FREE SPEECH AT ODDS WITH JIHADISTS
THE REGRESSIVE FORCES against free speech often note that free speech has its limits—for instance, one may not yell "fire!" in a crowded theatre.
Everyone knows the potential dangers—people getting trampled in a run for the exits, people mistaking doors to dead-end storerooms for exits, people running into narrow alleys with no access to the street. So is it *ever* permissable to cry "fire!" in a crowded theatre? Well, yes. It is not only permissible, it is imcumbant on any moral person to cry fire if the theatre is indeed on fire. Let's belabour the metaphor.
That's what the jihadists have done. They have set the theatre on fire. They are now at work on disabling the smoke detectors, smoke alarms, and sprinkler systems. They are now at work blocking the exits.
Most of the patrons are in line for tickets and popcorn, or they are already in their seats, eating junior mints and watching previews for "Kung Fu Panda" and "The Incredible Hulk" while they wait for the movie to begin.
A few patrons, though, have noticed smoke curling up from behind the screen and over by the consession stands. They are alarmed. As they try to warn the crowd of the danger, they are threatened by some of the arsonists who have stayed behind.
These are people like Geert Wilders and Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Brigitte Gabriel and Kurt Westergaard, Wahlid Shoebat and Mark Steyn. Some of these threats have already been carried out, against Pim Fortune and Theo van Gogh, and many others.
A few people in the crowd do actually notice this, and are rather alarmed and upset. But, hey, "The Love Guru" starts in a few minutes, and they paid good money to see the show.
This brilliant analysis of our depressing situation was found in the "always interesting" comments section of an article posted on Jihad Watch by a reader named Gravenimage. Well done! Amazingly a propos!
Everyone knows the potential dangers—people getting trampled in a run for the exits, people mistaking doors to dead-end storerooms for exits, people running into narrow alleys with no access to the street. So is it *ever* permissable to cry "fire!" in a crowded theatre? Well, yes. It is not only permissible, it is imcumbant on any moral person to cry fire if the theatre is indeed on fire. Let's belabour the metaphor.
That's what the jihadists have done. They have set the theatre on fire. They are now at work on disabling the smoke detectors, smoke alarms, and sprinkler systems. They are now at work blocking the exits.
Most of the patrons are in line for tickets and popcorn, or they are already in their seats, eating junior mints and watching previews for "Kung Fu Panda" and "The Incredible Hulk" while they wait for the movie to begin.
A few patrons, though, have noticed smoke curling up from behind the screen and over by the consession stands. They are alarmed. As they try to warn the crowd of the danger, they are threatened by some of the arsonists who have stayed behind.
These are people like Geert Wilders and Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Brigitte Gabriel and Kurt Westergaard, Wahlid Shoebat and Mark Steyn. Some of these threats have already been carried out, against Pim Fortune and Theo van Gogh, and many others.
A few people in the crowd do actually notice this, and are rather alarmed and upset. But, hey, "The Love Guru" starts in a few minutes, and they paid good money to see the show.
This brilliant analysis of our depressing situation was found in the "always interesting" comments section of an article posted on Jihad Watch by a reader named Gravenimage. Well done! Amazingly a propos!
Labels: free speech, jihadists, metaphor, theater
posted by Gabriel Thy at 10:11 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home