For All Those Idiots Who Think Europe is More "Free" Than The US
 

I am definetly not a neo-Con, but I think when one of the most basic freedoms (speech) is infringed upon it says something about the nation.

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe...p?story=591175

France to punish homophobic and sexist remarks with jail sentences
By John Lichfield in Paris

09 December 2004

France moved yesterday towards the creation of a new law which would make sexist or homophobic comments illegal and forbid job discrimination against homosexuals.

After a muddled late-night debate, in which a number of governing-party deputies made starkly homophobic declarations, the National Assembly gave a second reading to a bill that would create a "high authority" to fight discrimination of all kinds. The bill, which will become law if approved unchanged by the Senate, the upper house, later this month, extends existing penalties for racist abuse to all insults made for reasons of "gender or sexual orientation or handicap".

If the bill is passed, anyone found guilty of making such remarks, verbally or in writing, would risk a one-year prison sentence and a fine of up ?45,000 (£31,000). The law, which would make penalties against homophobia and sexism stronger in France than almost any other EU nation, has been pushed very strongly by President Jacques Chirac.

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These same laws apply in many other European countries. And are not limited to these fields alone. Immigration, race, history (Holocaust, etc) are other fields that are now limited to only certain types of speech across much of Europe

How can it be wrong to make laws that will forbid those kind of things?
Isn't it because they wanna protect people from those kind of comments?

Not all people find sexist or homophobic comments funny. Not even close.

france is just 1 of the many countries in europe

I dont agree with the making comments bit, u can say what u like

But the no discrimination part is cool

In NZ it is illegal to dicriminate against anybody for any reason

And that includes positve discrimination

For one, these laws quickly spill over into speech which even question homosexuality or anything about it. Secondlly, what makes homosexuals special enough to be exempt from criticism? I can call someone a fat whore, or a dirty slut, or a mole faced bitch but if I call a homosexual a poof I go to jail?

For those idiots who think Europe isn't more free than the US: I live in a country where I can legally fuck hookers while smoking pot and watching beast porn :glugglug

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh

france is just 1 of the many countries in europe

The Parliament must be full of a bunch of panzy assed women. Fuckin' homos.

Some people consider homosexuality a genetic defect. A disease if you will. Recently research on rats have produced some controversial results along that same line.

The French can outlaw anything they want, but seriously, who take's the French serious anyway? They still celebrate the "French Liberation of Paris". As if anyone believes the French were responsible for driving Germany out of France.

Those faggot ass homo-cock faggy French fagzor fags!!

Does anybody really even care about the French? They're the French. They have what... French fries and French bread. Good for them.

I love the french... I hate their government.

Hell, I hate MY government.

Amazing how many in the US can't understand the very basic difference between Europe and European Countries.

*cough* EU *cough* euro *cough*

Had a little something in my throat.

It seems to me the difference in Europe as a whole and European countries keeps getting smaller, and smaller, and smaller. Wouldn't you say?

and the best cheese and wine :)

For a start I am not from the US. Secondly would you like me to list the countries with similar laws?

NORWAY,
GERMANY,
SWEDEN,
BRITIAN,
etc etc etc

Some of these laws are not wholly specific to homosexuality alone, but about similar such issues. Furthermore the EU promotes such laws wholeheartedly, so I think it is a fair call.

Hahaha, stupid american idiots again :)

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :thumbsup

Immigration? So I can just move to USA? No?

Race? All races are equal in the US? HAhahaha..

History? Atleast europe has one. Holocaust? True, it's horrible..but so is slavery in the usa. Nobody's perfect.

Freedom of speech is MUCH more liberal in europe than in the usa. It's true.

Usa = much more religious and conservative than europe.

Of course, I'm not saying europe is better, but it IS more liberal. Some consider it better, some don't.. but that's the way it is.

huh? bullshit.

Any country is free compared to US, now turn your puter off before Bush imposes a new curfew preventing you from talking on adult chat boards hehe

My country is better than your country.

Britain is doing that kind of thing too.

The UK is making a similar law so you can't say anything bad about Muslims because it could hurt their feelings. I guess when they are under Islamic law in 50 years they will wish that law didn't go through.

Rite!

USA is more free

:glugglug

lol

1 year for calling someone a pillow biter.

These stupid nations that give our 1 year jail sentences for the smallest crimes are just insane

france is just 1 of the many countries in europe

Are you talking about usa?

As.. usa is the last country on earth to call other countries legal system insane.

:1orglaugh :thumbsup

yep it is more liberal, of course they have had a few more years 2 work on it i would say. :Graucho

:1orglaugh

Australian press freedom ranking plummets

perhaps you should worry about your own backyard?

If I'm correct they are trying to do something similar over here about religious and homophobic jokes in Britain.