Once the state starts picking and choosing whose speech is beyond the pale, the principle is already gone. What remains is judgement, shaped by politics, pressure and fashion.
Good article Albie. It's nice to have a regular reminder that sunlight is the best disinfectant.
Let people like Kanye air their bigoted views and let us see and hear them for the intolerant, small-minded people they are.
I suspect the real intention behind this move by the Labour government is that by banning one, high profile, obvious candidate like Kanye they unlock the door to banning thousands of people they passionately want to ban/silence/cancel. Those people will probably be the 'far right' and all in the name of 'the public good'.
They also get the bonus of being able to say:
"Look....we did something about anti-semitism".
Having allowed anti-semitism to fester over the last few years in the UK via pro-Palestine hate marches, banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the UK for being Jewish, Jews living in fear in the country and having to hide their religion and constant government criticism of Israel.
Yes, good article Albie. I agree with the comments made by David above and so won't repeat them.
Why anyone would want to pay good money hear Kanye West's "music" is beyond me but, as the saying goes, I would defend his right to perform it and that of anyone who wishes to go and listen to it.
Good article Albie. It's nice to have a regular reminder that sunlight is the best disinfectant.
Let people like Kanye air their bigoted views and let us see and hear them for the intolerant, small-minded people they are.
I suspect the real intention behind this move by the Labour government is that by banning one, high profile, obvious candidate like Kanye they unlock the door to banning thousands of people they passionately want to ban/silence/cancel. Those people will probably be the 'far right' and all in the name of 'the public good'.
They also get the bonus of being able to say:
"Look....we did something about anti-semitism".
Having allowed anti-semitism to fester over the last few years in the UK via pro-Palestine hate marches, banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the UK for being Jewish, Jews living in fear in the country and having to hide their religion and constant government criticism of Israel.
Yes, good article Albie. I agree with the comments made by David above and so won't repeat them.
Why anyone would want to pay good money hear Kanye West's "music" is beyond me but, as the saying goes, I would defend his right to perform it and that of anyone who wishes to go and listen to it.
Excellent and thought provoking article. Thank you for this
And sure enough. I was prophetic about their intentions.
They ban Kanye so that they can ban Valentina Gomez.
More government control.
Government decides who can come and who can't. What can be said and what can't.
What constitutes 'hate' and what doesn't.
I don't trust this government or their judgement.
I'd rather have free speech all round.