Bill likes to quote great philosophers. Voltaire provided much intellectual backbone for the French Revo-lution; that formed modern Europe and its liberal freedoms. Including the basic right to have an opinion with which you disagree.
The lesson today from Auguste says:
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
As the Guyanese nation (especially the Kaieteur News) gets its knickers in a twist over Martin Gough’s ‘racist’ insults in his BBC Blog let us consider that text. Even Freddie Kissoon – the soi disant conscience of the nation, the Mother Teresa of the Mind – has been wheeled in to attack poor Goughie! No wonder the young man was looking so worried at the Michael Vaughan press conference the other day. But then when the journalist becomes the Story (pace Alastair Campbell and the BBC) then you have to worry. For now, though, duck Martin.
But Back to Voltaire