I think everyone has a right to say what they please, but they have to be able to qualify what they say and/or face the consequences of defaming individuals/speaking in an inflammatory manner. A society that has a modicum of tolerance and civilisation will always hold people like Pastor Nalliah culpable. It seems every time this guy talks, he hurts the reputation of himself and his church as much as he does any individual or group he attacks.
For example, a Neo Nazi group I honestly believe has a right to their opinion and to share that opinion by way of media even if I find racism utterly reprehensible as I do incomprehensible on a personal level. I do believe that as flawed as human nature or a society where there is a perceived standard of person as being Westernised, Middle-Class and more or less "Straight" (that is to say, not in terms of sexual preference as such but participates actively and harmlessly within our economic, legal and social structures without deviating obviously in beliefs or actions or even appearance from the average mass - an ephemeral blanket but hey, work with me here) that a good many of us are or have access enough to be sufficiently informed and experienced as to make a value judgement on these opinions. That is to say, those who seek to grossly or aggressively marginalise others any more than the systems in place unfortunately do, are in fact marginalising themselves and will continue to be marginalised. Just as an individual has a right to say "All gay people are sinning against God by virtue of their physical relationships," you or I have the right to take issue and say "Well, no - that's wrong, you're a lunatic and I hope you get hit by a no. 22 bus."
On a microcosmic, subcultural level, I've encountered Skinheads etc who are patriotic and "Ocker" to a fault from my armchair-intellectual, brandy-sipping pansy stance; but I've deeply admired their vocal opposition to racial prejudice and proud acknowledgement of the influences of West Indian and even African culture on theirs, and disdain for the stereotype that all young white men and women who wear Docs and Fred Perry shirts hate blacks, whether apolitical or otherwise in any other regard. Unrelated, but nice enough to see.
For example, a Neo Nazi group I honestly believe has a right to their opinion and to share that opinion by way of media even if I find racism utterly reprehensible as I do incomprehensible on a personal level. I do believe that as flawed as human nature or a society where there is a perceived standard of person as being Westernised, Middle-Class and more or less "Straight" (that is to say, not in terms of sexual preference as such but participates actively and harmlessly within our economic, legal and social structures without deviating obviously in beliefs or actions or even appearance from the average mass - an ephemeral blanket but hey, work with me here) that a good many of us are or have access enough to be sufficiently informed and experienced as to make a value judgement on these opinions. That is to say, those who seek to grossly or aggressively marginalise others any more than the systems in place unfortunately do, are in fact marginalising themselves and will continue to be marginalised. Just as an individual has a right to say "All gay people are sinning against God by virtue of their physical relationships," you or I have the right to take issue and say "Well, no - that's wrong, you're a lunatic and I hope you get hit by a no. 22 bus."
On a microcosmic, subcultural level, I've encountered Skinheads etc who are patriotic and "Ocker" to a fault from my armchair-intellectual, brandy-sipping pansy stance; but I've deeply admired their vocal opposition to racial prejudice and proud acknowledgement of the influences of West Indian and even African culture on theirs, and disdain for the stereotype that all young white men and women who wear Docs and Fred Perry shirts hate blacks, whether apolitical or otherwise in any other regard. Unrelated, but nice enough to see.
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