Freedom From Speech

[Phx_Dem]

The United Nations saw another shred of its tattered dignity stripped away November 24, when a committee of the General Assembly approved what amounts to a direct assault on Western liberal democracy. In an 85-50 vote, with 42 abstaining, the so-called Third Committee adopted a resolution, submitted by a caucus of Islamic nations, to criminalize expressions deemed to be “defamation of religion,” with special concern for Islam. All U.N. member states would be called on to amend their criminal codes accordingly. The measure’s next stop is the General Assembly, where it is expected to win handily, probably in December.

The U.N. is no stranger to assaults on decency and common sense. Indeed, the new ban on religious defamation is essentially a restatement of a measure approved by the General Assembly last year but barely noticed at the time.

What makes this year’s resolution different, and more dangerous, is that it is supposed to move on from the General Assembly to another forum, where it might acquire real teeth: the second World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, scheduled to convene next April in Geneva.

http://www.forward.com/articles/14624/

[JonQ]

1. Religions should be open

to the same criticism that any other groups are. They aren't special and if they can't deal with living in a country where free speech is tolerated they either need to change or move. We shouldn't reduce our freedoms so a few people won't feel offended.

[riqster]

2. Amen nt

[crikkett]

4. The Rule of Pot and Kettle: if someone can call me a devil then I can say what I think of them.

[hendo]

3. yay for fundamentalists

writing policies..

I would like you all to note that this was not passed by the "evil christians".

[TexasObserver]

5. RELIGION, which is about CONDEMNATION, has the audacity to be upset when maligned.

It's virtually impossible to say anything bad about religion that cannot be characterized as true, in whole or in part. If it's evil, religion has been in charge of it.

Fortunately, the Security Council will toss this idiotic resolution.