Not really.
The BCCSA has ruled that Cliff's statements were neither blasphemous nor offensive enough to justify censure if you actually paid attention to what he said.
Even if his statements were blasphemous or offensive, does he not still have the right to say them? Doesn't the same law that protects the Christians' and Muslims' right to attend their religious services and preach their religious doctrine in public also protect Cliff's right to spout Atheistic rhetoric on the radio?
Why is blasphemy a measure? There definitely seems to be a double standard. The measures should be appropriateness and fairness, particularly where the person is in the public eye(ear). And based on that I think he was a tad out of line. But Christians also need to learn to take what they love to dish out: Opinions.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, although I would take it a step further and suggest that even making offensive statements is acceptable, if undesirable.
ReplyDeleteI think it boils down to the listener's choice: if you don't like it, change the channel. That, in my opinion, is the best way to deal with speech you don't enjoy.
There is a line that can be crossed, as soon as statements become inciteful of violence or in some way create actual harm. Short of that line, if we wish to have a society in which freedom of speech is a cherished virtue (and I assume we do) we should pretty much be able to say whatever we want.
There is another factor at stake, and that is when commercial interests are involved. In this situation, and in the case of Deon Maas, the business of the employer was potentially under threat as a result of the statements being made. In that case, the freedom of the individual to say what they want was infringing on the freedom of the business to try and make a profit (and therefore endangering the livelihoods of the other employees). When one person's rights encroach on another's is when problems arise.
But that doesn't detract from the fact that the religious practice a double standard of their own. Especially at this time of year when it's impossible to step out of your front door without seeing "Merry Christmas" plastered all over the place.
Religious messages are tolerated by one and all. If that is allowed, then so too should non-religious or even anti-religious messages.