17 Apr 10
1 edit
Originally posted by FMFThe bishop is free to deny that the holocaust took place. It will just cost him 10,000 euros to do so. The Bishop is free to do as he likes just as I am in my own country. In fact, I am free to not buy health insurance even though it will provide me a similar fate. 😛
A German court fines renegade British bishop Richard Williamson 10,000 euros for denying the Holocaust.
BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/europe/8625543.stm
[b]He should be allowed to deny the Holocaust took place.
Agree or disagree?[/b]
What is really going on here is censorship. You could argue one of three things. You could argue that they are censoring the bishop so that he cannot persuade others to believe as he does, or you could argue that they are doing this to hide the fact that people actually believe this garbage, or you could argue that they are merely trying to reduce those who are offended at such beliefs. I don't think that any of these goals is justifiable. People should be free to express their opinions, no matter how skewed we believe them to be. We can either provide an atmosphere where societies ills are out in the open or hidden under a blanket. I think the former is the most healthy way of dealing with societal ills and is the best chance at addressing them. Also, why not let the masses decide for themselves rather than Big Brother? Then again, Big Brother knows what is best for me regarding my health care, so perhaps he knows what is best regarding my "free speech". Hmm. I will have to think more about it I suppose.....NOT!!
17 Apr 10
Originally posted by FMFHe should be allowed to deny the Holocaust took place. By fining and imprisoning Holocaust deniers it just martyrs these idiots and gives credence to their claims that there is an international conspiracy to silence them.
A German court fines renegade British bishop Richard Williamson 10,000 euros for denying the Holocaust.
BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/europe/8625543.stm
[b]He should be allowed to deny the Holocaust took place.
Agree or disagree?[/b]
These kinds of laws have turned people like Ernst Zundel from being a crackpot who barely made $500 a year selling his crap to someone who is now an international icon of the movement.
17 Apr 10
Originally posted by PsychoPawnWell, technically there is a conspiracy to silence them...
He should be allowed to deny the Holocaust took place. By fining and imprisoning Holocaust deniers it just martyrs these idiots and gives credence to their claims that there is an international conspiracy to silence them.
These kinds of laws have turned people like Ernst Zundel from being a crackpot who barely made $500 a year selling his crap to someone who is now an international icon of the movement.
17 Apr 10
Originally posted by FMFGermany has either made it against the law to tell the truth or made it against the law to tell a falsehood.
A German court fines renegade British bishop Richard Williamson 10,000 euros for denying the Holocaust.
BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/europe/8625543.stm
[b]He should be allowed to deny the Holocaust took place.
Agree or disagree?[/b]
Either possibility is horrifying.
18 Apr 10
Originally posted by FMFIn a country like the US with a First Amendment, Holocaust denial should be legal and not punishable.
A German court fines renegade British bishop Richard Williamson 10,000 euros for denying the Holocaust.
BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/europe/8625543.stm
[b]He should be allowed to deny the Holocaust took place.
Agree or disagree?[/b]
However, in a society where expression can be prohibited in cases like:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leyla_%C5%9Eahin_v._Turkey
And where political speech can be criminalized as hate speech in cases like:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/20/geert-wilders-dutch-lawma_n_429495.html
... it makes perfect sense to criminalize Holocaust denial.