re: #448 Gus 802

If my neighbor is a Muslim do you think I should be allowed to burn a Koran in front of him? If my neighbor is a Christian should I be able to show him a Crucfix dipped in urine? Like I said. I really don’t understand this whole concept and frankly I’m starting to think it’s all rather immature and that includes whatever religious symbolism. As an atheist I am no fan of religion but I have no interest in defacing religious symbolism to prove a point. And one of those reasons is because I would never burn a Koran in front of my Muslim neighbor, nor burn Crucifix. That’s me speaking on a personal level.

Yes. And yes.

Of course there is a difference between ‘can’ and ‘ought’. You would never do those things because you’re a decent person. If if not, as you suggest, then what exactly is the standard by which we forbid free speech? A Muslim who converts to any other religion is offensive to other Muslims. I bet Ayaan Hirsi Ali offends many Muslims every time she makes a speech. Her very existence is offensive to many Muslims such that she has to go around with 24/7 protection, receiving death threats after renouncing Islam.

Since her speech is so offensive to Muslims, shall we imprison her? Would Muslims be justified in silencing her permanently? I’ll cut short my sarcasm and of course acknowledge nobody on this blog would condone that. Yes, my argument is a ‘slippery slope’ argument. But if the appropriate response to acts of violence in response to insults is to restrict speech, than there is no free speech.