tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19490962.post1212614373086560343..comments2023-12-10T10:06:41.979+00:00Comments on mutations of mortality: Ensuring freedom with increasing technologyTerry Hamblinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346629921055055879noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19490962.post-88399650538189682542008-02-26T15:48:00.000+00:002008-02-26T15:48:00.000+00:00A little shrill, don't you think? Sharia law has a...A little shrill, don't you think? <BR/><BR/>Sharia law has about as much chance in the UK as horse drawn carriages have of replacing the automobile. The much maligned Archbishop wasn't even suggesting that it should replace the Common Law. His thesis was that there was an incompatability between some religious beliefs and some aspects of secular law and that these needed to be thought about. Accomodations have already been made. Since Moslems are not allowed to lend or borrow with interest, the banks have introduced Moslem-friendly mortgages. Because the law on house purchase was framed based on secular mortgages, the new law meant that moslems had to pay twice as much stamp duty on their house purchase. This was manifestly unfair and the secular law was altered to accomodate the islamic mortgages. Another example the archbishop quoted was legislation which forces Catholic adoption agencies to offer children to homosexual couples. Since it would compromise their beliefs to do so the Catholic agencies intend to close. An accomodation shouild surely be sought, says the archbishop.<BR/><BR/>There are clearly problems with this view that at least on civil matters the secular should seek an accomodation with the religious (especially on how to accomodate those who claim to be Jeddi Warriors). Sharia law on domestic matters in woman unfriendly. Because of their faith some women might accept this, but others might be cowed into accepting it by male bullying. How would the authorities distinguish between them?<BR/><BR/>The AbC was certainly unwise (and naive) to raise this topic on BBC radio where he would almost certainly by misunderstood, but in the context of his lecture, it was a topic that should be aired, even if most right thinking people would think the idea preposterous. An open society allows open debate. Open debate requires people to think and allows contrary voices to be heard. <BR/><BR/>But America was ever a society where regulation is frowned upon and criminals prosper. Indeed the revolution began because the British reduced the tax on tea, which inflamed the smugglers of Boston as they saw their profits undermined. <BR/><BR/>Or is that prejudice?Terry Hamblinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06346629921055055879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19490962.post-89455911153905604562008-02-26T15:23:00.000+00:002008-02-26T15:23:00.000+00:00America is also the land of the rugged individuali...America is also the land of the rugged individualist. The image of the lone cowboy, leading an upstanding life of love of God, love of justice, and love of horse, is (or more accurately was) ingrained in the minds of all Americans.<BR/><BR/>There is indeed a collision between owning unregistered guns, policing your own town, and protecting your own life and property, and giving up those freedoms and letting Mommy Government give you a cookie, tuck you into bed at night, and, yes, let you suckle at the government spigot. <BR/><BR/>I don't want a damn government camera everywhere I go. <BR/><BR/>It is unfortunate, but innocents must die to keep a few rag-tag freedoms to us all. They die to give us freedom. <BR/><BR/>Yes, all bad behavior must be stopped! Or should it??? Should the insult of Gordon Brown be allowed? Should the US flag be allowed to burn? Should everyone who failed to report money earned from a garage sale be jailed?<BR/><BR/>I totally oppose a DNA database. I'm very worried that the current war on terror will continue to erode our rights in the name of 'safety'. <BR/><BR/>Americans are well on the road to the slaughterhouse. It sounds as though the Brits are willing marching right along.<BR/><BR/>How will you feel when Sharia law is the law of Britain, and the theocracy makes sure you pray to Mecca five times a day? <BR/><BR/>That is not impossible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19490962.post-91266658423494316232008-02-25T10:23:00.000+00:002008-02-25T10:23:00.000+00:00I always knew that America was a developing countr...I always knew that America was a developing country, but I had hoped that '24' was fantasy rather than reality. In the UK I think beating up prisoners (at least by the police) is a thing of the past. <BR/><BR/>My opinion of humanity is not particularly high - that's why I support more video surveillance. Technology is a defence against abuse rather than its cause - your illustration of the Rodney king case supports this.<BR/><BR/>A malicious government is aided by secrecy. Technology is available to expose wrongdoing.<BR/><BR/>An internet poll is being conducted by a popular newspaper on whether Britain should have a universal DNA database. Opinion is eaually divided, but considering the fact that about 5% of the population have a vested interest in remaining concealed, I would day that the tide is going my way.Terry Hamblinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06346629921055055879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19490962.post-24496053143326029562008-02-25T05:18:00.000+00:002008-02-25T05:18:00.000+00:00I hate to burst your bubble, but police do assault...I hate to burst your bubble, but police do assault citizens and get away with it all of the time. I can't speak for England, but in the US, I personally have been beaten by a sheriff's deputy for absolutely no reason (stopped for expired registration on my car). <BR/><BR/>I called and complained but they close ranks around even the worst cops. You do sometimes hear of abuses, but it's usually because someone has a camera (remember Rodney King???) or the crime is so heinous that even the cops want to put a stop to it.<BR/><BR/>You have a much higher opinion of humanity than I do. <BR/><BR/>I just shudder to think how much more unbearable and horrific life would have been under Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Pol Pot, etc. etc. if they had the technology we have today. <BR/><BR/>I fear the power of government and the faceless bureaucrat. You live in a country that has a long history of generally supporting human rights. As your population changes, though, perhaps even England will lose some of those rights.<BR/><BR/>I stand by my conclusion that it is better to let some guilty escape than to have, as Orwell so famously put it, a boot stomping the face forever.<BR/><BR/>Innocents suffer and die to preserve our privacy and our freedom from heavy-handed (and malicious) government.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com