Observations and inanities by a second-shift assistant supervisor in the Puppy-Grinding division of the Evil Atheist Conspiracy® (our motto: "Sure it's cruel, but think of the jobs!"), your host, Brent Rasmussen.
Summary Offenses Vs. Civil Rights
(Do NOT click the image if you are at work. NSFW. You have been warned.)
A 16-year old boy in Brisbane, Australia has been arrested and charged with "offensive behavior" under the "Summary Offenses Act 2005" for "public nuisance" for wearing a t-shirt that says "Jesus Is A Cunt" with an image of a nun masturbating on the front.
Hmnn.
The arrest has sparked a pretty healthy debate about the need for a Bill Of Rights in Australia. Baptist Reverend Matt Hunt, had this to say about the arrest:
[Rev. Hunt] "When someone comes to the point of saying Jesus is the devil or Jesus is 'expletive', the Bible does say be very careful because you're on thin ice."
Apparently the laws in Australia agree with the good reverend. Others, like civil rights lawyer Bill Potts aren't so sure:
[Lawyer Bill Potts] "One of the great problems with our country is that we talk about rights such as privacy and freedom of speech and the like but they are not enshrined or protected in any way as they are in America," he said.
"While there are always limits on freedom of speech, you can't incite violence or anything like that, it seems to be now more than ever that our rights to freedom of speech and freedom of expression should be protected.
"A Bill of Rights which enshrines that protection is long overdue in this country."
What do you think? I would personally be very uncomfortable wearing this shirt. However, I would fight for the freedom of expression rights of anyone who chose to wear it.
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Cradle of Filth put me to sleep
Seriously, that shirt is starting to piss me off. I wouldn't be comfortable wearing it either but it's more to do with my general displeasure with CoF.
I used to enjoy them and I chuckled at said shirt back in the 90's. They finally lost me in 2003. Saw them in Portland with Type O Negative and Moonspell. Took them TWO hours to set up. The sound was bad, show boring and I fell asleep in the middle of it.
CoF are played out, time to move on.
I wouldnt fight for him
I think there are more deserving cases of freedom of expression that need to be defended. This boy needs to learn some manners i.e. be aware of not making the people around him feel uncomfortable.
He's got every right to shit in his pants as well, but he'll soon learn that people think he's an ass to be avoided.
Actually, i'd probably pat him on the head and say "it's all part of growing up".
Speech should be given more protection in Australia...
but I am completely unsure how to do that. A Bill of Rights hasn't worked out all that well in the US, as legal avenues tend to protect those with deep pockets and not those with good causes. The libel laws in Australia are nigh on draconian, protecting the wealthy and powerful at the expense of the poor and weak.
It's a Cradle of Filth shirt
As a card carrying member of the metal elitist union, I wouldn't be caught dead in it. Cradle of Filth sucks.
Pfsh, teenagers. I can't
Pfsh, teenagers. I can't believe I was one once.
That should be protected speech. However, you either have to be able to defend yourself or have enormous trust in the police force to protect you if you choose to wear that shirt. Im sure he knows he's going to piss a lot of people off.
Well, I don't know about
the status of Jesus' private parts. One thing I can say for sure though, with plenty of evidence:
Rev. Hunt is a cunt.
A big fat soppy one.
So when someone says something bad about Jesus, they are "on thin ice?" Thin ice with whom? Rev. Hunt's imaginary friend, or the ignorant, pathetic fellow followers who think oppressive laws are a great idea? Maybe telling other people that they will receive eternal punishment should be considered offensive speech as well. It certainly seems much worse than calling a fictional character a cunt, doesn't it? But hey, who am I to expect logic or fair treatment from lunatics?
Australia
I wonder if Australia gives equal grief to the people who stand out on street corners with pictures of aborted fetuses?
isn't that what free speech laws protect?
After all, there is no need to protect inoffensive speech.
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