David Irving

Posted in Old blogger by Twenty Major on February 21st, 2006

Isn’t it funny that at a time when all of Europe, if not the world, is looking at the Muslims rioting over a cartoon and declaring that free speech is a fundamental right a man is sent to jail for three years for remarks he made 16 years ago about the holacaust not taking place?

I’m not suggesting that Irving’s comments were in any way correct, he himself has admitted that he was wrong, and they’re quite patently ludicrous, but it does seem rather harsh to send a man to prison for something he said many years ago.

Is he not entitled to an opinion no matter how unpalatable it might be? At the same time these radical Muslim preachers in the UK can call for ‘jihad’ and incite murder and suicide bombings and the only thing they get is a fatter benefit cheque.

It’s all well and good Europe looking down their noses and tut-tutting at the madmen, and I do think they are mad, setting things on fire and putting bounties on cartoonists’ heads over a couple of lousy sketches but at the same time sending a man to prison for 16 year old opinions is just as mad if you ask me. It’s oppressive. If you don’t like what someone has to say ban him from your airwaves, your newspapers and magazines. Bar him from the country. Don’t allow his works to be sold there but don’t put him in prison because you don’t like what he says.

I guarantee you that you could go to Austria and say whatever you want about whoever you want but not end up in jail. You might get sued. You might have to pay damages for libel or slander. You might raise people’s ire. You might cause a demonstration or even a riot but I don’t think you’d get sent down for three years.

I’m just glad Phil Collins and Damien Rice haven’t run for office. I’d be properly fucked.

————————————-

Thank you to everyone who voted for Twenty Major in the Irish Blog Awards. I have five short list placings in four categories and your votes are much appreciated as well as very expensive. At the end of the day it’s a great advertisement for the Irish blogging scene and it doesn’t matter who wins as long as I win.

But really, as has been pointed out in that thread there are some high profile omissions which only really serves to show there’s great quality amongst the all the nominated blogs. Well done to everyone.

Also, well done to Damien who has spent so much time in organising and getting it all together. He deserves a pint or two and if he finds Ron’s I’ll be more than happy to shout for him.