Climate change activists are not high on the list of people whose opinions I respect.
The Guardian has, over the years, similarly failed to impress me with the quality of its reasoning or the correctness of its conclusions.
But Voltaire was right; I do not agree with what either the Guardian or the average climate change apostle has to say, but their right to say it is - or at least should be - absolute.
That is why I am very concerned that Chris Kitchen was held under anti-terrorist legislation in order to prevent him from attending the forthcoming United Nations summit in Denmark. Now, I don't know Mr Kitchen, and I don't know what he planned to do in Denmark. Indeed, I see from the Guardian report that he has an active past, including having "taken place (sic*) in a number of peaceful acts of civil disobedience". Of note, however, is the word "peaceful". He is not, it seems, a terrorist.
As the police officer is alleged to say, however, terrorism "could mean a lot of things". Precisely, officer. That's what worries me.
(Hat tip: Ben Goldacre, author of Bad Science, and someone whose views I have rather more respect for)
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*Dear old Grauniad .... bless ...
I watched a programme called Vice Squad last night. In it the police closed a bar down for the night because they had "intelligence" that some people were planning to go to the bar who planned to start violence.
ReplyDeleteVoltaire was right; I do not agree with what either the Guardian or the average climate change apostle has to say, but their right to say it is - or at least should be - absolute.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Voltaire is any better. Perhaps he said the voices of all should be heard, but then he misrepresented those who he didn't like so that their voices wouldn't be heard.
At least many modern day liberals spare us that kind of hypocrisy: they're openly illiberal.