Comments on: People Fucking Depress Me Today

By: John

John — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 09:53:43 +0000

Loved your comments on the Rushdie knighthood. I’d punch the air in appreciation if I was one for such displays! Very, very well said.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 22:42:00 +0000

Oh, and thanks, obviously!

By: Matthew

Matthew — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 22:40:52 +0000

And believe me, almost everything sounds more chilling in German

I do know what you mean, Shane, honestly I do. I was raised in Vienna where the attitude was quite frequently: ’6 million? How did the rest bloody well get away?’

My problem with making Holocaust denial a crime is more to do with the precedent it sets I think. Once you start making this sort of stuff illegal it opens a can of worms I have no real idea how to close – not that anyone’s asking me, of course.

Ultimately the only way I can think of the combat Holocaust denial is not exactly with logic – you’re not going to persuade someone who is capable of convincing themselves of anything so patently false – is merely with more words: debate, historical record, photographs, diaries and all the intellectual energy we can throw at them.

What about AIDS deniers – I only found out they existed a few weeks ago. Or those loonies from Westborough Baptist Church? Basically, if you go around the world silencing objectionable speech then where do you stop? And then what are you achieving other than giving them the soapbox of persecuted visionary to add to their arsenal of deluded lunacy?

I don’t know. Do you think we’re any more or less offended by Holocaust deniers than hardline Muslims are by Rushdie? I doubt it. We may think it’s more reasonable, but unless we can find an empirical way to demonstrate that it will be an impossible principle to apply on a global level.

By: shane

shane — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 22:16:08 +0000

also, meant to mention: I quite like this blog, Toad.

By: shane

shane — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 22:15:28 +0000

This might be slightly unpopular, but I genuinely don’t have any problem with denying the Holocaust being a punishable offence, especially in countries that were affected by nazi racial policies. People always say that logic is the best way to defeat these people, but that’s just not how they think, and it’s especially important to take a united stance against people with apparent authority like David Irving (as one example).

And believe me, almost everything sounds more chilling in German.

By: The Daily Growl

The Daily Growl — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 11:49:33 +0000

I wonder how many of these brain-dead morons actually know what’s even in the Satanic Verses? If you believe your religion is that big and important, surely it can handle a weasly-faced writer’s take on it. Fucking whingers, the lot of them – if they’ve got pent-up angst to shed, go head-butt a wall.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 22:07:49 +0000

Perhaps expressions trampling on civil liberties sound less chilling in German

Song, by Toad irony champion of the year! And Ben, the Minister in question did retract a little later by saying that extremists would 'use it as a justification'. This may be true, but it rather neglects to mention the fact that there may be things that can explain suicide bombing, but absolutely sweet fuck all that can justify it.

By: Campfires & Battlefields

Campfires & Battlefields — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 21:52:47 +0000

I suspect that the “Justice” Minister’s comment may have actually subtracted slightly from the sum of human knowledge. I for one feel considerably dumber for having read her words. Perhaps expressions trampling on civil liberties sound less chilling in German, but I have several reasons for thinking this is not so.

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 21:51:34 +0000

If someone can get that irate about a writer getting a knighthood then they are clearly searching the news looking for something to be angry about. Long gone are the days when a government would respond to this by say: Well Jimmy, your obviously entitled to your opinion, and I’m entitled to dismiss you.” Well I for one dismiss the Pakistani Ministry for Religious Affairs. Ah, feel better now. I invite you all to join me. Don’t respect silly little bullys. Never did.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 21:46:02 +0000

Right, here it is, and frankly it makes me want to fuck dogs.

Germany was trying to introduce a law outlawing Holocaust denial, but the description of the law went so far as to descend into lunacy. German Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries came out with this piece of utter craziness:

“we believe that there are limits to freedom of expression, and the limits are there when it is offensive to other religions and ethnic groups.”

Quite apart from the dubious basis of Holocaust denial laws, that entire statement is complete craziness. By this standard a great deal of modern science would be illegal due to its being offensive to religious groups.

Just plain fucking nuts.