“I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it?” Voltaire
If you were in any doubt of how dangerous religion can become, then this bit of news will make up your mind! The UN Anti-Blasphemy resolution may become binding to all member states. This basically means that all members of the UN would have to pass laws prohibiting people from expressing any view that could offend any religion. Blasphemy would affectively become illegal, just as it was in the dark ages. And that’s exactly where our society would be headed, straight back to the dark ages where dangerous monarchs ruled and silenced any opposition. The foundation of western democracy, the system which affords all Britons the freedoms we so enjoy, is built upon free speech. Without it there is nothing stopping other people forcing their views upon us, silencing any opposition through fear of legal punishment. There is no view, no position and no belief that deserves the protection of law! As Rowan Atkinson once said “The right to offend is far more important than the right not to be offended”.
Imagine if this anti-blasphemy resolution becomes binding, will this post become illegal because it may offend religious people? What happens when we hear about another women being stoned to death in the middle east in accordance with sharia law, will it be illegal to speak out against it as another example of religious wickedness? We have to speak up and defend our human rights, we must protect free speech, it’s the only thing that protects us from dictates of raving lunatics.
