Freedom of speech

Freedom of speech is a nonsense. It does not exist, even in the 21st century in the so called emancipated west where we pride ourselves on basic human rights. In these scribblings I think about what I say and am careful not to write things that might result in some religious headcase removing my genitals because I have offended his sensibilities.

Last night there was a football match between France and Ireland. The outcome of which was very meaningful in the world of football in all sorts ow ways, not least financially. France won the game through a deliberate foul that the referee and his linesmen failed to see or chose to ignore. The whole world saw the offence over and over again on action replays and now everyone knows that the offending player (note that I do not use his name) is a cheat.

Members of the Ireland team of course cannot call him a cheat or refer to the incompetence of the referee without risking huge fines or suspensions, the cheating side win through on the notion that you can do that as long as no-one notices. It would seem that calling someone a cheat is worse than cheating, and so the deliberate breaking of rules has become part of the game.

In Parliament one is not allowed to call someone who is economical with the truth, a liar. And so politicians lie their way through their careers unchallenged, protected by the lack of freedom of speech.

Of course there are some things that one can criticise freely without fear of retribution and some things that you cannot. Women are free to criticise men while the inverse is seen as sexism. You can discriminate in favour of women by for example limiting electoral candidacy to females only, but would it ever be conceivable to bar females from standing for a seat?

Worst of all though is the blanket protection given to certain religious groups, whose followers include terrorists and misogynistic leaders, routinely committing atrocities against their own people while openly condemning all those who disagree with them. To raise one's voice against these people has become very difficult without incurring the wrath of the law. We live in fear of the viper that lies within our bosom and are powerless to speak out.

France will go to the world cup finals and will take with them the knowledge that they got there unfairly. If that was me i would feel very guilty and probably withdraw. However i was brought up in a different world to the sorry one that we live in today.