Published August 13th, 2004

Dear Editor,

It started with banning cigarettes in bars, and now it’s graduated to one of the most fundamentally important human rights: Freedom of Speech. This Government, in its eager quest to find new and creative ways to oppress us, is starting an inquiry into hate language which could result in some speech being outlawed (Waikato Times, August 6).

I have no respect for the barbarians who make racist slurs, sexist remarks or divisive speeches, however it is this freedom of expression that helps us to make informed decisions and evolve as an individual, perhaps changing our opinions as we learn others views.

The natural next step of such legislation would permit the Government Gestapo of the day to examine, edit, alter or censor dissenting views, and effectively condemn to the shredder many of the letters you might see before you today. It would be too easy for the Government to suppress views on issues such as the foreshore, poisonous moth sprays, civil union bills, prostitution reform and so forth.

I urge New Zealanders to shout a loud and clear “NO” while we are still allowed! Let the Government know that we will not tolerate acts of tyranny in our country and make a submission against legislation restricting our right to free speech.

Published August 28th, 2004

Dear Editor

Dianne Yates has a rather dismal view of New Zealanders intelligence if she expects us to believe that forming committees questioning hate speech is not an attempt to violate our right to free speech. In fact her attempt to dictate what we can say will be counterproductive: Adolf Hitler also controlled freedom of speech and expression, and we know what happened to hate language there…

The most important part of our national anthem is the sentence “God defend our free land,” clearly however a land without free speech is no longer free! I wonder if Despot Yates has begun revising our beloved anthem yet? I offer the following possibilities to replace this thorny sentence- I’m certain she will find them most acceptable.

• Forbid all liberties; free speech is banned
• Nanny State grasps you all in hand
• We’ll have you all bar-coded and scanned

Of course, no one has actually proposed a change in our anthem, but I just hope we’re never required to in an attempt to accommodate the machinations of an oppressive socialist regime. God defend our free land.