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**chequita guevara** · February 3, 2003, 15:26

Originally posted by TheStinger
The Mclibel case was a disater for McDonalds even though they won.

If it was a disaster for McDonald's what was it for the couple who lost? IIRC, it broke up their marriage, cost them their careers, and ruined their finances. And yet they were proven factually correct! Where's the free speech?

**chequita guevara** · February 3, 2003, 15:27

Originally posted by Felch X
Che, it's not like the Constitution really protects our rights. Remember the War on Drugs?

SHHHHHH!!!!!

Seriously, however, Free Speech is still one area that is not touched by the government. As long as you aren't inciting criminal or dangerous activity or lying about someone's character, you're free to say, write, or create whatever you damnwell please. Hell, even cartoon kiddie porn is legal.

**MOBIUS** · February 3, 2003, 15:45

Don't worry, we all know that EiF is against free speech because he is a Tory...

Piaktis, oh Elgin Marble starved one, I fail to see how you can give us grief about our freedom of speech laws given your country's history...

**Bugs ****ing Bunny** · February 3, 2003, 16:03

Originally posted by chegitz guevara

A fairly recent book (in the last decade) by a former British secret agent was banned in the UK. We can buy it here in the US.

If the book you're referring to is "Spycatcher", you can buy it in Britain too.

**Bugs ****ing Bunny** · February 3, 2003, 16:05

Originally posted by chegitz guevara

As long as you aren't inciting criminal or dangerous activity or lying about someone's character, you're free to say, write, or create whatever you damnwell please.

That's one hell of a caveat....

In fact, it leaves the US "freedom of speech" looking rather similar to Britain's.

**Ned** · February 3, 2003, 16:27

I don't think the UK government should do anything about the gentleman. However, people who believe that what he said have a right to air their outrage and to demonstrate against the idiot and his ideas - particularly by other members of the Islamic faith.

It would be nice if Islam had a way of taking such extremists and putting them out to pasture. The catholic church, for example, would never condone a priest making such a statement.

**Drogue** · February 3, 2003, 17:11

Originally posted by *End Is Forever*
Don't we have laws against incitement to racial hatred in this country? Surely attacking Jews, Americans and Hindus in one go counts as incitement?

We do have those laws, but IIRC, they only relate to inciting racial violence. If I tell someone to attack all blacks, or to kill whites, then that is incitement to racial hatred. However, if I publicise that blacks/whites are inferior, or rejoice in a tragedy, then that is not covered. I could be wrong, but this was my understanding.

Free Speach, however, grants him the right to be a nasty SOB if he wants to

AFAIK, in the UK, we don't have a free speech in our constitution (hell, we don't even have a proper constitution). If we had total free speech, he would be covered. However, we don't, so FS grants him nothing.

**chequita guevara** · February 3, 2003, 17:12

Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp
In fact, it leaves the US "freedom of speech" looking rather similar to Britain's.

Yours are rather more strict and much easier to lose.

**Imran Siddiqui** · February 3, 2003, 20:36

Okay, maybe it was an over-reaction - and if that's not incitement then fair enough. He's a ****ing idiot though.

Ah, fair enough.

The only restrictions the UK has on free speach are those relating to teh incitement of religios/racial hatred which is IIRC the same as the USA.

There is no law against incitement of religious or racial hatred. Incitement of violence (immediate violence) is more suspect.

**Imran Siddiqui** · February 3, 2003, 20:39

The catholic church, for example, would never condone a priest making such a statement.

The benefits of heirarchy presents itself.

**Sikander** · February 3, 2003, 23:27

Originally posted by chegitz guevara

If it was a disaster for McDonald's what was it for the couple who lost? IIRC, it broke up their marriage, cost them their careers, and ruined their finances. And yet they were proven factually correct! Where's the free speech?

Really, if they were happy previous to the incident do you think they would have spent their time obsessing about McDonalds? They were already mentally ill.

**sprucemoose3311** · February 4, 2003, 00:03

A Man Called Intrepid is a great book. The story is about an Allies spy during WW II. The author is William Stevenson (I think he was Knighted)

search for it at sites that sell books

**Dinner** · February 4, 2003, 00:10

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
You want to lock a guy up for exercising his free speech rights, Iain?

If a blond haired neo-nazi said the same thing he could be locked up by just about every county in western Europe. Why doesn't an Arab bigot get treated the same?

**Imran Siddiqui** · February 4, 2003, 00:39

Hey, two wrongs don't make a right.

**DuncanK** · February 4, 2003, 00:44

When they are critisizing you for being oppressive sometimes its better if you don't lock them up.

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