tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5473318947539698958.post4266484712678318501..comments2023-05-16T10:15:31.309+01:00Comments on Students for Sensible Drug Policy UK: Sexuality and Drug Use: No place for homophobia in the ACMDStudents for Sensible Drug Policy UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11691755249299927002noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5473318947539698958.post-57414749460633108322011-05-20T23:20:48.358+01:002011-05-20T23:20:48.358+01:00ACMD appts are unpaid. Raabe speaks for many peop...ACMD appts are unpaid. Raabe speaks for many people, just we don't agree at all. I think it is worth kicking off, but like I say, his views need taking square on, not banning or curtailing his rights to speak. Like I say, if he was making decisions I would oppose it strongly, if he is on the ACMD, then he should just be challenged, constantly. Ridicule is great and Hitchens is an ignorant man as well - thing is, you can't put a rizla between these types and official policy - that's my point that they are easier to deal with than the more sophisticated bigots who run the country.Sunshine Bandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08351908969557708343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5473318947539698958.post-64402721708661663412011-05-20T20:34:38.515+01:002011-05-20T20:34:38.515+01:00@sunshine
Hmm. I would never argue for Christian ...@sunshine <br />Hmm. I would never argue for Christian Raabe to have his tongue cut out, he should be allowed to say what he likes... I just dont think we should be supporting or condoning his appointment to an important body like the ACMD. There is a difference between calling for a No Platform and actively providing that platform... and if Christian Raabe wants to shout about prohibition and "curing the gays" he can shout all he likes, just not on tax payers money. And I reserve the right to shout louder ;)<br />@charred<br />Youre right that the DM has never been a friend to the oppressed. But we should care what they think - we should always know what are enemies are doing :)ssdpeducationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00840724345761471913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5473318947539698958.post-54986982026491933822011-05-20T19:38:06.804+01:002011-05-20T19:38:06.804+01:00Why do we even care what the Daily Mail thinks? LG...Why do we even care what the Daily Mail thinks? LGBT freedom, the rights of ethnic minorities, women, disabled and other oppressed groups have all improved yet the Daily Mail still spew their biggoted bile against these communities. Only this last week at a drug policy event in London, Peter Hitchens was laughed at for blaming rock stars for drug use.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5473318947539698958.post-9502759563218451142011-05-20T19:18:05.366+01:002011-05-20T19:18:05.366+01:00Daily Mail readers are cerainly not all of his ilk...Daily Mail readers are cerainly not all of his ilk, and their prejudice has to be polite and in accordance with all the sensitivities about what one can say out loud and what you cannot, so he is as much an embarrasment as a spokesperson because he will say what they think privately.<br /><br />I cannot imagine that the best way to deal with problematic ideas is to fear they will have greater traction if permitted to be vocalised - there is a strong paradox inherrent in the move to make no platform for racists, hompophobes etc - really whoever has the power to censor is the one to fear, don't imagine that the Courts and Home Office are the people to protect us against bigots, they just enjoy the status they get from being the moral arbiter and fair weather protector of persecuted groups as and when it suits them.<br /><br />I think the article here is excellent in that it points out exactly why his approach is hopeless - that is what we should be explaining and let him hang himself. Thats what he will do, dig himself a hole with his own mouth because the basis of his ideology is contempt and a lack of respect for choice. Focus on human choice in all things, forget what Russell said to the SSDP conference, it was way out of order and a stupid point to make re liberty being a lost cause. It is about liberty and even the DM knows it.Sunshine Bandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08351908969557708343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5473318947539698958.post-90311918376576663862011-05-20T18:08:59.779+01:002011-05-20T18:08:59.779+01:00Thanks for your comment Sunshine.
Yeah, I can kin...Thanks for your comment Sunshine. <br />Yeah, I can kind of see where you are coming from with your Devil's Advocate argument. He does wonders for our movement if we can effectively use this guy to show just how messed up the current system is. However, I would be worried with that quite possibly people do agree with him!Ive read some blogs very much giving him uncritical support so as much as it might be strategically useful to point out to people how much of an idiot this guy (and the moral model of dealing with drugs that he represents) is,I think the people who would be agreeing with us would probably be on the same page anyway. I doubt we will win over any Daily Mail readers with this one.ssdpeducationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00840724345761471913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5473318947539698958.post-61476522779222031532011-05-20T17:28:54.302+01:002011-05-20T17:28:54.302+01:00This is a very well written piece that makes some ...This is a very well written piece that makes some points that han't occured to me. On a devil's advocate ticket I would say that having him on the ACMD is sort of useful, he was sacked because he is not completely playing the game of hiding prejudice behind the pretence of a ratrional argument about safety etc. He actually articulates the real basis of prejudice on so many things that his purpose in some regards could be to actually say it like it is in the minds of many in government, without the window dressing to obscure it, so we can see that policy is based upon so-called moral ideology quite outside the purpose of the law. Let's remember that the ACMD can be a broad church where minority opinion can be expressed to get it on the table and then looked at for what it is before being dismissed by the majority. <br /><br />The other thing is that we have had too much interference from the Home Office already with the ACMD, we dont want them deciding what is acceptable and not for the ACMD although they should use their discretion to filter unreasonable advice where appropriate. I agree Raabe would be unsuitable for any decsion-making role, but he plays the role of the cariacture of bigotry admirably.Sunshine Bandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08351908969557708343noreply@blogger.com