Friday, April 20, 2007

Freedom of speech

How do you balance freedom and responsibility? One person's freedom of speech and another person's right not to be insulted or intimidated? Difficult questions. David Byrne wrestles with the issue here.

My thoughts in brief? In an ideal world, my freedom is expressed in a context in which I show love for other people - I "love my neighbour as myself". (And who is my neighbour?) If that is the context, it prevents me from using my freedom to harm other people.

But this isn't an ideal world....