|
Post by fretslider on Apr 23, 2010 20:32:32 GMT
BBC Radio 4 20:00
South Park has been edited to remove offensive scenes depicting images of Mohammed following the threat made to the makers of South Park. South Park has represented Jesus as a gun toting lunatic, Saddam Hussein as the Devil's gay lover and Moses who demands arts-and-crafts-like things, including macaroni sculptures at a kids scout camp.
On the subject of this faith-threat it was interesting to hear the responses of Jack Straw, Caroline Spellman and Menzies (Ming ) Campbell. The question in essence..... in light of the 'threat' made to the makers of South Park, should the program have been censored to respect a faith's sensitivities -, or should the principle of freedom of expression be higher than the perceived right to be offended.
Straw - Wants to see greater respect for all faiths. We must understand that different cultures observe their religions in diverse ways. All images of the prophet are forbidden, we have oodles of images of Jesus, Mary etc, so we have to respect their view. The programme should be censored voluntarily.
Caroline Spellman - Keeps an eye on what her kids are watching and what is 'filling' their heads. Favour's freedom of expression and if people don't like what they see/hear then complain through the usual channels, eg BBC, Press Complaints Commission etc.
Campbell - Unequivocally in favour of a universal right to freedom of expression, believes that to allow one group to force modifications to that right only encourages more and yet more groups to find something to be offended about. No censorship
I agree on this occasion with Ming. Enough of the kow-towing as advocated by Slippery Jack Straw, where we have to craft the nation to suit a relatively small, yet locally dense minority. Straw gave an outline of the same old appeasing attitudes, if Labour wins our social fragmentation will continue, that seems a dangerous path to me. Spellman, for my money, plonked her back-end squarely on the fence and leaned slightly in the right direction.
Campbell was bang-on on this one and the audience gave him quite a rousing applause for it.
Threats should not be allowed to dictate terms in a democratic enlightened society. Straw very much reminded me of a creepy Neville Chamberlain, not a pretty sight.
|
|
|
Post by mouse on Apr 23, 2010 21:29:42 GMT
apeasers....what a bunch of cowards...but then think of the demographics of straws constituency[dont know about spellmans] but straw is as you say a creep....nice to know he doesnt come out and say threats to murder are not aceptable......and yet will have a man imprisoned for heckleing him...same old double standards...cannot believe a word they say
|
|