Well said Alex. I'd suggest, sadly there's much evidence we're rapidly moving away from Paine's vision of a "democratic, mature and civilised society" with respect to the free expression of opposing views.
While I unreservedly support Professor Margaret Somerville's opinion, one should be very wary of opposing viewpoints masquerading as tangible arguments appearing across Twitter. Twitter is hardly a platform for mature debate.
I have recently quoted the words of the English radical, Thomas Paine reminding us that a democratic, mature, and civilised society should never shut out the views of those with whom we disagree.
He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself ~Thomas Paine
Unfortunately the Catholic clerical sexual scandals have created a hostile atmosphere for those voicing unpopular opinions, who just happen to be Catholic.
If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear ~George Orwell
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