Holocaust ontkenning

Drukke tijden, dus ik kom er niet aan toe om mijn commentaar op een Amerikaans blog elders te vertalen. Hier dus in het Engels mijn reactie op de veroordeling van holocaust ontkennende historicus Irving tot drie jaar gevangenisstraf in Oostenrijk.

All countries have their own laws to restrict freedom of speech. Untill Bush’s visit “free speech zones” were unknown over here :^).

Why is freedom of speech important? We all agree that it is, but WHY is it so important? Do we have the same definitions, do we perceive it’s importance the same way? We all think that personal freedom is important, but in my country that includes more freedom to choose your own death than in yours, in the US that includes more freedom to sell bits of your body than in mine. There are plenty of examples where our countries perceive these freedoms differently, yet I think on the whole we agree that we live in pretty free societies.

Is freedom of speech important because everybody should be able to express him(her)self? As a part of personal freedom? Yet most of the US has laws against foul language and against nudity – none of which endangers someone else. So there are limits there too, and they are set in a ‘comfort zone’, inhibitians to make others feel more at ease.

For me freedom of speech is important because critisism should always be heard, people should be informed as broadly and properly as can be. Information should not be withheld unless it is really nessecary for security reasons.

That is why I feel that freedom of speech is not just about being able to say what you want, but also about “chilling effects”, press freedom, accessibility of info, privacy protection, etc. These things are intertwined.

People upthread argue that dumb statements will be countered in a sort of “information free market” environment. But look at how many Americans still believe the mis-information about Iraq that was spread the past years. The “market mechanism” doesn’t work if those other items fail. If your press does not function as well as it should, if the chilling effects have a hugh impact, if powerfull parties manipulate the public opinion.

I thought this piece about the conviction of Irving captured the holocaust denial well. It is not necessary for every country, but it might be a good thing for Austria.

Update: Alex van a fistful of euro’s legt uit waarom Irving in Oostenrijk echt een groter gevaar is dan in de meeste andere landen.