New at Reason

Julian Sanchez | November 30, 2005

Bruce Bawer notes that Europe's enthusiasm for political correctness grows markedly when offended minorities might stab you to death in the streets.

Comments

Gimme Back My Dog|11.30.05 @ 12:46PM|#

an ironic example of a non-democratically elected body standing up for democracy by rebuking a democratically elected body

There is nothing democratic about freedom of speech (see: Socrates, Trial of). If the two went hand in hand, there would be no need for the First Amendment.

|11.30.05 @ 1:23PM|#

Kudos to Black Adder for his stance!

|11.30.05 @ 1:29PM|#

There is nothing democratic about freedom of speech (see: Socrates, Trial of). If the two went hand in hand, there would be no need for the First Amendment.

Sadly, I think that if free speech and democracy went "hand in hand" there would be no free speech period. I would have been voted away long ago.

|11.30.05 @ 1:40PM|#

It's too bad. I remember when some asshole 'cleric' issued a fatwa against Rushdie...the whole world pretty much stood behind Rushdie, especially the Europeans. How easily scared they are.

As much as I'm against the war in Iraq, at least America still has the balls to stand up for itself.

Unfortunately, America also seems to have the balls to stand up against its own citizens.

|11.30.05 @ 1:45PM|#

"There is nothing democratic about freedom of speech"

I assume that Bruce meant that freedom of speech is is a core constitutive component of democratic systems, even if a majority doesn't support it. A country in which the right to (say) use drugs is restricted is less free, but not necessarily less democratic; a country in which people can't have relatively open dialogue about political questions can't be robustly democratic, even if the restrictions were approved by referendum or whatever.

|11.30.05 @ 2:15PM|#

For another example of how free speech has been chilled, see if you can find the real name of any scholar doing an honest translation of the Koran.

|11.30.05 @ 2:43PM|#

This makes Horatio Jackson from the adventures of Baron Munchausen seem prescient.

It's legal to call a person a yob, but if you call his imaginary friend a yob you'll get thrown in jail. Perfectly reasonable.

|11.30.05 @ 4:24PM|#

Every day I thank G_d I live in America where a person is free to speak the truth (e.g. Islam is a lie created and perpetrated by males who fear the empowerment of women).

|11.30.05 @ 4:48PM|#

Oh wow. The chicks in this offensive cartoon (linked to in the linked article) have really incredibly beautiful eyes.

|11.30.05 @ 5:28PM|#

Oh wow. The chicks in this offensive cartoon (linked to in the linked article) have really incredibly beautiful eyes.

Kinda like chidren's eyes, but then, in islamic society, women aren't allowed any more freedoms than that of their children, and more often than not, are allowed even less than their male offspring.

|11.30.05 @ 6:26PM|#

In April, after virtually no public discussion, Norway's Parliament passed a law that punishes offensive remarks about any religion with up to three years' imprisonment?and places the burden of proof on the accused. Three months later, Britain's House of Commons approved a bill that would criminalize "words or behavior" that might "stir up racial or religious hatred.

Fuck Europe. All they do is bitch about us, but look how illiberal and cowardly they are. Let the extremists run their shit, at least that ain't gonna happen here.

I know, I know, our liberties are being curtailed due to the reaction against Islamist extremism. But I'll take our home grown fascists over Islamo-fascists any day. Europeans just seem to be too eager to grab their ankles.

|11.30.05 @ 11:57PM|#

"Our right to say, write, photograph and draw what we want to within the framework of the law exists and must endure�unconditionally!"

As the end of 2005 approaches, it's an attitude that's in visible decline in many parts of Europe.

In many parts of America, too.

Islamic demands in Europe amounts to an attempted power grab. Just like, the Muslims in France demanding that the police "stay out of our areas". That's about as close to an open declaration of war of rebellion as you can get.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid Europe is only a preview of coming attactions here. Think about what could be done in the future, in the name of the Patriot Act.

|12.1.05 @ 9:31AM|#

Eventually Europeans will start to resist this, and those that take the lead in the resistance will all have really short haircuts and rather impassioned youth groups.

Most moderate euros can't condemn this because that would involve making a judgment and that's quite simply beyond them.

|12.1.05 @ 4:53PM|#

"Most moderate euros can't condemn this because that would involve making a judgment and that's quite simply beyond them."

They're quite proficient at making judgments if they involve the US or its citizens...