In the West we are quick to comment on how much freedom we have, as opposed to other countries or cultures around the globe, but how true is this? Let's take a closer look. Freedom to Demonstrate? Well, within reason. Depending on your point of view. The British National Party cannot hold a demonstration against immigration, or the influx of immigrants, because that would violate the new inciting racial hated law(s), as would any body or group demonstrating against homosexuality or a particular religious persuasion ( particularly Islam, or so it seems to me). Also, due to the current war on/with Iraq demonstrations which are not police approved ( i.e. spontaneous) are not permitted within a square mile(I think it's a square mile) of parliament or Downing Street.
Freedom to vote, well, yes, but even this is under threat. There's has been talk in the UK press, that like other countries, the right to vote will be made mandatory for all those of voting age. This is due to the fact that voting figures are declining year upon year, particularly among the young.
Freedom to bring up your children? Again within reason. The Government is under pressure from certain pressure groups, to make it an offense to smack your children, as a form of punishment.
Freedom of movement? Guess what, within reason. The United Kingdom has more closed circuit television (CCTV) than any in the west ( if not the world)( the argument being that these cameras help in the fight on crime, which is not borne out by the facts, as people committing crime raises year on year)
Lastly freedom to own your own home? Well, I'm not sure we do. Our mortgages are normally the biggest out lay from our wages, on average lasting 25 years( which will see an increase as first time buyers struggle to get on the property ladder, Once this is paid off, it would normally be about time to retire (until the government raises the retirement age too 70) where by, God willing you'll have a few years to enjoy 'ownership' of your home, before you die.
In my opinion we are more slave than free, whilst other countries do not pretend that this state of freedom exists.
3 comments:
You make some very interesting points, GQ. I started to question the whole issue of our so-called freedom some years ago, interestingly enough, after listening to Jill Scott's brilliant song "Watching Me". I agree with you that we are not as free as many would have us think and this could be one of the many reasons why western attempts to spread this freedom (alongside democracy, another institution that is not all it seems) often end in disaster.
That said, I do have to take issue with a few of your points: First of all, the BNP would be a banned organisation if freedom to demonstrate or speak out against immigration was being curtailed in this country. Indeed, that position is the basis of the party's very existence. What other policy do they have? What they are NOT allowed, is to say or do anything that could potentially incite others into acts of hatred against immigrants (or people percived to be immigrants) and that's how it should be as far as I'm concerned. It's a thin line but they have to tread it. People can say and think what they like but there has to be a line somewhere. It's one thing to say that immigration is out of control and it's another completely, to suggest that immigrants are "taking all our council houses, all our jobs, are raping all our daughters and need to be exterminated like the cockroaches they are" (An actual BNP line). It's what they do or what others might do as a result of what they say that makes all the difference as far as the law is concerned.
It's a similar situation with homosexuality. It's been legal in this country for 40 years now and while I accept that many people would wish it were otherwise, they need to learn to snap out of it. But this is not to say that they should like it or agree with it in any way. Churches and Mosques condemn homosexuality on an almost weekly basis across the country but no one is threatening to close them down. It's only when a preacher might say something that could be construed as encouraging people to go out and attack gay people in some way that he or she may have questions to answer. I'm a gay man and I couldn't give a hoot what anyone thinks or says about my sexuality. I just don't have that much time to squander. It's what they might do (or what others might do as a result of what they say) that I feel I need to keep an eye on.
But I do agree with you on another point. I remain mystified as to why any criticsm of Islam can generate such virulent hostilty, while similar criticms of Christianity or any other religion do not. That said, people who have come out carrying placards and screaming stuff like "Death to the enemies of Islam" have found that they themselves may have overstepped the mark. It's that thin line again!
Good piece though. Keep writing!
Thanks 'Friend :) for taking the time to read my blog, and posting your views. You make a good point ref the BNP, and I have often argued that apart from immigration, they have no other policies to note. Thanks again
I wish voting was mandatory here! We might've had a chance against the nitwit (i.e. Bush) if it was.
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