Gays silent on hate speech

THE article “Gay Pigs’ Cleric Probed” (April 13) refers.

This headline was relegated to the Extra supplement.

There seems to be little response from the gay community regarding this hate speech and none of it appears to be aggressive.

However, I speculate that had the insult been reversed, mayhem, excesses of violence and vandalism would have ensued and resulted in injuries, the destruction of property and murders.

It seems we are not allowed to criticise some cultures. This reminds me of a quote from Voltaire: “To learn who rules over you [or intends to], simply find out who you are not allowed to criticise.”

The added words in parenthesis are mine.

Although I deplore intolerance and the persecution of beliefs, lifestyles and politics, I cannot help but think that world affairs are a little onesided and that attitudes are far removed from the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. — David Lawson, St Lucia