OMG the MUSLIMS want to ban freedom of speech again!!

[HoreTore]

At least according to the right-wingers here... A short summary of what's happening in my insignificant country:

We're doing a revision of our laws. One of the laws getting the shaft, is our old blasphemy law. It haven't been used for years, the last conviction was in 1912, when a journalist was fined 10 NOK(about 2 dollars) for an editorial called "The great scam", which was criticizing christmas. The last time it was used, was in the trial against Arnulf Øverland in the early 30's, after he wrote an essay where he stated that, if man was made in god's image, then logically god would have genitals. He wasn't convicted, because the court rules freedom of speech. The last we heard of the law, was when Life of Brian was released, which was banned by the movie authorities, with reference to the blasphemy law(which was lifted after a year or so).

Now, it's getting removed. However, our government has proposed a new one to replace it, where it states that "qualified attacks on religion" is illegal. Of course, every right-winger worth his salt immediately blamed the muslims and their socialist protectors(our government is centre-left). This all had to be a part of their plan for world domination and subjugation of every good, christian white guy, right?

Wrong. You see, while our government coalition is mostly socialist and social democrat, the third party is the farmers party, the centre party. And that party is christian, with a majority of christian voters. And that party just happens to be the one pushing this law. The reason? They've lost every other major christian battle so far, allowing gay marriage, gay adoption and a couple of other stuff too I can't remember atm. So they're given this so that they can show their voters that they've won at least some battles on christian values.

This, of course, is all very entertaining to me. It's an awful law, but hey, I'm getting some high quality fun out of watching idiot racists screw up

And I'm not too concerned even if it becomes law, first of all because it's highly unlikely it would ever be used, and secondly, if used, anyone accused would just take their case to the european high court and ban the law. So all in all, this is win-win for me

[Strike For The South]

Ok!

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

However, you said it had been proposed by the centre-left government in the first place, even if it is being pushed by a centrist party.

[Husar]

Sorry to piss on everyones your bonfire , what with this being a terrible story and all that .
But what in the news story matches the title of this topic?

I altered it a bit so it fits.
But generally I'm happy that you're happy.


Wrong Thread, Tribes bashed that off in another spot. SF

That was intentional, thought it fits better here, if that isn't a problem.

[Ice]

This, of course, is all very entertaining to me. It's an awful law, but hey, I'm getting some high quality fun out of watching idiot racists screw up

They are idiots, sure. How are they racists? :

[Incongruous]

Didn't you know, Norway is like the most racist country in the world, thank god it is such a crappy country then, aye Horetore?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Didn't you know, Norway is like the most racist country in the world, thank god it is such a crappy country then, aye Horetore?

Humor? Something like Horetore's always zapping Sigurd about Bergen?

[Crazed Rabbit]

Now, it's getting removed. However, our government has proposed a new one to replace it, where it states that "qualified attacks on religion" is illegal.

Maybe the phrase doesn't translate so well, but why would you want that to be illegal?

CR

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

These laws are always a bad idea. I fail to see how being anti-Muslim is racist though, as Islam is a philosophy, not an ethnicity.

[Incongruous]

Humor? Something like Horetore's always zapping Sigurd about Bergen?

Nah, nah, just a laugh at HoreTore's own sense of self depricating humour, i.e his anto Norway jokes

If only NZ was like Norway, I would be happier methinks...

[Reverend Joe]

the third party is the farmers party

...Norway has farmers? What the hell do can they farm?!

[Meneldil]

Awful law, but I'm having a hard time getting your point. I don't like Islam, I don't like Christianity, not sure that makes me a racist.

Btw, I read an article explaining that such a law was introduced in some UN-related institution, because Pakistan and a few other horrible theocracies asked for it. What a shame.

[Sigurd]

@HoreTore:
Looking at the time you posted this, I must say, your story was not up to date. The Center party did a 180 degree turn and apologized Obama style.

[HoreTore]

@HoreTore:
Looking at the time you posted this, I must say, your story was not up to date. The Center party did a 180 degree turn and apologized Obama style.

Yes. That would be the drawback to working night shifts, I completely missed the turnaround, read it this night.

They are idiots, sure. How are they racists? :

The whining comes from "the usual suspects". Most people link this to things like banning Life of Brian when they argue against it, however, certain people point to "the islamification of Norway" and all that usual crap. And their slogan is "Norway Free - Norway White"....

Humor? Something like Horetore's always zapping Sigurd about Bergen?

Racism is prejudice and attacks against other humans. Sigurd is from Bergen.

Maybe the phrase doesn't translate so well, but why would you want that to be illegal?

It doesn't make any more sense in Norwegian. It's lawyer-jargon. It means something like "an attack which is nothing other than an attack". But no, we don't want it illegal, certain people do though(or did, at least).

...Norway has farmers? What the hell do can they farm?!

Government subsidies

Awful law, but I'm having a hard time getting your point. I don't like Islam, I don't like Christianity, not sure that makes me a racist.

No, no, that doesn't make you racist. But those who already have more than a few brown spots on their shirts are jumping to the unfounded conclusion that this must be a part of the muslims plan to subjugate us. Which I find very funny when the proposed law is designed to fish votes from christians....

Btw, I read an article explaining that such a law was introduced in some UN-related institution, because Pakistan and a few other horrible theocracies asked for it. What a shame.

That would be the main drawback of having such a law. We have our old blasphemy law, but it's never used. The problem with having one is that it takes away our credibility when we're dealing with theocracies like Iran or Saudi-Arabia when we try to push freedom of speech.

(I think the conference you're referring to is called "Durban II", which, among very many other things, will deal with a proposol from Libya, Iran and probably some others to add religious protection to the human rights charter, to legalize their free speech breaches)

[Furunculus]

I love the fact that the Guardians Polly Toynbee, the doyenne of British socialism who has spent the last 20 years branding anyone as right-wing racists if they complain about the UK's absurd (lack of) immigration policy, is now championing British jobs for British people!

[Fragony]

"qualified attacks on religion" rather broad. Bad development.

[HoreTore]

"qualified attacks on religion" rather broad. Bad development.

We should've kept the one where it said "the State's official religion" instead?

[Fragony]

We should've kept the one where it said "the State's official religion" instead?

Should be scratched altogether. I can see why it needed a change, but if it was never used why would it need a change. Every country has silly laws wasn't there a case in England where a navy guy demanded his ration of rum, and he got arrested because he didn't wear his sword in court. It's the judge's duty to juggle with laws. This is a clear case of dhimmitude.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

HoreTore, according to your own opening statement the left-wing government of Norway proposed this in the first place, and yet you are trying to blame it on the right.

[Fragony]

If the right dislikes it it must be good, even if it means a severe decline in political freedom and freedom of speech in general. And of course this is the left riding against legs of the muslim community's, it hasn't been used since whatever. Did the muslims ask for it in the first place? Maybe a few beards, and of course the left offers their craving rectum. D&D, dhimmitude & desire.

[HoreTore]

HoreTore, according to your own opening statement the left-wing government of Norway proposed this in the first place, and yet you are trying to blame it on the right.

The left-wingers in the government opposed it, this is a result of horse-trade. I'm not trying to blame anyone other than the centerparty, I just find it funny that the right-wingers are blinded by their muslim-hate. I like the centerparty when they're talking about economic issues, there we have a lot of common ground. I also like it when they shut up on social issues.

If the right dislikes it it must be good, even if it means a severe decline in political freedom and freedom of speech in general. And of course this is the left riding against legs of the muslim community's, it hasn't been used since whatever. Did the muslims ask for it in the first place? Maybe a few beards, and of course the left offers their craving rectum. D&D, dhimmitude & desire.

....And here we have a good case of a right-winger falling for the trap. Muslims? This isn't about them, this is about protecting christianity. If it was proposed by Socialist Left, or even Labour, you'd have a point.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

The left-wingers in the government opposed it

Your implication was that they proposed it, but the Centre Party pushed it.

[HoreTore]

Your implication was that they proposed it, but the Centre Party pushed it.

It's, as I said, a result of horse-trade. Because the centre party have lost every other christian battle in the government so far(gay marriage, gay adoption, bio-law and the new state/church law), they were able to force the others to accept this proposal. It does not, in any way, mean that the other parties agree with it.

Quite a normal thing in Norwegian politics when there's a coalition government, btw...

[Fragony]

....And here we have a good case of a right-winger falling for the trap. Muslims? This isn't about them, this is about protecting christianity. If it was proposed by Socialist Left, or even Labour, you'd have a point.

I believe you there, most of all because the church party's tried the exact same thing here. Consider last post trolling.

[Jolt]

...Norway has farmers? What the hell do can they farm?!

...Ice creams? :P

[Devastatin Dave]

These laws are always a bad idea. I fail to see how being anti-Muslim is racist though, as Islam is a philosophy, not an ethnicity.

Thank you...
and my response to Horetore..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0cgQkT4ScQ

[Kralizec]

We still have an article on blasphemy too. It's never used anymore, but the christian parties here don't want to see it removed.

Wich reminds me: within a week after Theo van Gogh (wiki) was murdered, our contemporary minister of justice (from the christian democratic party) even had the gall to say that blasphemy ought to be prosecuted again

[Brenus]

Funny. In France the last blasphemy case was done again about the drawing affair... The Judge said we (French) have the right to be blasphemous...

[Vladimir]

Funny. In France the last blasphemy case was done again about the drawing affair... The Judge said we (French) have the right to be blasphemous...

I do enjoy that "in your face" attitude. Albeit in a more refined sense, of course.