Sticks and Stones

… and I should jolly well have the right to express my thoughts. Most of the time.

You see, freedom of expression is one of the very few areas that I have found it hard to form a definitive view about. I think that in rational debate, the rational viewpoint will hold true. I think that when Nick Griffin comes to speak at the Oxford Union, that the intellectual audience will be able to show how abhorrent his views are.

But not every audience is the Oxford Union, and not every debate is a rational one. If we allow people to express themselves completely freely then a ridiculous and abhorrent view which may or may not incite violence could influence the thinking and ideas of another. That’s not good.

The problem though is that the statute books cannot stop us speaking freely! Imagine racist opinion expression being made illegal. Would that stop a racist telling his racist friends his racist views? No, of course not.

So where does this leave us? I guess we need to support legalised free speech so long as it does not incite other illegal activity, but as individuals it is worth us taking on ridiculous views in a debate forum IF we so happen to face them there, such as in the Oxford Union, but perhaps not doing our utmost to invite them to those forums in the first place.