Margaret
14-01-2015, 11:08 AM
It is of course a myth that we have anything resembling free speech.
The list of things that cannot be discussed publicly goes on and on.
In the seventies there was a huge controversy about IQ differences between the races. A number of prominent scientists including Eyesenck and Watson (one of the DNA guys) produced substantial evidence that the were such differences. They have effectively become non persons and it is absolutely forbidden to discuss the subject. In our own times, the Holocaust is perhaps the most egregious example. But it is worth bearing in mind the huge confusion between belief so called fact. So you could be branded a criminal in Europe for not believing in the Holocaust, though belief is defined as acceptance or an opinion of something without proof. If I deny the battle of Hastings, I might be called perverse, but nothing really follows from that, other than that people might think I'm an oddball. But the position with regard to the Holocaust is far worse because of the fusion and confusion between belief and 'fact'.
The only thing western society seems committed to is what in traditional terms might be called obscenity or pornography, you could also say that this French magazine Charlie Hebdo, was not defending free speech , because there is no free speech in it, or anything rational, only a sub-literate pornography and obscenities.
The list of things that cannot be discussed publicly goes on and on.
In the seventies there was a huge controversy about IQ differences between the races. A number of prominent scientists including Eyesenck and Watson (one of the DNA guys) produced substantial evidence that the were such differences. They have effectively become non persons and it is absolutely forbidden to discuss the subject. In our own times, the Holocaust is perhaps the most egregious example. But it is worth bearing in mind the huge confusion between belief so called fact. So you could be branded a criminal in Europe for not believing in the Holocaust, though belief is defined as acceptance or an opinion of something without proof. If I deny the battle of Hastings, I might be called perverse, but nothing really follows from that, other than that people might think I'm an oddball. But the position with regard to the Holocaust is far worse because of the fusion and confusion between belief and 'fact'.
The only thing western society seems committed to is what in traditional terms might be called obscenity or pornography, you could also say that this French magazine Charlie Hebdo, was not defending free speech , because there is no free speech in it, or anything rational, only a sub-literate pornography and obscenities.