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Free Speech Controversy Rages In Spain
A judge has removed copies of a satirical magazine depicting an (quite definitely) adult cartoon featuring Spain’s royaty. Details (and WARNING a copy of the offending magazine cover) are HERE.
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10 Responses to “Free Speech Controversy Rages In Spain”
Surprising no one, I will weigh in with my own opinion on the matter.
The first thing you need to know is that this isn’t strange sort of humor for El Jueves, a humorous publication that is often very overtly sexual and has a definitive anti-monarchic slant. The next thing you need to know is that having a sexually explicit cover for the Jueves raises no eyebrows here. Very few people think that a 10 year old will be scarred for life from seeing a sexual cartoon on a news-stand, that is not the issue. The last, and most important thing, to know is that in Spain it is literally against the law to insult or “denigrate” the royal family. Yep, that’s right, free speech with an asterix. El Jueves specializes in playing with such limits all the time, but apparently the Judge thought they went too far this time.
The general sentiment is that the whole affair is ridiculous and that it’s censorship to not allow this sort of thing. I can’t help but think that the folks at El Jueves must be thrilled. Instead of a regular weekly magazine cover they’ve got worldwide publicity, avid interest in their issues and widespread support from the populace. The royal family, assuming they are immature enough to care, must not be pleased by the idea that now people in Idaho will be seeing jokes made at their expense AND being portrayed as people who simply cannot take a joke.
Ridiculous, utterly stupid waste of time and energy. The rules against “insulting the Crown” have no place in a democratic society. Actually the Crown has no place in a democratic society. The cartoon is correct in one sense, these are people who live off OUR money and do NOTHING useful, Spain had a republic once, it needs to become one once more.
The last, and most important thing, to know is that in Spain it is literally against the law to insult or “denigrate†the royal family. Yep, that’s right, free speech with an asterix.
The internet is basically full of all the anarchist of the world assembled in one spot.
Here you can find anyone and everyone who has a bitch about some form of curtailment of absolute free action, speech and movement.
I have reached the conclusion that there are:
NO DEMOCRATS or REPUBLICANS. CONSERVATIVES or LIBERALS at this site or others.
99 percent of those posting are:
Anarchist Libertarians.
Those who believe in the absolute and total freedoms of the human being with ZERO interferrence and constraints by government.
Anarchy rules the internet and I do honestly believe that it might well rule the world in the next 25 to 50 years.
My students would be absolutely stunned to learn this since we spent a full class period once debunking the anarchist vision of how a society could function without government.
Anarchist libertarian???!! C’mon SD, that’s out there, even for you. I defend universal health care, for pete’s sake! Want to explain to me how this fits with being anarchist OR libertarian?
It was early in the morning in the US when your comment was written, I’ll simply attribute it to insufficient sleep
Somebody
That just sounds like a real small(no) government conservative.
My students would be absolutely stunned to learn this since we spent a full class period once debunking the anarchist vision of how a society could function without government.
I’m confused. Actually this is laughable Jason.
Anarchy by its definition rejects being Ruled. So you have RULED out BEING RULED BY ANTI RULERS?
It was early in the morning in the US when your comment was written, I’ll simply attribute it to insufficient sleep
Actually I firmly believe that the internet will lead to worldwide anarchy and the collapse of governments. We are seeing that now and will continue to see it in the future as the once Important aspect of a government conducting business in secret is no longer sustainable because of the invasiveness of the internet.
CIA ops can blog about their actions. The open and ever prevalent out pouring of the collective souls will NOT be good for the world. It will in fact create the catalyst for change and that change will lead in my opinion to world wide anarchy.
Call it a HUNCH. Not rooted in fact. Not supported by a thesis of substance. For when everyone becomes a critic….there is no longer anyone to critique. When everyone becomes a politician there is no longer a need for politicians.
Man by his nature must be RULED.
The internet is giving man a new voice of reason. A new enlightenment that shook the fabric of nations for 100′s of years is upon us once again. How will we fare this time around?
What I see on blogs frightens me actually. I dont see this new age of enlightenment thru rose colored glasses.
[...] ran this post a few days ago about a free speech issue raging in Spain. Now the beset magazine has run [...]
[...] ran this post a few days ago about a free speech issue raging in Spain. Now the beset magazine has run [...]
Somebody,
I’d almost have to surmise that what you’re talking about could be regarded as an internet phobia. A phobia is defined as “a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it.” although I am glad to see that you don’t avoid the internet.