Barmy

Them bum-boys and rug-munchers never did much like breeders . . . but i do think this is over the top . . .

I would suggest, though, that it is an equivalent idiocy to make such things illegal. I believe i am correct in stating that the principle in this nation is that so long as what one says or writes doesn't constitute an incitement to violence or other criminal activity, one is free to make a great braying jackass of one's self to one's heart's content . . .

(Damn, English grammar really sucks . . . )

Actually, why shouldn't their be racists within the gay/lesbian community as they are elsewhere in society?

I know from my own professional experience that in my home state quite a few gay groups have shown extreme right-wing, racist, neo-nazi political views.
It's just, I think, that you look a minority group more exrensively and get aware of extremistic views easier than within your own (supposingly larger) peer group.

couldnt agree more set, and yes I did pick up on the irresponsible breeding bit which I thought very funny.

But the Labour (note Labour = formerly socialist = liberal = humanist tendency) government here is proposing a law to put incitement to religious hatred on the same footing as racial hatred. To me it seems absolutely crazy. What is a religion if its not a set of ideas? And surely some ideas are Really Bad Ideas, worthy in themselves of being hated by all good God fearing folk. Race is given by god, but religion is chosen by man. But no matter, the proposed law will make it an offense to give offense to a religious group. (Read Muslims....because we have upset Muslims recently by invading various Muslim countries, and killing a lot of them). So to make ammends the Govt is proposing that we should not give offense to Islamists by saying Islam is this or that or really anything that MUSLIMS might object to. And here is the rub. It will be a criminal offense to give offense, even if you did not mean any offense, and even if what you said was factually true. So someone could say for example that according to Islamic tradition, Mohammed married a 9 year old girl called Aisha when he was 47? and some Muslims might be offended by that. And because they WERE offended, it becomes a criminal offense with a possible 7 year sentence. Is this crazy or what?

No reason at all Walter, but that wasnt really my point. I really fail to understand how criticism of a set of ideas...a religion...in this case Islam, which has among its adherents believers of every nationality and race on earth...how can that be deemed racist?

It might be offensive to Christians if someone was to speak in derogatory terms about Jesus Christ, but how can that be racist?