Anti-Censorship counter demo next week
Roger Geowell | 14.06.2006 17:55 | Culture | Education | Social Struggles
Jerry Springer The Opera is coming to Nottingham next week, and with it a whole bunch of religious pro-censorship protestors. It's time to stand up for freedom of expression, and resist censorship on the grounds of "offensiveness" and religious sensibilities.
MEET: 6:30pm on Monday and Tuesday outside the Nottingham Royal Centre. The play is on all week - we may continue on other days if desired.
BACKGROUND:
Jerry Springer The Opera has caused a furore among some more hardline Christians who don't believe we should be allowed to criticise or "insult" their religion.
In recent years, other religious groups have also used intimidation to impose censorship on anyone who offends them, for all manner of reasons.
Forgetting that religion is just an idea, and like all ideas is open to scrutiny, criticism and ridicule, they would instead like to stop other people expressing themselves freely.
Censorship on the grounds of "offensiveness" is ridiculous. Indeed, as a free thinker, there are few things more offensive to my "religion" than the idea that I can't express myself freely, and can't say things that might offend some people.
Censorship itself is offensive, and trying to enforce a culture of self-censorship using fear of reprisals and mass protests is a far greater evil than any possible offence.
Please turn up and show your support!
Links to previous protests on this show's tour:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/5073886.stm
http://www.leicestersecularsociety.org.uk/news-jstopera.htm
http://www.mediawatchwatch.org.uk/?p=468
BACKGROUND:
Jerry Springer The Opera has caused a furore among some more hardline Christians who don't believe we should be allowed to criticise or "insult" their religion.
In recent years, other religious groups have also used intimidation to impose censorship on anyone who offends them, for all manner of reasons.
Forgetting that religion is just an idea, and like all ideas is open to scrutiny, criticism and ridicule, they would instead like to stop other people expressing themselves freely.
Censorship on the grounds of "offensiveness" is ridiculous. Indeed, as a free thinker, there are few things more offensive to my "religion" than the idea that I can't express myself freely, and can't say things that might offend some people.
Censorship itself is offensive, and trying to enforce a culture of self-censorship using fear of reprisals and mass protests is a far greater evil than any possible offence.
Please turn up and show your support!
Links to previous protests on this show's tour:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/5073886.stm http://www.leicestersecularsociety.org.uk/news-jstopera.htm http://www.mediawatchwatch.org.uk/?p=468
Roger Geowell
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