I've heard speakers adding on the Q and seen a few organisations with it, just something that came to my notice recently as more seem to be adopting it. I've just recently began to see it more frequently. This was the first time I saw an "I".
I just don't see what good could possibly come out of it. Don't you need to draw a line somewhere?
I signed the petition, but just for the sake of conversation let me throw out some thoughts on how some good could come out of this.
People like sheikh Hate are becoming more and more visibly popular and fuelling the idea that muslims in general are dangerous and hateful people. What's worse it that rather than being challenged on the filth they vomit, they're either accommodated or attempted to be silenced, giving no balance. Not only does this help the scary muslim view, it's part of a very real, widespread and expanding intolerant ideology among the next generation of a growing group of European citizens. Having no counter simply means there's no other view available. Allow him to speak with no challenge, and you're passing up a change to offer young muslims an alternative to the idea that their god wants them to be bigots. Try to silence him, you get the same thing only you're adding on the feeling that wider society is against you. Making people feel they have to choose between being a muslim or being accepted by the majority won't do anyone any good.
I don't really care if someone is privately homophobic, and if they want to tell me why I can choose whether or not to listen. What I do care about is whether they act on there bigotry. If sheikh Hate is going on stage and saying "I don't like gays because", I'm going to disagree with him but I'm not going to try and silence him. It can provide the opportunity to challenge. If he's actually encouraging hate crimes, that's another story.
I hope the students come together in outrage and protest against his views, and I hope that both the students and the university make it crystal clear that they do not share his views and will ensure they do everything within their power to support their LGBT students and staff from any kind of bullying or discrimination. I also hope this starts a very badly needed conversation and flow of ideas counter to the poison being spoon-fed from a depressingly early age.
Topic: Stop Homophobic preacher from speaking at Westminister.