Have we lost our freedom of speech?

FAR from being the land of free speech, Britain is becoming ever more repressive towards those whose views differ from the official line. I’m neither racist nor ‘phobic’, but if I were to get on my soapbox and simply state what I believe, without trying to influence anybody, it wouldn’t be long before I was hauled off for questioning. You don’t even have to insult somebody directly these days — all it takes is for a third party, overhearing a private conversation, to take exception to something that was said, however innocuous, and complain to the police. Long gone, too, is the time when if you had a difference of opinion with somebody else you’d rationally put your case to them and thence would ensue a civilised debate where both sides would put forward their view. Today, unfortunately, if one’s views are decreed out of line they are simply dismissed with the alleged miscreant being branded an ‘-ist’ or ‘ -phobe’.

BRIAN LIVING, West Moors, Dorset. WhILe not diminishing the gravity of what occurred in Paris last week, it should be recognised that the attack on the offices of Charlie hebdo was not unprovoked. A responsible Press, while being free to be robustly critical, should not deliberately inflame passions by ridiculing what many people hold precious. It should be promoting mutual understanding and social cohesion. Just because something is legally permissible does make it morally right or wise. The satirists have paid the ultimate price for their indiscretion, but too often the price has been paid by innocent, defenceless Christians in third world villages, who are murdered by Islamist extremists because the latter, also out of ignorance, equate depraved Western values with Christianity when the two could not be more different.

JOHN WAINWRIGHT, retired RE teacher, Potters Bar, Herts. THERE will be a clamour from some parts to show ‘strength’ and solidarity by publishing offensive imagery and cartoons. I urge editors to not do so. We are already in a cycle of despair and hatred; we do not need to accelerate it. To heal, we need to understand. To heal, we must restrain our hate. To heal, we must be human. Dr MOBASHER CHOUDHARY,

Northampton.