Sta.sh
Fave this journal (it will be your number)
Watch me IF you like my art~ ;v;
Theme
.
this journal 
Total prizes reach 1000 
But of course there are always the rules......
Please please please fave the journal!
Make another journal about this giveaway and provide a link of that journal in the comments (this will help spread the word about this giveaway)
-
Recent days I've had interesting conversations here at deviantart about this issue, especially with `gilad in his fine journal entry.
I've travelled all over the world, I've met so many people, some under communist rule, some under dictatorship, some under occupation, some rich and lot's of poor people.
Let me first say, that no one, under any circumstance can "limit" freedom of speech, it is one thing that defines our civilization that must be intact. As soon as we "limit" it, block some people from saying whatever they want, it's not freedom anymore.
Even if what they are saying are lies and may hurt us, if we shut them up we're no better than them.
And it doesn't matter what they say is "lies" or not lies, if it's not backed up by proof it's useless. We're in the 21st century, not the middleages... If some nut says the holocaust didn't happen, no one would believe him, now one would even listen to him. But you cannot deny holocaust in Austria for instance. It's simply illegal.
Freedom of Speech doesn't only mean "I can say what I want", but also that you can TAKE what others say, even if it hurts.
Only ten years ago genocide was committed in my country against my fellow citizen and there are many today that deny that fact. I know what happened, I've seen the massgraves. But I would never dream of "shutting them up", instead I would show them the massgraves. Show them the evidence.
There is only a tiny step from limiting freedom of speech to becoming a sort of propaganda.
Propaganda is to democracy what violence is to dictatorship.
Remember Voltaire? "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
| Deviant Login | Shop | Join deviantART for FREE  |
Take the Tour  |
Having lived in a third world country all my life has made me accept the fact that my country won't ever see or hear of freedom of speech. We have been wrapped in a so-called bubble of democracy but are experiencing everyday propaganda and dicatorship. I just hope my children get to live in a free country bereft of violence and strife. I know this is far-fetched but i'm still hopeful.
We want to believe that man is not capable of such terrible acts, but that's not a truth--we are the most violent and destructive species on the planet.
In the end no right is free, it MUST be earned and defended otherwise it is meaningless. I do not agree with much our current leadership has done and I am thankfull--every minute that I have the right to speak out. That being said, there is also a active threat to silence such opposition I am labeled "unpatriotic" and that seems to carry a lot of hate with it. We as a people cannot let that happen and in situations that it is allowed to happen, the PEOPLE must work to change it.
Or in the UK, now you cannot express sympathy with "terrorists". You cannot express symapthy with someone that killed 3,000 people in New York, but you can express sympathy with someone that killed 100,000 civilians in Iraq.
That's not restricting freedom of speech, it's purely propaganda.
I won't be expressing any symapthy for anyone that carries out an act of terrism (individual or govt). But you should be free to express your views. Unfortunate the spin doctors have created such a frenzy, that to do so you would risk your life much less jail time.
But. I will ask the questions. Why are these people doing it? Why are they so desperate that terrisom is they're only recourse? What have we done to facilitate the situation? Why do people hate us enough to want to kill us? Only by being allowed to voice all views will we be able to hear some of those answers.
This is a great thread. I hope more people get involved in it.
But the most recent terror is because of Israel and the occupation of Palestine. The Palestinians have pretty much nothing (I've been there), they don't even have human basic rights. They don't have tanks or Apache helicopters to fight, so they use the only thing they have. Their own lives. My time in Palestine and Israel has changed my opinion on a lot of things, you cannot really understand it unless you have seen those people suffer while the world just watches and condemns their only means of self defence.
There is a really good book by Richard K. Morgan, about a future of "Art of War" business, called "Market Forces". It's a very good read and should make a lot of people rethink allowing the multinationals so much dominance and power.
As for invading other countries, I have yet to hear a compelling justification as to why. Afghanistan, I can understand some of the reasoning I've heard, but I might have bought into the propaganda.
I am starting to hear about some resistance to Isreali lobbies but "antisemetism" is always thrown back as a response and that is almost a death sentence here--but at least some people, with a voice, are starting to question it.