By determining whether there is value in discussing the topic the principles of free speech that he has stood for are betrayed.
In Australia you get in line to have your beliefs scrutinised but statements that incite violence are not OK. There is a boundary of prudence and wisdom.
Does Islam respect my right to unbelief? Of course it doesn’t . Does it respect the right of a Muslim to change belief? Of course it doesn’t. These are risky things to say or do in a lot of places. I can read about these bigoted statements and make up my own mind. I don’t need someone to stop me reading it or hearing it.
By calling for a restriction on the right to free speech for others you can be sure that one day it will happen to you. It has already happened to Bolt.
Australian’s need no licence to speak and sometimes it is necessary to offend.
Can’t I say that it is wrong for religious groups to circumcise girls, or to kill them for disobedience!? It breaches Australian Law.
Prosecute them for these criminal offences; but never, ever, stop the discussion.
It is offensive that the discourse in the Opera House was stopped. We should have been permitted to hear their oppressive, violent and murderous attitude towards girls and women.
This was an opportunity to hear the reality of Islamic sexism at its worst, and so, to be able to contend with it.
John Bolton
http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/the_nuanced_argument_for_murdering_disobedient_women/