Lib Dems speak out
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Lady Kishwer Falkner has spoken of the need for British Muslims to develop “broader shoulders” when it comes to issues of free speech. A Muslim herself, she said:
I would say to my community we have to become more broad shouldered. We have to become more tolerant. We have to learn the art of peaceful dissent.
She also called on Germany and Austria to repeal their holocaust-denial laws, which were out of place in “mature and confident democracies”, and for the UK to scrap the blasphemy law.
Lib Dem human rights spokesman MP Evan Harris echoed her sentiments:
If you don’t want to read The Satanic Verses don’t buy the book. If you don’t want to watch Jerry Springer the Opera on the BBC switch channels.
If you don’t want to read cartoons in a Danish newspaper, don’t go to Denmark and buy those newspapers.
Other Lib Dems uttering words of reason yesterday included MEP Sajj Karim (re publishing the Mo-Toons: “We as a party must defend the editors’ right to make that judgement call at all costs”), and Alistair Carmichael (“There is no such thing as freedom not be offended”).
Music. Sweet music.
These guys do talk a lot of sense. I just wish they could do a better job of (a) being a political party and (b) their picking leaders. (We’ve gone from a drunken scotsman to a coffin-dodging scotsman – and they want to lord it over England where most votes come from!) If that happened perhaps more people would actually listen to them.
The holocaust denial and blasphemy laws are clearly bullshit that belong in another age. People who deny the holocaust are easily refuted and exposed as idiots; more easily that people who deny evolution and a hell of lot less well funded.
Marc – oooooh, what’s that, a bit of an English inferiority copmplex (wasn’t the Calcutta Cup just great?)? Or just a bit of “damn-those-Jockos-are-invading-by-stealth, fetch me pith helmet quick, Gladys”? And what about the casual ageism??? tut-tut!
🙂
Dearie me, expected a little better from yerself! Ming the McMerciless is pretty much part of the “British” establishment rather than promoting a “Scottish” agenda, and he’s only 64, so he’s got at least one good election cycle in him. Plus he was the GB 100m record holder for a while – surely that’s got to count for something? 🙂
Anyway, most of we Scots have no desire to rule England – who’d want to have to take responsibility for the festering environmental nightmare that is London? 😉 Or have to admit that it was the country that produced Paul Johnson? (or our good chum Mr. Green, for that matter?) :-))
Simple answer to the West Lothian question is give us independence – but don’t blame the Lib Dems for that issue – only Labour (and historically the Tories, back in John Major’s day, when they had a few Scottish constituencies) use their drones to foist legislation on England & Wales… (and what about the “West Snowdonia” question, eh?)
Anyway, just to chip in a quote from Willie Rennie, our new mp for Dunfermline & West Fife:
“As a Liberal, it is one of my fundamental beliefs that individuals should have the right to express any opinion, no matter how objectionable, unless these words cause a threat of violence or harm towards others.” (Personal communication, quoted with permission).
I normally would vote SNP/Green, but it was a pretty straightforward choice this time!
Who knows, under the Mighty Ming, maybe the Lib Dems will get their act together a bit better?
I wonder whether the “new look” Conservatives would beprepared to boldly enter the religious fray? Certainly Cameron appears to be just like Blair, except he doesn’t seem to cart around all that supernatural guff that our esteemed PM appears to believe. (God, might I actually vote TORY soon?!!)
Actually Andy, I’ve nowt personally against the Scots, but historically there’s a lot of problems between us and this observation has been made by many others.
Political leaders are in a tricky position. While I agree that Ming is a great statesman (and he was my personal choice) I recall that 10 years ago he didn’t want to lead the party because he felt it was a job for a younger man.
I really do hope the Lib Dems get better. The other two are a bloody disgrace.