[LINK] Academics branded 'anti-US over FTA research'

[Alan L Tyree]

On Tue, 01 Aug 2006 08:24:51 +1000
Jan Whitaker <jwhit at melbpc.org.au> wrote:

> At 07:12 AM 1/08/2006, Alan L Tyree wrote:
> 
> >We also support laws which restrict the right of people to say things
> >that we do not agree with.
> 
> Careful with the broad brush there, Alan. The 'royal we' may apply to
> you and and Howard's crew, but not me or many other people around the
> world. That position of restricted speech and putting people away in
> jail because they think and talk about doing something is not part of
> my value structure. I may not like the position taken, but as long as
> they don't act on it, then I have the same right to counter their
> position with my own facts and opinions and feelings. Shouting
> matches don't hurt people, guns and jails hurt people.  I just wish
> Ruddock-ler and Little Johnny Howard-ler took that view.

Thanks for lumping me in with "Howard's crew". My own view is that
neither side of politics in Australia have a general support for free
speech. The right of politics never has, but the left of Australian
politics doesn't either. I also hasten to add that exceptions abound on
both sides.

Your view, that it is ok even if you do not like the position taken, is
not the norm, Jan. Students disrupt speakers that they don't like,
universities don't let people like David Irving or Andrew Fraser have
the right to speak, and governments of all varieties disagree with your
view that "shouting matches don't hurt people". 

If you really believe what you have said, then you are part of whatever
"crew" I belong to. The ACLU is the only organisation that I know of
that really understands free speech - and they often go to the defence
of right wing speakers whose view they abhor.

Alan

> 
> Jan
> 
> 
> Jan Whitaker
> JLWhitaker Associates, Melbourne Victoria
> jwhit at janwhitaker.com
> business: http://www.janwhitaker.com
> personal: http://www.janwhitaker.com/personal/
> commentary: http://janwhitaker.com/jansblog/
> 
> 'Seed planting is often the most important step. Without the seed,
> there is no plant.' - JW, April 2005
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-- 
Alan L Tyree                    http://www2.austlii.edu.au/~alan
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