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News & politics

Freedom of speech

(568 Posts)
Christinefrance Mon 06-Feb-17 19:32:14

I've just heard that the Speaker Mr Bercow wants to ban Donald Trump from speaking in the House. Whilst not in agreement with most of the Donald 's ideas I do believe in the freedom of speech. What do others think ?

durhamjen Tue 07-Feb-17 17:54:40

We believe this to be a fake news story that is going viral so have deleted.

Ankers Tue 07-Feb-17 17:56:38

Heck.

rosesarered Tue 07-Feb-17 17:57:02

Djen... this thread is about freedom of speech.

rosesarered Tue 07-Feb-17 17:59:14

Although it's (KKK) a legal group , I am surprised that Trump says he is an active member ( his Father was I think) so what is the source of the interview djen?

rosesarered Tue 07-Feb-17 18:00:34

Not that it has anything to do with the thread, but I was just curious, as Trump has always ummed and erred about it when asked.

Mair Tue 07-Feb-17 18:06:42

hoax-alert.leadstories.com/061972-hoax-alert-donald-trump-not-exposed-as-member-of-the-kkk-by-anonymous.html

I think DJ you should be very careful about spreading lies about Trump. You wouldnt want Gnet to get into trouble would you?

earnshaw Tue 07-Feb-17 18:08:25

i agree with freedom of speech and i feel that , in general, we are too touchy and too concerned these days with the oft used words racism and feminism, Mr Trump. unlike most politicians , is not afraid to speak his mind plus he does what he says he will do , getting past the name calling , i think he will be a big asset to the UK if we just give him a chance

rosesarered Tue 07-Feb-17 18:11:34

Exactly Mair you have to be very careful about these things.

rosesarered Tue 07-Feb-17 18:13:48

djen now you realise why I am sceptical about your sources.

Ana Tue 07-Feb-17 18:23:06

Wondered why there was no link.

AmMaz Tue 07-Feb-17 18:23:25

We are discussing 'free speech' way after the horse has bolted.

Our speech is not free after decades of political correctness. And since language preforms thought we don't think freely anymore either.

People are frightened to speak and often afraid to think I reckon. We've been and are still continually invited by PC to not trust ourselves to think along decent lines or form decent minded opinions. PC undermines and this subtly constrains intellect.

Ordinary decent folk who voted Brexit for reasons to do with sovereignty were told anyway by London's Mayor and others that they were 'haters'. So even when we're not, we are. PC makes us so.

So then what are we left with? A race to the bottom line: "what's the PC opinion of the moment please cos whatever it is, I'll have that cos then I can be up for a spot of virtue signalling too! And not even any thinking required!"

This is the country I grew up in?

thatbags Tue 07-Feb-17 18:40:50

re "anti-Bercow prejudice" mentioned up thread:

"It is possible to agree with the sentiment that a new, unproven and divisive president should not be given the highest honour parliament can bestow while also thinking that it is not Bercow’s place to state it publicly."

Matt Chorley

Anniebach Tue 07-Feb-17 18:47:13

But is it correct thst he shouldn't have informed the house

notanan Tue 07-Feb-17 18:53:38

What freedom of speech means:
Not being imprisoned for saying something that is not 100% in line with the current rulers/government
Not being torchured, hurt, beaten etc for saying something
Not having your family hurt/killed because of what you said
Not being fired for openly voting for a different party to your boss

What freedom of speech doesn't mean
That everyone must host you, and listen to you, and nobody can chose not to
That nobody should question what you say, hold it up against facts, or re-call and repeat what you've said at a later date
That you can have YOUR opinion, but if someone else's opinion is that they disagree with you, they can't say that, because "freedom of speech"

Ana Tue 07-Feb-17 18:54:42

Annie, didn't you read what Lord Fowler said? confused

notanan Tue 07-Feb-17 18:57:01

Our speech is not free after decades of political correctness.
Not so
You are, as I will now demonstrate, free to say "nigger". You are free to say it. I just did. People are free to react to you saying it and to judge you for saying it, but you will not be torchured or imprisoned for saying it, you're free to do so, and if you do, people are free to dislike you for it. People are free to tell you why they don't think it's a decent thing to say in modern society. You're still free to say it.

Chewbacca Tue 07-Feb-17 18:59:55

durhamjen 17.54
Mr. Trump was asked about being exposed in an interview and he said:

To support the credibility of this post, please could you substantiate it with a link to your source. If you're unable to do that, I'll report it as being libelous.

thatbags Tue 07-Feb-17 19:01:33

ab, what do you mean by "informed the house", please? I thought the Speaker was not supposed to have political "opinions" while in the House, or at least not to express them.

thatbags Tue 07-Feb-17 19:02:16

Part of the job description.

whitewave Tue 07-Feb-17 19:02:47

Who to chewbacca

Jalima Tue 07-Feb-17 19:06:18

One would presume to GN so that they can delete it if it is potentially libellous.

rosesarered Tue 07-Feb-17 19:06:48

The mods I should think!

rosesarered Tue 07-Feb-17 19:07:03

It was from a fake news site.

Ana Tue 07-Feb-17 19:08:59

Surprised durhamjen fell for that, but I expect if you want to believe something's true...

whitewave Tue 07-Feb-17 19:11:27

Oh