THE EDITOR, Sir:
PLEASE ALLOW me the opportunity to respond to the letter entitled 'What about freedom of speech', by Ithamar Marcus which appeared in your July 24, 2004 edition. It is both recognised and accepted by all modern, western democracies, of which Jamaica claims to be a part, that the right to freedom of speech does not include the inherent right to incite violence. Simply put, you're free to speak your opinions without let or hindrance to your heart's content, but that freedom ends the minute you incite violence against fellow citizens.
HATE SPEECH
Here in Europe, governments are very keen to protect their citizens from hate speech and the violence that inevitably follows as a result; and who can blame them? This continent saw the loss of millions of lives and abject poverty over 60 years ago because the hate rhetoric of a charismatic few was allowed to go unchecked.
Putting the shoe on the other foot, how would Jamaicans react if a few foreigners suddenly decided to call for violence against Jamaican citizens, on Jamaican soil, while visiting Jamaica, simply because they do not support or agree with Jamaican culture? Well, I'm sure I need not speculate on the possible outcomes.
No one is trying to deny Jamaican DJ's their right to free speech. However, I find it difficult and unreasonable to accept that British and other European citizens should have to put up with Jamaican DJ's who go to their countries and call for violence against their own citizens, regardless of where you stand on the homosexual issue. These DJ's are not simply disagreeing with homosexuality, which is their right to do. They're going much further by actually inciting violence against homosexuals, against fellow human beings, a 'right' that freedom of speech does not confer.
I am, etc.,
L. MACKIE
hepkat3@hotmail.com
Vienna, Austria
Via Go-Jamaica
