We all have the right to our point of view Gradual loss of our freedom of speech?
WITH reference to the letter from Robert Readman ( Letters, 6 January) I would suggest that he take the late Michael Winner’s advice and ‘calm down dear’. Mr Readman is evidently an individual incapable of reasoned argument with people with views contrasting with his own and wishes to stifle debate by criminalising the right to free speech. As for his analogy comparing individuals who disagree with his viewpoint to terrorists, well that is just absurd and it ill befits the WMN to publish such drivel.
Julian Faull Cornwall
THOSE of us who write letters or articles to the WMN or other papers have in general terms a great deal of latitude in what they say and the editorial offices are usually very tolerant about what they will print, sometimes resulting in some controversial views being expressed and even more interesting replies – all of which makes for a healthy debate.
However, with the mounting pressure from what is increasingly known as the ‘Politically Correct’, ‘Woke’ or ‘Snowflake’ brigade to clamp down on what we regard as our right to have ‘Freedom of Speech,’ it would seem that the right to make comment about a particular situation or person is rapidly being eroded under a virtual barrage of subjects which they feel must not be mentioned for fear it may upset someone, somewhere in the world.
A daily paper published an article criticizing Ofcom (Office of Communications) for including at the end of in its latest edition of what they consider ‘hate speech’ list the wording “or any other opinion” that they feel may cause harm – a very dangerous statement indeed as it could easily be construed by the above mentioned ‘PC’ brigade to include any comment or criticism on almost any person or subject they care to take issue with?
For instance, if a reply is made to a debate in the letters column that someone does not agree with and consider that it ‘harms’ them, could the newspaper end up in court for publishing it, or is this taking an extreme view of what appears to be a gradual loss of our freedom to express our opinions?
Paul Mercer Tavistock