Important questions about civil liberties
Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 14:03 Further to yesterday's post, Chris Snowdon has written a review of Civil Liberties: Up In Smoke for The Free Society.
Simon Davies' report, says Chris, asks important questions about the state of civil liberties in Britain for those whose lifestyle choices make them outsiders.
Discriminated against by the NHS, taxed to the tune of around £2,000 a year by the Treasury and now told they cannot smoke in a park because the mere sight of them will traumatise children, smokers exist in what Davies calls “a shrinking zone of normality”. It is, he says, “open season” on smokers.
Meanwhile I enjoyed last night's discussion, the first of our 2011 Voices of Freedom series of discussions.
So did Peter Hitchens - in fact, he's agreed to speak on the same subject when we reprise the debate at the Conservative conference in Manchester in October.
To those who boycotted last night's event because of Hitchens' views on smoking (he would like to eradicate the habit from society), I would just say this: The Free Society believes in free speech and we also believe there are two sides to every debate.
If we censor or refuse to debate with those whose views we disagree with, we are no better than the intolerant, illiberal tobacco control movement.
Far better that Peter Hitchens, and others like him, see the strength of feeling on this subject.
In any case, I genuinely loathe one-sided debates – I can't think of anything more boring. Last night's event (which attracted a full house, standing room only) would have been half as enjoyable without Hitchens, and credit to him for turning up.
As it happens, I invited Deborah Arnott as well. Sadly, the director of ASH didn't reply to my email.
Reader Comments (1)
Another terrific night out and as you point out it is really good to have dissenting voices. I thought Peter was a particularly good speaker, but I do disagree with him.