Dutch blasphemy

[Gob]

Dutch approve move to scrap blasphemy law

Dutch authorities have decided to approve a motion abandoning a law under which it is a crime to insult God.

A majority of parties in parliament said the blasphemy law was no longer relevant in the 21st Century.

The legislation, introduced in the 1930s, has not been invoked in the last half century.

However, it still remains illegal under Dutch law to be disrespectful to police officers or to insult Queen Beatrix, the country's monarch.

Freedom of speech is a much-cherished right in the liberal and traditionally tolerant Netherlands.

The BBC's Anna Holligan, in The Hague, says that there was much debate about the issue after a Dutch court ruled that the far-right anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders should be allowed to criticise Islam, even if his outspoken opinions offended many Muslims.

In 2008, a coalition government decided against repealing the blasphemy law in order to maintain support from a conservative Christian political party.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Let them eat cake.

[dgs49]

I look at it this way, if God is offended He can deal with it in His own way. He don't need the Gub'mint to protext His interests or sensitivities.

[Lord Jim]

it still remains illegal under Dutch law to be disrespectful to police officers or to insult Queen Beatrix, the country's monarch.

Freedom of speech is a much-cherished right in the liberal and traditionally tolerant Netherlands.

I'm sorry, but I see those two statements as directly contradictory....

From everything I have read about Queen Beatrix, she is a lovely person, and I would never consider saying anything insulting about her...

And I'm a stalwart defender and supporter of police officers in general, the vast majority of whom perform a very tough job with a high degree of patience and integrity.

So I would not be inclined to "insult" or "disrespect" (whatever the hell that means) them either...

That having been said, when a country has laws against "insulting" people (whoever they might be, and no matter how undeserving of insult they might be) that country, in my view, is not demonstrating that they consider freedom of speech as a "much cherished right"....

True regard for freedom of speech involves permitting even ignorant, obnoxious, offensive, boorish opinions to be expressed.

I'm very uncomfortable with the concept of laws that make it a crime to "insult" someone....

[Scooter]

It's hardly fair to indict an entire society's commitment to free speech on the basis of one or two laws that have probably never been applied in recent memory.

Any more than it would be fair to indict the commitment of Americans to free speech on the basis of a certain segment's obsession with criminalizing flag burning, to the point of attempting to amend the Constitution to do so.

[Sean]

So what would happen in the US if one was to approach a police officer and inform him that he was, in fact, an illegitimate buffoon of the highest order whose mother performed 'favours' for hobos in return for financial reward?

I can only assume that his response would be to either smile politely or burst into tears and run away...

[dales]

No, a quiet beat down and be charged with "resisting arrest".

[Sean]

But that isn't conducive with 'freedom of speech'...

[Lord Jim]

So what would happen in the US if one was to approach a police officer and inform him that he was, in fact, an illegitimate buffoon of the highest order whose mother performed 'favours' for hobos in return for financial reward?

This may surprise you Sean, but cops in this country are used to being verbally insulted....

[Sean]

So they laugh it off?

[Lord Jim]

No, they ignore it.

[Sean]

That's not how Dales tells it...

[Lord Jim]

That's not how Dales tells it...

With all due respect to Dale, (who I am quite fond of and have a lot of respect for) I think his view on this may be a bit "stuck in the 60s"....

[MajGenl.Meade]

So what would happen in the US if one was to approach a police officer and inform him that he was, in fact, an illegitimate buffoon of the highest order whose mother performed 'favours' for hobos in return for financial reward?

I can only assume that his response would be to either smile politely or burst into tears and run away...

dales is freely expressing what is probably a more complex scenario. Gratuitously insulting an individual officer (I refer not to general obscenities launched from within e.g. a 'peaceful' environmental rally) is likely to attract the attention of said officer. He or she may well approach the person of opinion and suggest a reasonable belief that public intoxication is indicated, taking hold of the person's arm in a gentle grasp. This will provoke the editorial citizen into pulling away from said officer. At which point beat down and arrest for resisting an officer ensue.

[Sean]

Plod: Have we been drinking sir?
Drunk: I've never met you before in my life... How could we possibly have been drinking?

[oldr_n_wsr]

The verbal crap that most officers take is beyond what I (and most people) would endure. I have seen it at intersections when the officer is doing nothing more than directing traffic because the electricity is out. Same with the cops keeping the peace and directing traffic at a gas station when the people are lined up trying to get gas.

Thankless job at times, but at least here on LI they top out salary wise at over $100K not including overtime (I shoulda been a cop).