A Lady's Ruminations

"Jane was firm where she felt herself to be right." -Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

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I'm also a usually quiet, reserved Lady, who enjoys books, tea, baking, and movies! I spend most of my time reading one of my favorite books or wishing I was reading my favorite books. My Grand Passion is history, particularly the Regency Period in England, when Jane Austen wrote, Lord Nelson defeated the French Fleet at Trafalgar, the Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon, and men were Gentlemen and women Ladies. I cherish the thought of being a Lady and love manners, being proper, and having proper tea. My favorite tea is Twinings, especially Earl Grey or Prince of Wales. My specialty to make is Scones with Devon Cream. I am a Catholic and a Conservative.


Saturday, October 14, 2006

Valuing Free Speech in Britain

Nice to see this coming out of Britain. We need more of it!

The Press Association: Muslims 'risk voluntary apartheid'---

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis launched a stinging attack on Muslim leaders for risking "voluntary apartheid" in Britain and expecting special protection from criticism.

Mr Davis issued a stark warning of "closed societies" being created in Britain, and said religious divides threatened to "corrode" fundamental values such as freedom of speech.

There was a danger that the perfect conditions for "home grown terrorism" were being established, he added.

Mr Davis's comments - which appear to mark a hardening of the Conservatives' stance on tackling radical Islamism - came in an article for the Sunday Telegraph.

He wrote: "At its very least, there is a growing feeling that the Muslim community is excessively sensitive to criticism, unwilling to engage in substantive debate.

"Much worse, is the feeling of some Muslim leaders that as a community they should be protected from criticism, argument, parody, satire and all the other challenges that happen in a society that has free speech as its highest value."
Refreshing to read, don't you think? Now, let's see some actions for, as we know, they "speak" much louder than words.

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett also urged open discussion of integration issues in an interview with the newspaper.

He said: "We should not go out of our way to avoid saying things that we want to say because we might actually cause a rumpus. I have always said what I think. I think that part of being in our society is that we all have to live with that."
More to the point, Muslims around the world need to grasp the concept of Freedom of Speech, not to mention the old notion that "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me," rather than causing rumpuses every time someone says---merely says!---something they do not like.

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