Freedom of thought and speech is to be treasured as the pillar of British values and requires no Government budget. Without it there is no freedom at all. However, with this freedom comes a freedom to offend. If freedom of speech is to mean anything, it will mean people hearing things they do not want to hear and of course they can argue back. But people have to be strong enough to listen to the unpalatable.
A natural consequence is that censorship, banning a controversial speaker, suppressing offensive words should be but a last resort in extreme situations- perhaps when it incites active violence, such as random attacks, against others.
2019 has seen numerous public protests on the streets of the UK, particularly London. Peaceful protest is acceptable as a natural consequence of free speech and is tolerated within reasonable bounds. It is a sign of the UK’s enduring value of tolerance that the protests for example against the visit of Donald Trump, against and pro Brexit, and of Extinction rebellion have been attended by 10s of thousands and yet have remained relatively orderly with barely any violence. Regrettably, at such events the regular wreckers of extreme right and left, there not simply to support the cause in question, but rather to disrupt, do turn up: however, their sad rantings and abuse barely impact proceedings. In general, the police have performed well, and they and demonstrators have worked together. Police must be respected for their patience and these extra duties, often on top of the day to day. The continuing tolerance of Londoners over the years of the inevitable disruption to their normal lives which any significant demonstration entails is testimony to the nation’s underlying resilience.
In marked contrast are the 2019 protests in, for example, Spain, France, Iraq, Chile and Hong Kong.
Our Universities, with our University students have historically been bastions of free thought, speech and action. Students should be contrary and welcome all opinions in order to promote debate and challenge. But 2019 has seen various guest speakers banned from speaking because minority groups dislike their views-for example Rachel Ara was barred from speaking about feminism and arts at Oxford Brooks because the LGBTQ+ society considered her transphobic; Jacob Rees-Mogg and Germaine Greer were barred from University speeches they were due to make (perhaps the only thing they have in common!) largely due to minority groups taking offence at their views. Jordan Peterson was denied a fellowship due to his political incorrectness. What has so undermined the principles of freedom of thought and speech that the authorities at these Universities allow such censorship and bigotry in these centres of open thinking? And now, how perverse that Buckingham University and others are reduced to forming “free speech societies”, when free speech should be the norm not the exception.
People must learn to be offended, absorb it, and argue back. The future guardians of freedoms are the students and other young adults: to fulfil this role they must overcome their emotional delicacy and insecurity and become advocates of freedom, not of censorship and political correctness, afraid of upsetting sensitivities. An insult says so much more about the insulter than the insulted.
Freedom of thought and speech is to be cherished. Its current erosion jeopardises the UK’s morality.
Barack Obama said, “I accept that people are going to call me awful things every day, and I will always defend their right to do so”. Resilience is vital and requires no taxpayers’ money to embrace it.
