Blackadder speaks out

The UK Government has a bill to ban hate speech, as some also push for in New Zealand.

The very talented Rowan Atkinson has launched a campaign against the bill, specifically the outlawing of inciting religious hatred.

Atkinson says “The freedom to criticise ideas, any ideas – even if they are sincerely held beliefs – is one of the fundamental freedoms of society. A law which attempts to say you can criticise and ridicule ideas as long as they are not religious ideas is a very peculiar law indeed.”

On this issue I agree with No Right Turn who has said the best defence to hate speech, is more speech, not less speech.