- George W. Bush advises Ariel Sharon to eat less, work less and exercise more following the Israeli leader's mild stroke. Oh, he also said Sharon was a visionary and a man of peace.
- A fascinating study of American Jews reveals strong opposition to the Iraq war, a majority who have never visited Israel - though profess strong love for the Jewish state - and a massive number of Democrats.
- Evo Morales, the winner of Bolivia's presidential election, has called George W. Bush a "terrorist" and claims the Iraq invasion was an example of "state terrorism." Imperialism now has many foes in Latin America.
- Foreign nations have issued travel advisories against Australia in the wake of the recent Sydney race riots, while politicians continue to debate the level of racism in the country.
- Whatever happened to the black box recorders on the doomed planes that hit the World Trade Centre on 9/11?
- Andrew Bartlett discusses the limits of free speech in the blogosphere. I increasingly have the view that censoring any comments is counterproductive and against my belief in free speech, no matter how offensive a statement may be. Thoughts?
- The Guardian reports:
"Health officials in Brazil have launched an investigation after claims that at least 10 impoverished Brazilians from an Amazon village may have contracted malaria while being used as human 'guinea pigs' during a study by an American university."
- A fascinating study of American Jews reveals strong opposition to the Iraq war, a majority who have never visited Israel - though profess strong love for the Jewish state - and a massive number of Democrats.
- Evo Morales, the winner of Bolivia's presidential election, has called George W. Bush a "terrorist" and claims the Iraq invasion was an example of "state terrorism." Imperialism now has many foes in Latin America.
- Foreign nations have issued travel advisories against Australia in the wake of the recent Sydney race riots, while politicians continue to debate the level of racism in the country.
- Whatever happened to the black box recorders on the doomed planes that hit the World Trade Centre on 9/11?
- Andrew Bartlett discusses the limits of free speech in the blogosphere. I increasingly have the view that censoring any comments is counterproductive and against my belief in free speech, no matter how offensive a statement may be. Thoughts?
- The Guardian reports:
"Health officials in Brazil have launched an investigation after claims that at least 10 impoverished Brazilians from an Amazon village may have contracted malaria while being used as human 'guinea pigs' during a study by an American university."
5 Comments:
David, thanks for your thoughts and insights.
I've often come close to banning comments - and only have once - but increasingly feel it's futile. Some comments are offensive to many people, including myself, but should I ban it or the person? I'm generally feeling not, though I'm open to thoughts. Isn't free speech about reading all views, far right to far left? It can be rough going sometimes, that's for sure.
I try and stay calm, though, yes, at times, abuse does occur. I'm guilty as charged, though it's important to try and avoid it.
Here's to a more civilised 2006.
True Boredink, free speech is vitally important but comes with responsibility on the part of the blogger. Engaging in slanderous behaviour is best left to the Murdoch press.
So, should there be limits? Should comments calling for genocide - and we all know of whom I speak - be removed? Overly racist comments? Overly sexist, or homophobic?
I'm torn, sometimes tempted to remove (though don't) and sometimes tempted to leave, which I always do.
I know of a number of prominent Jews in the US who regularly defend the right of Nazis to free speech, despite their repugnant views. These lawyers are an inspiration in many ways.
Surely we should expose bigots in their own words? Or does this kind of thing scare off potential readers and commentors?
People, I'm open to all thoughts here.
Thanks for all the thoughts.
At this stage, I'm going to leave all comments, as I believe - with some hesitition frankly - that it's best for people to see the diversity of views, from the mild to the highly offensive.
Surely we're stronger for seeing all this, yes?
Not all jews are falling all over themselves to live in the great bastion of democracy austrailia, France, England, Norway, either.
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