Freedom of Speech is important, but a sticky subject.

The news broke this week that 21 year-old Liam Staley has received a custodial sentence for his posts on the social networking site Twitter concerning the collapse of Bolton player Fabrice Muamba.  As a result, there has been intense debate on the internet and in the media as to whether or not  the 56-day custodial sentence is too excessive.

Speaking as a European citizen, I think it’s safe to say that we take freedom of speech for granted.   We know that, within reason,  we  are free to express our views and opinions to each other providing they  do not incite a contravention  of currently-established laws.  The Muamba, however, brings up a legitimate issue.  Staley claims that he was drunk when posting the messages on Twitter and it is important to take this claim into account.  Alcohol lowers the brain’s inhibitions and can cause many an  embarrassing situation.  However, talking from personal experience, when I  am drunk I do not insult people based on their gender or ethnic origin.

Nevertheless, we have to  ask whether or not Staley received an appropriate sentence.  While I abhor any form of racism,  sexism or the like, the incident brings up  the question of just how far we are legally able to go within the boundaries of free speech.

Freedom of speech has no middle ground, which seems to be something that the government does not understand.  Either a country has complete freedom of speech where every citizen has the right to express whatever views they may have, regardless of how offensive they may be to other people, or a society in which every word and thought is closely regulated by the state.

Of course many would argue that most governments operate under a policy of “being free to do what they tell you” and that would be a fair assessment.  But I believe we should trust in people to be  intelligent enough to make their own minds up.

Lastly, FTD wishes Fabrice a speedy recovery!

 

The Worldwide State of Mind

So yes, I’m posting again.  I don’t know if this is going to be a regular thing, or whether I will stop posting for a while after this.  But jesus, so much has happened in the past year, I feel as if I have to address what is going on.

 

In terms of my life, things have been pretty shit for me as of late.  I’m currently in my second year of university studying languages, and I don’t know whether I made the right choice.  My house has been broken into and my things stolen.  I am angry.

 

In terms of global events, goddamnit if we haven’t seen a lot of things this year.  The Arab spring has torn apart North Africa.  The prospect of war with Iran or UN intervention in Syria is becoming more and more relevant to our way of life, and for the first time in years I am genuinely frightened of what the future may hold.

I can’t speak for the US, but in the UK we are experiencing a new level of islamophobia which, to current memory, has never been experienced before.  The EDL (English Defence League) are gaining more support in retaliation to 9/11 and the July 7th Bombings in London.  Terrorism is more and more prevalent in our society.  The thing is, how can the West wage a war against Terror?  Terror is an emotion, a feeling , an automatic reaction to threat.  How can we wage war against an emotion?  Yes, the world is a scary place.

Division and xenophobia have become the norm in the world I live in.  There are times that I feel incredibly angry, even furious against the human race.  There are even times when I feel fury, times when I feel that the human race is not fit to survive or endure.  We are essentially our own worst enemy.  And that is born out of Darwinism: the imperative to survive and be the fittest of the species.  I think this is why we wage war against ourself.  It is not necessarily an intentional act, but merely an automated survival response to the human condition.

I see pollution, war and hatred.  Can we stop it? At this very moment I doubt it.  Recently NASA scientists have discussed the possibility of extraterrestrial contact.  While I am currently undecided in regards to the existence of alien life in the known universe, I feel that, were extraterrestrials to make contact with us, there would be several different scenarios that could possibly unfold.  The first of which is that of a hostile alien force, committing acts of war upon the human  race.  If that were the case, could the new threat possibly ally the entire human race against them?  What if they believed us to be the biggest threat to the planet?  And if they wanted to convey a message of peace and harmony?  Would we comply?  So many questions.

 

But to return to a more terrestrial viewpoint, 2012 is going ot be an interesting year.  I don’t know what will happen, but I both anticipate and fear it.  I heard a good saying the other night: “we can predict weather patterns but we can’t predict revolutions”.   The Occupy movement has shown us this.  While I often lament on humanity’s percieved willpower to destroy itself, I am regularly surprised and endeared by the so-called “random acts” of kindness my friends show.  They are amazing people and sometimes give me hope for our race.  Remember, compassion is our greatest evolutionary trait.  It helps us to understand and adapt to other’s needs.

 

So I may see you soon, I may not.

J

For the record…

I’d like to take a moment to address various comments left on my post about PETA. I can’t fucking believe this argument is still going on. FTD died a quiet death a while back now, so please don’t resurrect dead arguments. I’ve moved on and so should you.

Thanks,
J

A brief return

I don’t usually do this, and this is just a one off folks.

Let me say this, in regards to the latest revelation that the “News” of the World tabloid in the UK hacked the mobile phone of missing girl Milly Dowler to obtain voicemail messages has made me furious.

“Why, James?” you ask. Well, asides from the fact that the hacks deleted voicemail messages from her phone that could have helped police in their investigation, also giving hope to her family, it also breaks every ethical boundary I can think of in regards to journalism. A disgusting invasion of privacy, and a low point even for yellow journalism.

You can read about the story here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jul/04/milly-dowler-voicemail-hacked-news-of-world

Lastly, I will say that Rebekah Brooks and all involved in this particular incident should lose their jobs and be sent to prison for this. End. of. fucking. story.

That will be all

So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye

Well, folks… FTD has had a great run over the years.  Starting from a small blog which allowed me to post my shitty ramblings to a blog with over 50,000 views.  Unfortunately due to various personal and creative reasons, I’ve decided to call an indefinite halt to the old FTD.  My creative endeavours have been focused elsewhere for quite some time now – Music.  Unfortunately I no longer have the time or the motivation to keep posting on here for the foreseeable future.  The world is a depressing place and it’s becoming harder and harder to make light of current events such as the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the civil war in Libya and the collection of underwear under my bed which has apparently formed it’s own ecosystem.

In all seriousness though I would like to thank everyone for the support over the years – you guys helped make FTD what it was.  I just wish I had the time and energy to keep posting here.

Who knows?  Maybe we’ll see each other again.

So in the mean time, it’s goodbye from myself, Rhy and Napoleon. Thanks for the lulz and the good times.

J.