Our foreign Minister Stephen Smith doesn't like Dutch politician Geert Wilders anti Islam film Fitna. Others like Andrew Bolt, are critical of Smith on freedom of speech grounds but what really annoys me is this part:
Mr Smith, what race is Islam? Some Muslims seem to think otherwise but people are not born with an Islamic gene. Islam is a religion, a belief system like Christianity, Communism etc. As such it can be attacked and criticized like any other ideology.
To call Islam a race is to condemn Muslims. It means like, skin color or height, it can not be changed, if you are they are born Muslim you must stay Muslim. In a secular society this is unacceptable. We wouldn't expect that sort of restriction on Christians so why do you want to force it on Muslims Mr Smith?
"In Australia we believe in the right to freedom of expression but we don't believe in abusing that right to incite racial hatred."
Mr Smith, what race is Islam? Some Muslims seem to think otherwise but people are not born with an Islamic gene. Islam is a religion, a belief system like Christianity, Communism etc. As such it can be attacked and criticized like any other ideology.
To call Islam a race is to condemn Muslims. It means like, skin color or height, it can not be changed, if you are they are born Muslim you must stay Muslim. In a secular society this is unacceptable. We wouldn't expect that sort of restriction on Christians so why do you want to force it on Muslims Mr Smith?
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