Free Speech & Brian Tamaki
What the media has attempted to do with Brian Tamaki’s sermon on natural disasters should concern people who support this site. Under the ‘Free Speech’ principle Tamaki has a right to give his opinion as much as anyone else. The fact that he bases his theory without empirical evidence is not the point. The fact that his audience think he is correct is also irrelevant. Free speech is the linchpin of our democracy and should be protected unless it can be specifically related to hate speech thereby inciting discrimination or violence, which his sermon did not do. The ignorance of the Press never ceases to amaze me. Tamaki was not speaking for Christians as he was reading from the ‘Old Testament’ which is the Jewish book. St Paul was emphatic that the Torah was not a part of Christianity. If the Press don’t like what Brian says and want to stop him reading from the Torah then perhaps they are anti-Semitic? Tsk! Tsk!
Feminists constantly make derogatory and defamatory statements against males and yet there is deafening silence. Why is that? Across the Universities in the USA (and coming here soon) there is a strong effort to shut down free speech due to female students becoming ‘triggered’ into ‘feeling unsafe’ by hearing something that their belief system finds repellant, particularly when that statement is based on fact with strong empirical evidence.
We need to stand up for free speech even when we disagree with its content but we also need to demand an equal platform to challenge any speech made that we believe has a false premise….Please do something positive and write to the Editor or Producer of any media outlet that gives speech a one sided platform. They will listen…..eventually.
Stopping free speech holts progress. How can we make the world better without talking to each other. If free speech dies we have nothing. Our thouguts and words are powerful. This is something that I will die for. Free speech means everything. If someone threatens you or incites violence that is different. anyone with half a brain can figure out that violence and threats of violence is bad. But free speech is wonderful. How could we invent the car without talking about it???
Comment by Yeah nah — Wed 23rd November 2016 @ 11:08 am
Oral sex – talking about it – better than the real thing? Or just all that we can actually do?
Ignorance can only be detected when people open their mouth. Better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and prove it.
As well as free speech, there is a need for responsibility. Ignorant people cannot honour their duties to be responsible. Such people usually don’t rise high in organisations, perhaps unless the other people are equally dumb too?
In this case, LGBTIQ children are likely to be affected by comments of ignorance and prejudice. Easy for a fool to make and not so easy to sort out afterwards. Especially after a suicide. Children of LGBT hating churches show higher suicide rates than other LGBT children. Maybe parents in those churches aren’t worried? They can usually fairly easily have more children.
Accusations of ignorance are just as easily aimed at familycaught$ judges.
In both cases, there is a total lack of working accountability systems. Like several other areas of Government operation. Just like Peter Whittle evading prosecution for the 29 Pike River Coalmine manslaughters. Also Cave Creek disaster, the list goes on and on…..
Our country is slowly getting better, just some areas much slower than the rest!
Comment by MurrayBacon — Wed 23rd November 2016 @ 11:30 am
So true, he should be able to say what he wants.
Free Speach
Millions died for it in two world wars, he should be able to say what he likes.
Comment by Simon grant — Wed 23rd November 2016 @ 8:56 pm
Yeah sure he can say what he wants as long as I can say he’s an idiot that needs to be arrested for his con-artist actions. Benefits through deception. He’s completly delusional in my opinion. In a perfect world he would be able to say what he wants in private with his people and his comments wouldn’t get media play time.
Comment by too tired — Tue 29th November 2016 @ 1:25 am
Too Tired?
Well said, the guy is a full blown twat, but wait there is more!
He is the perfect Family Court Counsel For Children.
Immoral
Liar
Arrogant
Self Important
Lofty
Perverter of Justice (ok perhaps he is not as bad as PH of Porirua who lives in Plimerton)
Comment by Simon grant — Sat 3rd December 2016 @ 6:44 am