Tony Abbott and the right to dissent from the new morality

[Wokko]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-29/jensen-freedom-of-religion/7123204

A great piece from the ABC of all places about the current soft censorship surrounding values and morals, highlighted by Tony Abbott speaking to a group in the USA that was made to sound in the media like he was attending a KKK rally then going (I'm a dinosaur) bashing in pickup trucks.

Nicks censored me for using a non PC term in an ironical way.

[pietillidie]

^There's a point there, though I'd express it as follows:

Tony Abbott and the right to dissent from the new reality.

I agree you can believe in whatever clown show takes your fancy, from the author's Anglican religious nonsense, to Muslim nonsense, to union nonsense, to nationalist nonsense, to 'alternative" medical nonsense; go for it.

Just don't expect people to respect others being ignorant, deceitful, inconsistent, intellectually and factually incompetent, unaware of their own knowledge deficits, and such, and hold a role of serious influence in society.

No one would have cared about, say, David Koresh and his whacko ideas if he had spent his days living alone in a cabin in Waco masturbating to evangelical favourites and thinking he was the lamb of god. Respect, man! Go for it! Whatever float yer boat!

Just thinking nonsense is never the problem.

[David]

As someone who is deeply concerned about the modern left's lack of regard for freedom of speech, I'm also aware of an increasing tactic on the right of conflating criticism and censorship. If there had been high-profile calls for Abbott to not give that speech or demands that the organisation in question be prosecuted for hate crimes, it's likely that I would have agreed with Jensen. But I've heard nothing of the kind; instead, I've seen perfectly reasonable criticisms of this group and what it stands for, and Abbott's poor judgement in associating with them. That's not censorship, soft or otherwise. If you want freedom of speech, you have to be prepared for that speech to be used against you. Respect is good, but it can't be mandated.

[Mugwump]

^ while it seems to me that Abbott has been demonised for having conservative views to the point where it feels like bullying (and that may be poetic justice in his case), i can't disagree with your post, David.

[stui magpie]

Personally I think a back bencher should be spending time working in his electorate, not taking paid gigs including first class air fares to yak to special interest groups overseas.

If he wants to be on the international speaking circuit, cashing in on his status as an ex Prime Minister, great. Resign from politics and go your hardest. You want to stay in politics, do your job.

[think positive]

[HAL]

If I had freedom of speech you have to be prepared for that speech to be used against you what would I do with it?

[stui magpie]

[think positive]

[David]

[pietillidie]

Also, don't forget these things are subject to irrelevant magnification: Trvial group x opposes trivial speaker y and most humans don't give a flying fek. The level of oppression and censorship is usually akin to braving the flies at a BBQ.

[3.14159]

[think positive]

[3.14159]

LOL! Good for you Jo.

My personal position on all this is why bother arguing the toss with a tosser in a twisted Toupee, it's a total waste of time!

[3.14159]

" I could shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose any voters!"

There's no agruing that one!!!