Christopher Hitchens - Freedom of Expression And Being Offended

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHwvT4Xl5Uo

I want to make a valid point based off the brilliance of Christopher Hitchins here.

Daily people are offended with racist hate, which is appalling and yet many decent people do not react with hate in retaliation. We have seen a massive spike in antisemitism and in anti-Muslim bigotry and yet neither causes people to rise up and commit mass acts of violence whether Muslim or Jews. So why is it that when we see claims to being offended by satire and mockery of religion with mainly Islam. We continually see a number of Muslims act with the worst barbarity? I mean this is a belief, which does not effect anyone directly, yet racism does effect people directly. I mean can anyone imagine if people acted with such barbarity after every racist incident? There would be mass death on a grand scale. This is why we should always have freedom of expression and that it is better to combat hate speech with reason and to show that the well being and equality of all people is what matters and that they are protected by the law.

Beliefs are what everyone has and all are going to be offended over their beliefs at some point, because people disagree over beliefs. That is something people should be able to rise above over with, but why is it when in comes to religious beliefs, it tends to always spiral over in to violence? The targeting of people for who they are is always wrong, as they cannot change who they are, but with beliefs people can change what they believe. That is why people should be protected from hate for who they are or what they believe but that no beliefs themselves should ever be protected from ridicule or criticism.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfwhgovM7P4

Didge you may want to amend your title, as the topic is interesting but the title doesn't allow us to know that.

Just a suggestion, up to you.

eddie wrote:Didge you may want to amend your title, as the topic is interesting but the title doesn't allow us to know that.

Just a suggestion, up to you.

Its a fair point.

I have amended.

Christopher Hitchens was a great thinker and debater and far more amicable than his weird younger brother imo. His untimely passing was much lamented.