Reinstate Free Speech at the University of Edinburgh

We shall not have our liberties impeded because of a few "Feel-Good" Do-gooders.

I agree, University is a place for thoughts and ideologies to be challenged and defended, not agreed with blindly and ignored on the basis that someone could be offended

10 years ago Featured

As someone who is currently studying at the University of Edinburgh, I share the same furstration as my fellow student and I was really happy to be informed about the existence of this petition. I am glad someone took a stance and am more than happy to support them.

Truth and free speech

Fantastic cause.

The modern liberal is someone who champions diversity........... But not diversity of opinion or ideas They don't like free speech at all The joke is, these people think they are "liberal", but of course, they aren't at all. They are incredibly fascistic.......and dangerous Using political correctness to suppress free speech in schools, universities and the work place is extremely dangerous for our society and our liberties and it MUST be stopped

Freedom of speech is absolutely paramount to our liberty.

Free speech should be a given at ALL institutions of higher education. How on earth can one have debate without free speech?

Censorship has no place in University! Let people hear, then make their own minds up instead of enforcing Political Correctness on them,

It's pretty incredible that it it's even come to this. But let's spell it out: if student bodies cannot face the idea of people freely expressing contentious ideas at a university - for fear of people being "offended" or claiming to feel "unsafe" - then the loss to the intellectual life of the university is incalculable. Ditto the loss to the principles of liberty and of freedom of expression. Anyone can be offended. Anyone can go around banning speakers, pretending they are protecting "victims". That's the easy bit. And it's called bullying. It takes people with a SPINE to be able to hear different sides of a debate, and to be able to confront those ideas they find stupid, uncomfortable, baseless, obnoxious, "incorrect" ... or whatever the perceived fault might be, head on. As the grandson of a coal miner, I saw a generation divided and hurt badly by Thatcher in the 1980s. But it never occurred to me for a second to BAN tory speakers from debates. Indeed I welcomed the opportunity to put my views to my opponents. That cuts both ways. Stop being such a bunch of crybabies: this is the UK, not Saudi Arabia.

Free speech is under attack in many ways...

Thank you for helping to defend freedom of speech.

:)

Go Charlie!

Freedom over feelings

Edinburgh University's safe space policy will encourage a victim mentality, destroy the vitality of genuine debate, and leave students incapable of holding their own in a world that doesn't care about their feelings.

Free Speech is a human right and should not be taken away using the excuse of protecting minorities which can be protected in much more effective ways.

Free speech, in any form, is essential for every human being. I'll gladly sign. Good luck!

Let us not relinquish the very ideas of the free and democratic universities, where no idea or argument is to be protected nor exalted!

Best of luck in your fight for the freedom of speech. As said by the great Winston Churchill (who, according to the website of the university, is a former rector) - "Everyone is in favor of free speech. Hardly a day passes without its being extolled, but some people's idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone else says anything back, that is an outrage." Hopefully, this fundamental freedom will not be deprived even from those who express some controversial or even disturbing opinions on your University. Needless to say, the free speech cannot be compromised, if you value its existence. The people of our organization supports your course. You have my signature in this petition. Sincerely Aljosja Felix, Member of The Liberal Alliance Youth Movement, Denmark