Pratap Bhanu Mehta: "Liberals' litmus test"

The entire article is a must read. Let me just say that I agree wholeheartedly with everything he says.

We also need to get over this claptrap about respecting people’s beliefs. This is an impossible demand, for belief is not a matter of will. The only proper respect you can show people is by respecting their rights, not by engaging in the chicanery that you really respect their beliefs. The illusion we nurtured that somehow all religions need to be respected, that no one should find religion silly enough to want to recast it or lampoon it is all coming home to roost. Who all will we protect from being offended? It is fatuous to think that we can create laws that will protect all from offence. The only thing that does is create competitive offence mongering.

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Thanks to Arun Thiruvengadam (of the excellent Law and Other Things blog) for the pointer.