The Sacred Cow

BBC NEWS | Europe | Banning the freedom to deny

I imagine that, on Fark.com, they'd put an "Asinine" tag next to the featured article.

I really hope nobody tries this stunt in the US. I imagine, though, that the Supreme Court, while still stating an acknowledgment of the holocaust, will strike down such a law as unconstitutional. I find it disturbing that there are MODERN governments that are trying to control what people believe. If a person, for whatever reason, believes that the holocaust didn't happen, it's their right to be wrong. There are people who still believe in creationism, DESPITE science 'proving' otherwise; just as the courts have 'proven' that the holocaust did happen. "When an international court determines that such crimes have taken place, then you should no longer be able to say: 'You're making that all up.' (from the article)" When a body of renowned scientists determines that evolution is how all things came into being, then you should no longer be able to say: 'Blah, blah, blah.'

It starts with the holocaust. Perfectly innocuous. But criminalizing people who deny the holocaust is, in a matter of process, the same as criminalizing people who deny evolution. Or deny modern astrophysics (i.e., people who still believe the universe revolves around Earth). The context may be different, but the action is the same. Sure, these people (deniers) are wrong. Should they be jailed for it?

And then, how much farther down the road will we be jailing people for OTHER beliefs? Where does it end? I know where it starts, and it needs to be nipped in the bud before it happens.