Great Britain’s Free Speech Breakdown

Freedom of speech doesn’t seem to be as clear cut in the U.K. The Guardian informs us of an unnamed fifteen-year-old that was served a summons from the City of London for using the word “cult” on a sign to describe the Church of Scientology during a peaceful demonstration protesting the controversial religion. There has been an understandable outrage throughout the world over this incident but the police were not outside the bounds of doing their job of enforcing the law. It is also important to note that their Human Rights Act Article Ten granting freedom of expression is much more specific in allowing restrictions for various reasons than our own Constitution.

The ridiculous element of this entire controversy is the very law they were enforcing. After “strongly advising” him to remove his sign, the law cited to the boy before handing him a court summons and removing his sign was section five of the Public Order Act 1986. This law restricts free speech if it offends someone and it opens the door wide for the “slippery slope” theory.
...
Thankfully, cooler and wiser heads have prevailed and free speech lives another day. The Crown Prosecution Service told the police they would not be prosecuting the boy. International attention and strong support from human rights groups like Liberty may have been influential in this decision. Whatever the reason for the decision, it was the right one and a victory for free speech. The ridiculous law that put this kid in a situation like this in the first place still needs to be given a hard look, and most likely done away with.

This is also a great example for America to pay attention to, heed warning, and hopefully recognize the dangerous consequences that political correctness threatens to free speech. Absolute free speech may not be found anywhere, but America has the most open and robust free speech found in the world. This is something we take for granted far too often. Hopefully, examples like this one in Europe can provide us with insight and an opportunity to stop and appreciate the freedoms we enjoy. It is to be devoutly wished that we will not allow the same thing to happen to our country because there are activist elements fighting to bring this same stifling trend to America and too often they are succeeding.

And one commenter said:

It’s a safe bet that the same people who back these sort of laws are also convinved of the threat to Liberty posed by the surpression of the Rights of the prisoners at Gitmo. Conntradictory - yes. Arbitrary - no. For them it’s about who has the power to set National agendas, not what is just. Guess who they think should have the power.