting depiction that these cartoon were displayed?

I believe in the freedom of speech for everyone, without fear of
damage to life, limb or liberty.

But you are only walking a better path in this life and with this
freedom. If you treat others with the respect with which you would
like to be treated.

Here endeth the sermon..!

And let’s hope England trounces the smelly French in the Six Nations
rugby taking place this weekend.