Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

secret room

When I was younger I had the daft notion that there must be a secret room full of very brilliant people who were really making all of the decisions that run our country. When I had been at Westminster for a few years, especially when I trekked into Downing Street twice a week as a whip, it was a huge eye-opener to discover that no such room exists and that it is people just like me, flawed but well-intentioned, making decisions that affect us all. Deeply worrying!

But recent events have caused me to resurrect my secret room theory once again. Not this time in terms of governmental decisions, but in deciding what we can and can’t say in public and survive.

I do not support the specific charge that Kilroy-Silk made recently about Arabs. It was obviously a wild exaggeration, but I support his right to say it. I passionately disagree with what the Lib-Dem MP Jenny Tonge said about suicide bombers, but we could all see where she was coming from. Voltaire famously said, “I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it.” Whatever happened to that?

But someone out there had decided that their comments were unacceptable, and so they both lost their jobs. Who decided that?

It was surely not the court of public opinion, because in my experience that tribunal is far more robust and full of seasoned common sense.

Which brings me back to my secret room theory. A shadowy room full of trendy editors, columnists and grandstanders who sit in judgement upon the people. They hand down their verdicts of political correctness and there is no right of appeal. Their rulings are transmitted instantly to all corners by their media outlets.

They have determined what we must be tolerant about and what is beyond the pail. Along the way they have decided that it is OK to ridicule Jesus of Nazareth, but don’t you dare say anything against Mohammed. We can rip into the Israelis all we like, but whatever you do don’t attack the Arabs. We can’t have our own opinions any more - we have to piggyback on theirs.

I hate racism and believe that words that incite violence or hatred should not be permitted. But the diktats from the secret room are in grave danger of over-stepping the mark and strangling our free speech. What do you think? Mail@garystreeter.co.uk

posted by Nigel on Monday, February 09, 2004