Free Mojtaba And Arash

I'm lucky enough to be living in a country that tolerates criticism of the Government.

Arash Sigarchi and Mojtaba Saminejad are not. These two Iranian bloggers have both been deprived of their liberty by the Iranian government for expressing opinions on their blogs.

Today has been designated a worldwide action day by the Committee To Protect Bloggers to draw attention to their plight.

Comments

[ace on 22.02.05 at 11:24]

Bloggers UNITE!!!!

I'm sure the committee to which you refer will have a whole bunch of success with this, afterall Iran IS known as being such a democratic country with open ears.

lol

Sorry Phil, just struck me as funny...but then again it may well have been intended to and I missed the sarcasm point again.

[Martin on 22.02.05 at 12:11]

The issue raises an interesting point about free speech in general.

We talk about our 'right' of free speech. Limey has defended that right on this Blog before - and rightly so.

I wonder though whether we really do have that right? If we do, then why do we have laws on libel/slander etc.

Do we really have freedom of speech?

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 22.02.05 at 12:18]

Martin,

Law on libel and slander are in place to protect the interest of the individual. How successful would you be it you as a CFO resigned from a company and the statement from the company said that you left because you were found to be stealing money? Your reputation, whether proven guilty or not, has been damaged, which could reduce your future financial success because there would always be some doubt as to your guilt.

You don't think your rights should be protected? Does that really remove freedom of speech?

[J Galt on 22.02.05 at 12:51]

What about the word nigger?

[Fornicator on 22.02.05 at 12:51]

"I wonder though whether we really do have that right? If we do, then why do we have laws on libel/slander etc."

Cuz in reality, sticks and stones aren't the only things that can hurt you :-)

[The Limey on 22.02.05 at 12:55]

No sarcasm point here, ace.

I take your point, but this initiative isn't necessarily doomed to fail. Jeff Jarvis, of BuzzMachine, mentions the case of another arrested Iranian blogger, Sina Motallebi, whose plight was brought to international attention by other bloggers. Sina apparently credited that with helping to get him out of jail and out of the country.

[loki on 22.02.05 at 13:00]

"What about the word nigger?"

Ever the charmer, I see, Galt.

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 22.02.05 at 13:06]

J. Galt,

From a personal perspective, you can call me whatever you wish to call me. It takes quite a bit to offend me because I know who I am and you can think what you wish.

Nigger means different things to different people. In the Bahamas it is not a derogatory term. For instances when people talk about what someone they may say, "Boy, this nigger had the audience rolling in laughter." It is how society views the use of the word.

I assume you are referring to blacks calling each other nigger. All I will say is you can use the word as yousee fit but if you are white I wouldn't recommend you go around calling black people niggers. You could get severely injured.

[J Galt on 22.02.05 at 13:35]

"but if you are white I wouldn't recommend you go around calling black people niggers. You could get severely injured."

Then that would be a racial motivated attack right? I mean if the only reason they where attacking me for saying "nigger" is not the word "nigger" but because I'm white and saying "nigger", isn't that racist. Surly we should all be treated as equals??

[Fornicator on 22.02.05 at 13:38]

"What about the word nigger?"

Guilden,

Knowing Galt, he's not talking about the word being used amongst blacks. He's likely to launch into some fucked up argument about why he shouldn't get punished for calling people niggers, because it's his right to use whatever word he pleases. That or he's once again getting his jollies off on being able to spew bile and not suffer any consequences for it.

And believe it or not, somebody actually married this guy. ...Or maybe he faked the Mrs. Galt post a couple of weeks back.

[Fornicator on 22.02.05 at 13:39]

Told you...

[J Galt on 22.02.05 at 13:48]

"Knowing Galt, he's not talking about the word being used amongst blacks"

Forni,

Should people be treated as equals or not?

Your saying its ok for blacks to use the word nigger because they are black, but a white person can't? Come on Forni that racial discrimination,

nigger is a word just like fuck or c**t, Its not magical or anything, surely you don't think one race deserves special privledges over another when it comes to something as simple as the word nigger?

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 22.02.05 at 13:50]

Galt,

I agree we should all be created equal and not only are you free to use nigger but you should go ahead and use is as you sit see fit. I am not telling you not to use it, neither does the law, as far as I am aware.

I am just stating a fact, if you as a white person call a black person a nigger you could get hurt. You can use the word as you see fit but if you end up with someone's foot up your ass don't say I didn't warn.

[J Galt on 22.02.05 at 13:57]

Guilden,

then you agree that it is a racially motivated attack?

[Martin on 22.02.05 at 14:00]

Guilden

I am not claiming that the ability to libel or slander someone is right or wrong - indeed it is wrong. The idealogical premise in law is that we have the laws we have - because we require/need them.

My point is that in Iran, these two guys have been imprisoned. We in the West, would see that as an 'extreme' measure, if for no other reason because their rights to free speech have been trampled on.

Here in the West, we use expressions like 'free speech' without too much thought and it is only when you really think about it, we don't really have free speech at all - despite the fact that we need protecting from libel and slander et al.

In Bermuda right now, free speech is not welcome by some. Birch, for example, suggests that none-Bermudians should butt-out of the dialogue on Independence. Where is the right to free speech in his mind, even though he cannot prevent it?

[loki on 22.02.05 at 14:08]

"I mean if the only reason they where attacking me for saying "nigger" is not the word "nigger" but because I'm white and saying "nigger", isn't that racist."

Good point, Galt. I think we can all agree that you should research this further by, I don't know, walking down Court Street at ten at night and using it as a greeting to all and sundry. If, God forbid, anybody attacks you, you can then lecture them of what terrible racists they are. Well, you can do that once you finished spitting out your teeth, I suppose.

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 22.02.05 at 14:13]

Galt,

If you call a black man a nigger when you know that it is considered by most to be a racial slur, are you not being racist?

If he kicks your ass because you call him a nigger he is just returning your favour.

As I said, go ahead and use it as you see fit.

[Pitts Bay on 22.02.05 at 14:23]

Loki - you got a chuckle out of me with that one. Galt, I agree, I think you should conduct a little research

[Fornicator on 22.02.05 at 14:57]

"Your saying its ok for blacks to use the word nigger because they are black, but a white person can't? Come on Forni that racial discrimination"

Actually I was merely advising Guilden not to waste his time debating the use of "nigger" with an asshole who takes perverse pleasure in asking the most fucked up questions. I'd rather set my pubes on fire than point out the lack of logic in your line of questioning.

[ace on 22.02.05 at 15:04]

Okay Phil, if THAT is the aim of the committee then fine, I take your point. Out of prison and out of the country is about all you could possibly hope for.

[shipstones on 22.02.05 at 15:17]

Guilden,
I think your response was right on the mark, whilst Fornicator is reduced again to Galt's level.
There are certain black friends, in the right circumstance, and there aren't many, that I'd use the N... word!
I like Chris Rocks joke on the subject!
I also know a black Bermudian who called a black taxi driver in Detroit "Ace Boy" and was ejected from the taxi!!
"Bastard" is another derogatory word that I won't tolerate against me from all but my close friends and very big enemies!
I daren't call my wife bitch either!
I am just savoring the picture of Galt getting his head kicked in!
And wonder which gay website Forni's flaming pubes will end up on.

[Fornicator on 22.02.05 at 15:30]

"I am just savoring the picture of Galt getting his head kicked in!"

You're looking forward to him getting his head kicked in, but I'm the "bad guy" for calling him an asshole.

Thanks for pointing out the immorality of my ways, Shipstones.

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 22.02.05 at 15:36]

Martin,

I absolutely agree with you, there are some people in Bermuda who do not welcome free speech thus the reason many feel compelled to speak out under a pen name. Nobody, should be afraid to express his views and there should be no consequence for doing so. I say that but unfortunately, many in our society will use their political clout to deter people from freely expressing themselves in a society that allows for free speech.

[loki on 22.02.05 at 15:40]

Off-topic, and I know it's ridiculous, but everytime I come back to the title of this thread, for a split second I could swear it reads, "Free Mojitos and Hash".

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 22.02.05 at 15:41]

Loki,

LOL I agree with your advice to Galt. Hopefully he will write a paper on his findings.

[Fornicator on 22.02.05 at 16:09]

Guilden,

Your Flaming Pubes Club membership is in the mail :-)

[demeter on 22.02.05 at 16:28]

Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences from everyone around - it's a legislated "freedom" whereby the law will not penalize speeech that does not pose a danger to society/individuals... US Supreme Court ruled that the right to yell "fire" in a crowded theatre was not protected....just a thought. Gte funny again, please, I forgot to take my medication this morning....and I've been depressed since HST shot himself....

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 22.02.05 at 16:37]

Forny,

Thanks for paying my membership dues for me. LOL

[loki on 22.02.05 at 16:38]

*grabs gasoline, matches, ditigal camera and hails a taxi 'round to Fornicators*

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 22.02.05 at 16:49]

Is a lighter included in the membership or is that an additional charge? What is the criteria for on-going membership?

[Mrs. J Galt on 22.02.05 at 16:58]

"And believe it or not, somebody actually married this guy. ...Or maybe he faked the Mrs. Galt post a couple of weeks back."

No...no Forni...it was not a fake post...I did indeed marry Galt. I will not extoll his virtues here as Im sure your opinion will not be swayed. But suffice it to say he makes me happy :)

[Fornicator on 22.02.05 at 19:33]

"Is a lighter included in the membership or is that an additional charge? What is the criteria for on-going membership?"

Just experiencing one of Galt's famous "sticking the knife in with a twist" comments is enough.

Loki, you've just been appointed to "Secretary of Flaming Pubes". Welcome to the club ;-)