Mind Set Central

My last post talked about Free Speech in America and how people under the Obama Administration could lose their jobs by speaking ‘out of place’. Of course we shouldn’t forget the UK’s pioneering use of censorship within its democracy…

Although I am no fan of radio presenter John Gaunt it shakes me to hear of his situation this week. This report relates to an interview in 2008 where he called a councilor a ‘Health Nazi’ along with other terms…

But before you read on, I would like to remind you of an event in 2005 – where Ken Livingstone (Previously the Mayor of London) called a Jewish reporter a Nazi too… Livingstone later went on to win an appeal. Something that seems to have been forgotten.

One key aspect of the law SHOULD be to relate it to the intent behind an individual case.

Gaunt’s outcome has been a little different. He was sacked from his work based upon his actions being able to offend both the councilor AND the audience. That leaves a bitter taste in my mouth as it is – the day we are not ‘allowed’ to speak our minds because others may feel offended is the day we close our mouths and hang our heads in shame.

Yet there is something even more insidious about this case…

Mr Gaunt was refused permission to appeal…

Full Story Here