Can the liberalists defend freedom?

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- Paloma
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Can the liberalists defend freedom?
OP - December 17, 2009, 09:08 PM

"We used democracy to do away with democracy."
Joseph Goebbels

What do prominent liberals think about hotly-debated topics such as burkas, minarets, Koranic schools, parallel societies, religion and the boundaries of freedom of expression ? And what should they think if they want to defend freedom? Should parliament and authorities restrict totalitarian forces opportunities to flourish, or is the true liberal to give everyone the right to compete in the public sphere? Or does being a true liberal mean that you have to accept any outcome which the political, religious and ideological forces more or less free play will result in? Has liberalism become dogmatic?

http://www.trykkefrihed.dk/kan-liberalisterne-forsvare-friheden.htm

This is an invitation from the Free Press Society to a debate they are arranging in Februar.

I do not know if you people are true liberals, but anyway, what do you think about the questions asked above, should a line be drawn and if so, where ?

Like a compass needle that points north, a man?s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always.

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- panoptic
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Re: Can the liberalists defend freedom?
Reply #1 - December 17, 2009, 09:24 PM

Well, surely they do.

But I would say that, wouldn't I?

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- Iblis
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Re: Can the liberalists defend freedom?
Reply #2 - December 17, 2009, 09:26 PM

Behead those who insult Islam.

Quote from: thinkfree on September 28, 2010, 07:58 PM
Iblis has mad debaterin' skillz. Best not step up unless you're prepared to recieve da pain.
- NineBerry
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Re: Can the liberalists defend freedom?
Reply #3 - December 17, 2009, 09:39 PM

It's appropriate to start this thread with a quote by Goebbels. But maybe not for the reason you think it was.

A major part of nazi propaganda was the idea that "the Occident" was under threat by capitalism/communism/Jews. The nazis said that democracy was too weak, that it would not survive the struggle to rule the world.

And they won. But only because people fell for that propaganda. People were afraid of the pluralistic society without strict rules and order and to fall prey to the dangers of "the Jew".

So, what liberalism needs as a defence is to make people understand that it doesn't necessarily mean weakness. The only weakness of liberalism is when people stop to believe in its strength.

I have watched that "Free Press Society" and their propaganda is basically the same as nazi propaganda was in the 1920ies and 1930ies. There are enemies of freedom and democracy. And that "Free Press Society" is among them.

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Re: Can the liberalists defend freedom?
Reply #4 - December 17, 2009, 09:42 PM

Quote from: Paloma on December 17, 2009, 09:08 PM

"We used democracy to do away with democracy."
Joseph Goebbels

(Clicky for piccy!)

What do prominent liberals think about hotly-debated topics such as burkas, minarets, Koranic schools, parallel societies, religion and the boundaries of freedom of expression ? And what should they think if they want to defend freedom? Should parliament and authorities restrict totalitarian forces opportunities to flourish, or is the true liberal to give everyone the right to compete in the public sphere? Or does being a true liberal mean that you have to accept any outcome which the political, religious and ideological forces more or less free play will result in? Has liberalism become dogmatic?

http://www.trykkefrihed.dk/kan-liberalisterne-forsvare-friheden.htm

This is an invitation from the Free Press Society to a debate they are arranging in Februar.

I do not know if you people are true liberals, but anyway, what do you think about the questions asked above, should a line be drawn and if so, where ?

Difficult - I could argue both sides and will sit on the fence with this one

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