Saturday, November 11, 2006

Should Advocacy of Violence be Punished?

Both Left and Right generally say Yes. Libertarians say No. As a libertarian, I am inclined to say No too. The reasoning: Talk is cheap. It is only violent deeds that should be punished. If you allow the talk, you have a better idea of where to look for the culprits when violence does occur.

But no reasonable person could agree with the situation where Muslims and others have to answer to totally different rules -- so that Muslims are allowed to advocate violence but others cannot even criticize Islam. It looks like we have now seen that double standard beginning to erode.

No comments: