The real threat to the life of the nation

[ciphergoth]

The real threat to the life of the nation, in the sense of a people living in accordance with its traditional laws and political values, comes not from terrorism but from laws such as these. That is the true measure of what terrorism may achieve. It is for Parliament to decide whether to give the terrorists such a victory.

(thanks to djm4)

Comments

[xquiq.livejournal.com]

Argh!

I understand negotiating with countries to ensure safe deportation, but 'justifying terrorism' or visiting particular bookshops takes things too far.

Many of our own people could be seen as justifying terrorism in recent statements discussing the terrorist attacks whilst condemning the Iraq war (eg George Galloway).

Equally, if it's an offence to visit a bookshop, why is the bookshop open? Is that some kind of bizarre Orwellian test? (Maybe I'm misunderstanding this one.)

I'm actually fine with deporting foreign nationals who actively incite violence against the UK, its citizens or any particular ethnic or religious group, but as seems to be par for the course with this government, this is woolly legislation which leaves scope for abuse.

[countess-sophia.livejournal.com]

re the bookshop: there's a long tradition of this kind of thing. IIRC it was pioneered in Metternich's Austria c.1815, where the secret police would allow certain cafes to stock foreign (hence liberal and seditious) papers and allegedly banned publications. They'd then watch to see who read them. Our own spooks have been known to do similar things.