Mr Scruton, enjoy your 'freedom' while you still can

I made yesterday evening an entry at the British Indymedia, an open newswire for world news. I thought that it might be interesting to share with international public opinion the statement of Roger Scruton, British conservatove philosopher, claiming that as long as Poland exists, freedom exists. But it seems that his concept of freedom is rather limited, for liberal-thinking people do not face freedom of speech in Poland. My entry gathered some interesing commentaries. I provide You with the most interesting one.

Roger Scruton:

"W Polsce nadal bowiem można mówić rzeczy, których mówienie na Zachodzie może się skończyć złamaniem kariery. W Polsce można otwarcie krytykować homoseksualizm, feminizm czy zagrożenia związane z imigracją. Na Zachodzie to tematy tabu. Dopóki więc istnieje Polska, wolność słowa nie zginie."

 

"In Poland one still can talk on issues, that in the West may end up breaking Your career. In Poland one can openly criticise homosexualism, feminism, or issues combined with immigrants. In the West they are taboo subjects. Thus- as long as Poland exists, freedom exists"

-from the Rzeczpospolita, Polish conservative daily co-owned by Mecom (51 %) and Polish government (49 %). Direct link:  http://www.rzeczpospolita.pl/dodatki/druga_strona_070525/druga_strona_a_5.html?k=on;t=2007052520070525

Well. Controversive statement, for the freedom of speech in Poland works only in one side. For conservatives. Imagine that BBC would be chaired by Nick Griffin- this is what we have now with former Neonazi, Mr Farfal, as the CEO of Polish Television. Never in my lifetime have I seen a true liberal person speaking in the publicly owned media.

and here is one of the most interesitng commentaries written today at night by some anonymous Lukasz:

Scruton's idea of freedom seems to be a situation where he is free to abuse others and deny them their rights, only because they prefer to live their lives according to principles other than his own.

Well, he found his place now: a country where catholic conservatives hold a combined 81% of parliament seats, the Vatican annually receives an estimated billion pounds from the national budget (mostly through so called land restitution), the clergy effectively doesn't have to abide to any laws, children are being forcefully indoctrinated at school, and you can't spend a day without seeing a bloody bishop opening yet another church on TV.

People are leaving Poland: workers because they are exploited while unionists deal with politics, students and researchers who instead of concentrating on their work have to find their way through truly feudal dependencies in the academia, homosexuals who are being harrassed and called sick by the public media, atheists because they can't stand living under papal occupation. Finally all people who have had enough of being told how to live their lives. Calling this freedom is slap in their face.

But we will go back to Poland, Mr Scruton (which you should be happy about, after all you and your mates don't event want us here) - we will go back and fight for our right to decide about ourselves. Enjoy your 'freedom' while you still can.