Comments on: You can’t hate us but we want to hate you http://freethinker.co.uk/2007/12/21/you-cant-hate-us-but-we-want-to-hate-you/ The voice of atheism since 1881 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:48:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Diesel Balaam http://freethinker.co.uk/2007/12/21/you-cant-hate-us-but-we-want-to-hate-you/comment-page-1/#comment-1947 Diesel Balaam Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:44:05 +0000 http://www.freethinker.co.uk/?p=441#comment-1947 Hang on a minute here - before we all get as zealous and unreasonable as those we are opposing, I don't see anything wrong in allowing people to express antipathy towards homosexuality, or criticise aspects of it, or dissuade people from following homosexual lifestyles. No doubt those behind this amendment have a much broader agenda of bigotry (which should be resisted), but the amendment itself is perfectly reasonable, framed, as it is, as a safeguard for freedom of speech and individual conscience. Similar free speech concessions were sought (and won) when the Religious Hatred Laws were passed, I seem to remember, so why should gays get additional protection? Are our shoulders not broad enough to take a little flak now and again? Who could reasonably oppose any amendment safeguarding freedom of speech? Oh, silly me - authoritarian left-wing numpties and a brace of bossy old GALHA-gays prepared to do their bidding! Plus ca change ... Hang on a minute here - before we all get as zealous and unreasonable as those we are opposing, I don’t see anything wrong in allowing people to express antipathy towards homosexuality, or criticise aspects of it, or dissuade people from following homosexual lifestyles. No doubt those behind this amendment have a much broader agenda of bigotry (which should be resisted), but the amendment itself is perfectly reasonable, framed, as it is, as a safeguard for freedom of speech and individual conscience. Similar free speech concessions were sought (and won) when the Religious Hatred Laws were passed, I seem to remember, so why should gays get additional protection? Are our shoulders not broad enough to take a little flak now and again? Who could reasonably oppose any amendment safeguarding freedom of speech? Oh, silly me - authoritarian left-wing numpties and a brace of bossy old GALHA-gays prepared to do their bidding! Plus ca change …

]]> By: Cal http://freethinker.co.uk/2007/12/21/you-cant-hate-us-but-we-want-to-hate-you/comment-page-1/#comment-1756 Cal Sat, 22 Dec 2007 22:31:21 +0000 http://www.freethinker.co.uk/?p=441#comment-1756 Christian Concern for our Nation Lamentably it IS, in part, their nation. That's what really bloody scares me – the idea of a country brought up under the word of ignorant zealots like those above is almost as scary as the idea that the amendment would allow more criticism of sexual orientation (a predetermined preference, not a choice) than religion (well and truly a choice, built on irrationality, prejudice, ignorance and fear). To attack sexuality is to be hypocritical, given the abundant religious dismissal of criticism as "religious hatred" or "failure to understand". Christian Concern for our Nation

Lamentably it IS, in part, their nation. That’s what really bloody scares me – the idea of a country brought up under the word of ignorant zealots like those above is almost as scary as the idea that the amendment would allow more criticism of sexual orientation (a predetermined preference, not a choice) than religion (well and truly a choice, built on irrationality, prejudice, ignorance and fear). To attack sexuality is to be hypocritical, given the abundant religious dismissal of criticism as “religious hatred” or “failure to understand”.

]]> By: Stuart H. http://freethinker.co.uk/2007/12/21/you-cant-hate-us-but-we-want-to-hate-you/comment-page-1/#comment-1747 Stuart H. Sat, 22 Dec 2007 18:01:06 +0000 http://www.freethinker.co.uk/?p=441#comment-1747 Christian Concern? Aren't they another mob of godbotherers who changed their name because of their previous failures? Think you'll find that the main movers behind this used to call themselves 'Keep Sunday Special' back when they restricted themselves to trying to stop shops opening on Sunday - these were the days when Whitehouse & Muggeridge led such antics Christian Concern? Aren’t they another mob of godbotherers who changed their name because of their previous failures?
Think you’ll find that the main movers behind this used to call themselves ‘Keep Sunday Special’ back when they restricted themselves to trying to stop shops opening on Sunday - these were the days when Whitehouse & Muggeridge led such antics

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