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Oxford Union Free Speech Debate

freespeechdebater | 27.11.2007 00:24 | Oxford

Oxford Union debate succesfully disrupted by protestors. Oxford Union in fear of protestors. free speech dead

The non-debate in the Oxford Union tonight highlights that we now live in a society where fear holds place over freedom. Despite Police having ejected non-members from the premises, it was decided that it was too risky to bring half of the members and speakers over to the debating hall, in case it prompted protestors to storm the premises. The two main speakers spoke to half an audience each in two separate buildings. The President then requested that no-one should applaud during the debate as this might enrage the protesters outside.
What should have happened was a full debate with all the speakers in the hall, with the door barred if necessary. As it happened, the protestors suceeded in disrupting the debate because of fear of the protest escalating.
Free Speech in this country is no more. We can now rewrite the old maxim -
I may not agree with what you say, i'd like to defend your right to say it, but i'm to scared about the consequences to do so.

freespeechdebater

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free speach my arse

27.11.2007 00:51

this wasn't about free speech - your an cotton-wool-clad-idiot if you think this is about free speech
it's bloody good that this platform for someone from an organised racist party was stopped

no one in their right mind would suggest that the leader of the bnp wouldn't get intellectually trounced by the fine members of the oxford union - erm i hope

but just because these individuals feel that they are so abstract from the rest of society it is no excuse for them to moan about the fact that people not so abstracted from the rest of the world oppose them inviting people who not only 'talk' but also very physically 'orgaganise' racist organisations

it's simple, your simple free speach debate invites people lots of other people see, and frankly have encountered, as an organised threat.

free speech yes! freedom to stop racists that organise to threaten others THAT AS WELL

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