Freedom of speech and watching what you say
The recent Lecturers conference had an interesting debate and vote on the governments latest 'spy on the populace' motion. For those unfamiliar the government had issued guidelines to Lecturers across University and college campus's to basically 'spy' on their students and report any potentially suspicious behaviour. This was focused at Muslim and Islamic faith students who may display 'extremism'.
FFS, pardon my French but when are we going to wake up to this madness. Would we be letting this pass by if perhaps someone had said 'keep an eye on those Jews' or 'watch out for those Gypsies'. We have slipped by the thin edge of the wedge and are rapidly sliding down a slope we as a population seem to believe everything our government is doing is both in our interests and 'we should have nothing to fear as law abiding citizens'. Well I have a very big fear and that is not being able to freely speak my mind without being locked up for it (luckily at the minute only three months at a push rather than indefinitely as the house of Lords stepped in to halt Tony 'Hitler' Blairs demands for longer).
Luckily good old studious Lecturer types believing like many of us, education and the institutions were learning takes place are sacred to voicing opinion and allowing free discussion and debate. The article on how the vote went and details of the policy are here:
I reckon it's only a matter of time before we will be rounding up anyone we don't like the look of and slamming them in prison. We would be doing it now if all of them weren't full already so we have to let all the muggers, rapists and so forth out to allow room for the 'terrorists'.
I will make one concession though, as a science techie I have always and will always keep a bit of an eye on whats in my chem store. It's common sense that students may want to steal a few bits wether it be to try and make home made fireworks, bombs or narcotics, I really don't care but 'NOT ON MY WATCH' with that one. I do have to look out for the safety of these people.....
As to why they want to 'each to thier own'. Though if one of them mentioned Nov 5th I'd rather they were heading to the houses of parliment than a bonfire party but saying that in college may just get me locked up......
