Always Get Your Rights in Writing
I love many things about living in London, but occasionally I miss little things such as good American IPAs, sunny weather and Mexican food. Sometimes I miss the bigger things like the bill of rights. Free speech ‘traditions’ be damned. I prefer my rights, such as the First Amendment, to be in writing to prevent just this sort of thing; A teenager is facing prosecution for calling Scientology a ‘cult’.
The act this 15-year-old is accused of violating is the ominously Orwellian named ’Public Order Act’ which prohibits using words that are ‘abusive and insulting’. Calling Scientology a cult is ‘abusive and insulting’? I think it’s more of a case of calling a spade a spade.
Since my last post poked some fun at the cult organisation seeking to separate its followers from their money and family, I will refrain from saying more lest I end up in court. You can, however, visit this handy site named after the alien overlord at the center of Scientology for more information.
update: Apparently I am free to refer to Scientology as a cult again. So, Scientology is a cult, scam and a con. But the London police might be in on it… Aliens everywhere!
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May 21st, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Calling a spade a spade. You got that right! Anyway, since you are there, watch out your mouth! They can really be nutty sometimes. Flinch at the smallest of insults.
May 21st, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Has wikipedia named Scientology a cult?
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:15 am
Oh well =/ People are considering Scientology a religion so if you call it a cult then it’s just plain rude. How do you like if people call Christian a cult too =( Some people are just plain bloody ignorant.
(I’m an atheist so leave me out of this. LOL)
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:55 pm
I for one will welcome our alien overlords. We used to be neighbours, when we were all kids.
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:53 am
The only thing you could call Scientology besides from cult would be ‘a scam’.
May 24th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
This is just ridiculous. We wont be able to express ourselves in any way if laws keep pushing us down more and more. There will be nothing left of human communication.
May 27th, 2008 at 6:28 am
I missed the sunny weather and Mexican food too.
May 27th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Wow what a joke. People always talk about the U.S freedoms getting trampled on, but its well known that you have a lot less rights in the european countries.
May 28th, 2008 at 2:45 am
Wow. This is such crap. The fact is, Scientology IS a cult. It’s absurd that they would push charges on a 15 year old.
May 28th, 2008 at 2:49 am
That is just crazy! I am glad I don’t live in a country that doesn’t give me the freedom to say what I want.
May 28th, 2008 at 4:08 am
someone needs to scream “this is madness” now.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:57 am
According to me the author is correct that we should get our rights in written. This writing sometimes also fails when the police itself are corrupt.
May 29th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Scientology is not a cult and not even a religion, but a very good business if you are a boss. :((
May 29th, 2008 at 4:50 am
What is this world coming to if you can’t even express your own opinion freely for fear of persecution? But what really gets my goat is that if the London police has been “bought” by the Church of Scientology, then what’s to stop them from doing the same thing to the police forces in the other cities where Scientology has a presence in?
May 29th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
That is really ridiculous! I know exactly how you feel because I’ve been in your situation before.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Thank God for the USA! Even here people need to learn to be more responsible for their own feelings…
May 30th, 2008 at 7:02 am
I read the bio of Mr Ron Hubbard and it was fascinating. The author portrayed him as as a brilliant liar and a sci-fi writer - and Ron himself did little to dissuade this bit of info. He had no training in psychology nor religion, but managed to “sell” all kinds of people his new “religion” -quite easily and quickly. And it’s still being sold. What did PT Barnum say again?
May 30th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Well, there you go. Spreading utter rubbish about freedom of speech in the UK. No wonder you get comments suggesting Europeans are less able to express themselves than Americans. If you haven’t figured this out yet, let me clarify: there is more freedom of expression in the UK than the US could only hope for. Please look at your controlling government, your media, and your naive belief in your invincibility. Your country, governmental system, law and constitution came from the UK. Yes you’re gonna moan about what I’ve just said, but honestly, I’ve heard it all before. Look at your isolationist views, reflect on them, and hopefully, our world will change for the better. Don’t forget, we had an Empire, seen it, done it, and personally, I am very glad we got rid of it so that you can take on the world policeman role. You’re welcome to it. We’ve done our bit over the centuries to ensure the continuation of English culture. Your turn now. Nobody is expecting anything life changing from you. For sure.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
No videos of British police kicking the crap out of black people is there? Sound familiar citizens of the land of the free?
May 30th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Hooray! My first really negative comment here! It sure took a while. Perhaps I wasn’t rubbishing the UK enough because it certainly couldn’t be a freedom of speech issue. Although I must point out that it was The Guardian newspaper spreading ‘utter rubbish’ not I.
I would actually like you to clarify a bit more, if you don’t mind. What examples of ‘more freedom of expression in the UK than the US could hope for’ do you have?
Look, I’m not going to get into a pissing match, and I truly love that this comment has been posted, but I’ve lived in both countries. The UK has a lot going for it, but freedom of speech in the UK and Europe in general is a troubling issue. There are Holocaust deniers jailed in Austria and Brigitte Bardot being taken to court for saying something negative about Muslims in France.
In the UK, you have a kid who has had his free speech suppressed by the police because it might make Scientologists unhappy.
I’m sorry, but the First Amendment would be the first thing I would add to the EU constitution.
By the way, I resent that you think nobody is expecting anything life changing from me. I’ll respect your freedom to say that and I’ll just form a religion to prove you wrong.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Holy crap! Two negative comments! I’m on a roll.
Is that really the best you could come up with? Perhaps we should compare Brazilian electricians shot in the head on the subway by policemen, but then that wouldn’t really prove anything would it? Certainly not anything about Free Speech.
Please keep visiting, and I mean that in all sincerity. I do like having other opinions, and as long as they’re not spam, I will keep them posted.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
[…] Contact « Always Get Your Rights in Writing […]
May 30th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
I’m pleased that I gave you your first ‘negative’ comments. 1 brazilian electrician I recall. No burning of Beatles records. No brutal condemnation of Darwinism. No hanging and burning of black people in our own backyard. No repeated mass murder of students by students, No zabriskie point, No repeated assassination of elected officials (bar one). No denial of sex with interns, no watergate, No bible thumping evangelical zealots on tv controlling the electorate etc. etc ad infinitum. On this side of the pond: One ancient speakers corner where you can say what you like without fear of arrest.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
By the way, it might surprise you to know that I hold Americans as individuals in the highest regard. What bugs me is feeding stereotypes. I wish you a wonderful weekend.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Dear John Bull,
We didn’t quite get our government from you; we are a republic, not a parliamentary democracy. We have a written Constitution. I’m wondering how we can be both isolationist and empire builders at the same time. Truth is “we” are neither even though both sentiments, especially isolationism, exist in the US. What is a “brutal” condemnation of Darwinism? Bible thumpin’ televangelists? Well, I guess we can match them with your hate spealin’, bomb planting imans. Of course, neither represents the country. Most Americans are anglophiles, and it sure seems like there’s a lot about American culture (lowbrow or not) that appeals to Brits and a whole lot of other folk. Those who don’t like us are free to mouth off in this country as much as they like…at least so long as they make sure it’s only the WASP inheritance they malign. And that’s why a written Bill of Rights is an important protection: for when we wobble. One corner for free speech just isn’t enough, dude. When I visited (admittedly early in the morning), the place was deserted.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Terro. Magna carta my son. The foundation of of your ‘written’ constitution. The imams can speak because of our tradition of free speech. Sorry that doesn’t fit with your view of things. Pretty much confirms which country has the courage to promote the right to speak freely.
Yes we do have shared values. Nothing to do with how fantastic the americans are, more to do with how a parent looks lovingly on a child.
Cultural imperialism is more insidious than you might imagine.
One corner is better than no corner dude.
Once again, I have enjoyed the company of every American I have met.
May 31st, 2008 at 12:43 am
Oh, I forgot. Just because you are a republic does not negate the fact that the individual states of the USA are a parliamentary democracies, based on the mother of parliamentary democracy, England (no, not scotland or elsewhere). Your whole political system is parliamentary (look it up). You are clearly confusing constitutional (strange word for English people don’t you think?) monarchy, with parliamentary democracy. No problem, easily done.
May 31st, 2008 at 4:54 am
I don’t know of a single parliamentary democracy in the US even if you want to take a look at state governments unless you are defining “parliamentary” loosely to mean representative. There is a separation of legislative, executive, and judicial powers in the federal and, I believe, all the state governments. I do admire the tradition of the British Parliament that allows members to question the Prime Minister regularly, and I am repulsed at the inability of our politicians (legislators if you will) to speak outside of nasty little sound bites delivered before a news camera.
Nevertheless, a 15-year-old would find it hard to get arrested for mouthing off about anything here (outside of a direct physical threat). He (or she) might get suspended from school, but that would probably be rescinded. I’m also puzzled that you defend your imans’ free speech but express horror at our “Bible thumpers.” That sounds a matter of distaste: the latter do not threaten anyone’s safety in the here and now; they only warn of the hereafter. And this touches on legitimate concerns about limits to speech (which I have a feeling are a concern in the UK as they are here). I don’t, however, believe that “legitimate concern” necessarily translates to suppression.
Despite all this, I’m glad you have enjoyed the company of all Americans you have met, select group though they may be. What have you enjoyed about them?
May 31st, 2008 at 11:08 am
Terro, you are clearly a reasonable person. I’m not interested in cat calling. Taking one example, such as this 15 year old boy, and making generalisations from it is what concerns me. He was not charged with anything. The reasoning behind the ‘arrest’ relates to new laws governing how to express yourself without inciting hatred. These laws relate to the European Declaration of Human Rights. Yes, I know, intention good, practice..well, crap. One of the many reasons why the UK has not fully subscribed to the European ideal.
Just to clarify, Those two or three imams do not preach their beliefs via national television.
My contact with Americans was far from select. I was an military instructor in urban warfare back in the 70’s and trained many US personnel in that role. I found them to be warm and friendly, willing to learn and willing to share their experiences. Those Americans I have met outside of the military have shown equal measures in human kindness. The only ‘issue’ I noted was their collective belief that America is better than anywhere else. Not true I’m afraid. We all have our faults, and maturity allows us to explore them.
Have a great weekend.
May 31st, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Ah truce, John Bull!
…”Yes, quaint and curious war is!
You shoot a fellow down
You’d treat if met where any bar is,
Or help to half-a-crown.”
Thomas Hardy
June 1st, 2008 at 7:09 am
Strange the things you miss when you are away from your own country. I’m a Brit living in Thailand and I also miss the beer but I don’t know anything good about American IPAs
Funny thing is I have plenty of sunshine here - rather too much actually and sometimes I miss the cold!
Regarding written constitutions - Thailand has one and the government does nothing other than rewrite it at every opportunity. Whilst I think there are many things that I think need improving in UK, I don’t think that a written constitution would change anything - rather it would just increase the level of the litigation culture that we have gained from the US (sorry, had to get that oen in).
On freedom of speech: when the Olympic flame was doing its tour of Bangkok the Thai government declared that any foreigners protesting against China’s stance on Tibet would be arrested, deported and blacklisted. I reckon both the UK and US aren’t doing too badly for freedom of speech.
June 1st, 2008 at 3:43 pm
It’s nice to get another ex-pat’s perspective. I’m not saying the US is inherently better than the UK in the arena of Free Speech as there are a lot of issues and court cases surrounding it. I personally think the way that commercial speech is treated in the US goes against the First Amendment, and while it is not a lone opinion, it is one that runs against the current interpretations. And that is just one issue where I feel the First Amendment is being neglected.
I don’t particularly feel my speech is any more limited here than back home, but I haven’t challenged it either. That’s part of the reason for my post; I was shocked at what the police had done.
I recently read in the Economist about all of the revisions to the Thai constitution since it was written and I realise that solely having one in writing doesn’t make it permanent. I’ve lost track of how many times the French have amended theirs.
Perhaps it is largely because I went to Journalism school, but the First Amendment is one that I hold in very high regard. It is first for a reason and it allows the rights and freedoms of all the others.
Thanks for commenting.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
It’s really not easy to amend the US Constitution. That’s why those who wish to change it resort to the courts: encouraging activist judges to accomplish what the electorate resists.
June 6th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
[…] already mentioned Britain in my Scientology is a cult, scam and con post. Unfortunately it doesn’t end there. I suspect there is more to this story than just this […]
June 12th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
IMHO, Scientology is just another theory. Some can accept, some not, others ignore. This is what i think well…i’m a free thinker though =)
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:23 am
Different people have different opinion. It just a matter whether you want to accept or not. Well..i’m also a free thinker too. =)