Saturday 4 February 2006

The Blasphemy Debate - Reprise

With blasphemy and violent umbrage-taking in the air, I guess it's time I relink to my post on the Great Blasphemy Debate, wherein:
The well-read and witty Stephen Fry and Christopher Hitchens entertainingly debate blasphemy, religious freedom, multiculturalism and hate speech, and whether or why there should be limits on speech and offensive behaviour.
Is it now wrong to exercise free speech, or to enjoy good satire? Should offending religionists be against the law? Is it wrong to tell the truth, or to joke about it? Are some people all just too bloody ready to be offended? All these questions ans more debated -- well, discussed really -- wittingly, intelligently, entertainingly. As Stephen Fry says towards the end of the 'Blasphemy Debate':
'It's now very common to hear people say, "I'm rather offended by that", as if that gives them certain rights. It's no more than a whine. It has no meaning, it has no purpose, it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. "I'm offended by that." Well, so fucking what?'
Links: The Blaphemy Debate - The Hay Festival (scroll down sl;ightly for the audio link)
I saw hate in a graveyard - Stephen Fry - The Observer

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

So fucking what indeed. It does have a purpose though in the Islamics case when they follow up "I'm rather offended by that" with "Behead those who insult Islam".

Islamofascism is alive and well here in the UK.