Recently my posting on the Muhammad cartoons in a Danish newspaper turned into a discussion on freedom of speech (Comments on 2006-02-06 Islam Comics). Today, TelePolis wrote about proposed changes in the United Kingdom and the Organization of the Islamic Conference ¹.
Comments on 2006-02-06 Islam Comics
In this particular instance, I don’t appreciate the restrictions on free speech. Tony Blair says:
It is not merely people who engage in acts of terrorism, but those who incite acts of terrorism, or who glorify terrorism, or who in any way encourage people to commit acts of terrorism either here or anywhere else. ²
I find it very hard to distinguish between terrorists and freedom fighters, however. What will be the exact definition of “glorification of terrorism”? This assumes we know what terrorism is. But we don’t.
Palestinians blowing themselves up in Israel, Iraqis blowing themselves up in Iraq, Saudis blow up themselves and Americans, Americans blow up Iraqis... Does the TV camera turn violence into terrorism? Does a declaration of war turn terrorism into collateral damage? Does a court turn terrorism into just punishment? Innocent people dying, and people being afraid of death and violence – that alone is not enough to define terrorism. Which indicates that the word terrorism is to be avoided when framing a new law.
#Censorship