Pages

Wednesday, 11 March 2020

Islamophobia, Trevor Phillips, and free speech | Letters

Words have power – you need to choose them carefully, writes Colin Montgomery. Plus letters from David Robjant, Jonathan Longstaff, and Pete Wearden

If Trevor Phillips is guilty of anything, it’s sophistry (Labour Islamophobia row: Warsi accuses Phillips of ‘flawed’ view of race and racism, 10 March). He claims he’s only acknowledging difference in his statements on Muslims, reported statements such as “Muslims are not like us” and are “becoming a nation within a nation”. But the content of said comments clearly betrays the attitude of someone using difference to discriminate unfavourably against one particular group, based on assumptions and generalisations.

To hide behind the idea of free speech compounds the error. It’s no surprise to see he’s comfortable doing interviews with Toby Young to promote the so-called Free Speech Union. Young is another public figure who seeks to defend his right to say anything free from consequence, as a matter of personal liberty. Surely Mr Phillips would agree that words have power – you need to choose them carefully. To misunderstand that is to misunderstand the true nature of freedom.
Colin Montgomery
Edinburgh

Continue reading...

from Islam | The Guardian https://ift.tt/39GHoO8

No comments:

Post a Comment