Freedom of Speech, Religion and Expression.

YESTERDAY I was fortunate enough (or unfortunate enough, depending on how you look at it) to engage in a converstaion with Adam Baldwin via twitter (don't look for it- he deletes most of his conversational tweets). The discussion began when I posted a link about a billboard which has been displayed in Poland.



WITHIN the following 'discussion', Adam focussed heavily on freedom of speech- and how this was a right being exercised in the billboard. My argument was rather over the neccessity of the central image of a bloody feotus- in any case- It got me wondering about freedom of speech, and how it is recognised differently- or not at all- in different countries.

FOR EXAMPLE, according to http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/speech/overview.aspx

"...not to say that in some simplistic sense everybody in America believes in freedom of speech, and certainly it is not to say that everybody in America believes that freedom of speech means the same thing. But it is to say that in a sense both deep and wide, "freedom of speech" is a value that has become powerfully internalized by the American polity. Freedom of speech is a core American belief, almost a kind of secular religious tenet, an article of constitutional faith."
~ Rodney Smolla

THE United States of America is perhaps the best known for their freedom of speech. Each person has the right to speak their mind, theoretically, without needing to worry about legal repercussions or abuse being throw in their direction. Its a good law, and one which every person in the world should have, in my opinion.

In the United Kingdom- we assume it is the same. From: http://www.abouthumanrights.co.uk/your-freedom-speech.html

"So What Can I Do?
Pretty much anything you want; if you have strong opinions about how the country is being run, you can voice them. If you have cold, hard proof about crimes being committed, you can go to the authorities and tell them. It may seem obvious that you have this right, but the fact remains that many other countries do not, and if a UK Government body is trying to stop you from, for instance, giving a speech about crime in your neighbourhood, or writing a report on the state of the local primary care trust, they are breaching your right to freedom of expression, one of your fundamental human rights and you have the right to take action against them."

I used to think that we, like citizens of the United States, had the same rights- but then I had a dig around. It seems that the UK, we technically do have the right to free speech- but we are also subject to some very harsh libel laws (I suggest reading Basic Libel for Idiots by Adam Porter if you need help understanding libel).

I found this out through a recent article on the Guardian website: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/feb/25/simon-singh-silencing-scientists-libel-law

AND it seems, that some parties in Britain wish to further aid in censorhip by making copyright law harsher- which could result in websites, such as youtube, being blocked entirely nationwide. I know I can't be the only person concerned by this worrying turn of events. After all, isn't the whole world looking at China for it's censorship of internet content? And here we are, prosecuting scientists- with the threat of our internet habits being controlled in much the same ways as Communist China.

ANOTHER alarming problem, as those of you who read my previous post last month are aware of, is the double standards enforced upon members of certain races or religions. Bear with me now; Christianity has become something to fear- or something to hide for fear of judgement, and why? Britain is, theoretically, a predominantly Christian country, is it not?

HOW I see it- we are pigeon holed as religious extremists or something. Everything in our society seems to be affected- many Primary schools aren't allowed to perform, or even teach, the story of the Nativity- because it might offend someone. Children are reprimanded for expressing their beleifs in school- in this case their parents legally implicated for 'professional misconduct' over a private email correspondance. Foster carers lose their charge for refusing to promote a lifestyle they don't agree with, and others struck off for allowing a sixteen year old- which in Britain is both the legal age of consent as well as the age at which you are permitted to leave full time education- to convert from another religion to Christianity.

NOT only is this religious discrimination, its an insult to the girl- as it implies that she is unable to make her own decisions, and I beleive entirely against her rights given that she was forbidden from setting foot in a Church for six months. Is this not a breach of the Freedom of religion?

To expand on this, http://www.humanism.org.uk/campaigns/freedom-of-belief, states that:

"1. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.

2. Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others."

ACCORDING to this, the ruling was a direct breach of Article 9. So I must once again ask- what is happening to our country?We have to ask ourselves; is this really what we want? Because it sure as hell isn't what I want. After all this- I am deeply troubled. It simply reinforces my desire to hop on a plane to America where I am convinced I will recieve better treatment as a non-US citizen than I would here as a Britain born national.

I must thank Adam Baldwin personally for playing a major part in opening my eyes to the extent of which my country has fallen. I always learn a lot when I read what he has to say, and even though he is often blunt in his getting the point across- he always gets it across.

Written Badly By Naomi Wong

If you're on twitter, and you aren't following Adam Baldwin, I highly recommend doing so. As well as this, he has a blog on Big Hollywood which is very informative.