THE AUSTRALIAN —
Wednesday April 16 2003
Letters
THE Islamists would have us believe that the Christian West, or infidels, are in conflict with Islam.
Nothing could be further from the truth. An open pluralist society is in conflict as necessary defence against a closed singular ideology
.
While I support freedom of religion, one has to be careful about those who do not reciprocate. It is a condition of our society that those we grant freedom to must respect the freedom of others.
While people are entitled to their views, when they seek to make them public policy the matter is different. Our society and history have seen puritan movements and even times when art was banned. I think Australians are free and relaxed to which I contrast the effort to cover up women, an essential statement that nature is bad.
Freedom of religion also includes freedom to discuss and criticise provided that this is done as fair (accurately) as possible. The best weapon against the singularists is to start some of these debates.
David R. Griffiths
Fitzroy North, Vic
Copyright (c) 2003
Letters
THE Islamists would have us believe that the Christian West, or infidels, are in conflict with Islam.
Nothing could be further from the truth. An open pluralist society is in conflict as necessary defence against a closed singular ideology
.
While I support freedom of religion, one has to be careful about those who do not reciprocate. It is a condition of our society that those we grant freedom to must respect the freedom of others.
While people are entitled to their views, when they seek to make them public policy the matter is different. Our society and history have seen puritan movements and even times when art was banned. I think Australians are free and relaxed to which I contrast the effort to cover up women, an essential statement that nature is bad.
Freedom of religion also includes freedom to discuss and criticise provided that this is done as fair (accurately) as possible. The best weapon against the singularists is to start some of these debates.
David R. Griffiths
Fitzroy North, Vic
Copyright (c) 2003