NANNY STATE knows what’s good for us, takes away our toys if we’re naughty, and occasionally if we’re not. It is like Junior School, when a classroom miscreant failed to own up to some misdemeanour, so the entire class was deprived of playtime, writes Kay Hunter.
In announcing the blocking of “Esoteric Websites and Alternative Spirituality” to protect children and their innocence, Top Nanny David Cameron is not only being hypocritical, but is interfering with our personal freedom to an alarming degree.
By “the end of the year” the freedom of spiritual expression and inter-faith discussions via “related websites” could be blocked by internet filters. This is within Mr Cameron’s definition of “esoteric material” and has been lumped together with pornography, violence and suicide related sites. The end of the year is nigh.
The definition of esoteric is “Intelligible only to those with special knowledge, of a belief etc; intended only for the initiated.” So the complexities of the games of chess or bridge are esoteric. There is wide scope for what rebels are describing as “a firewall against our freedom of choice”.
It raises vital questions about religious freedom and human rights. The full context of this new ruling is being slid past the public in the guise of protecting children from dangerous material, but it has sinister offshoots.
The wording of the proposal states that the ban will extend to websites of “universally acknowledged sects”. That covers a multitude. It could mean a ban on studying “minority” religions. It also means by definition that the filter will be applied to Spiritualism, mediumship, spiritual healing, the paranormal, yoga, astrology, crystal healing, vegetarianism and animal rights groups. “Esoteric material” and its accompanying web forums are to go. Minorities are an endangered species.
The Open Rights Group reports that websites of organisations promoting “esoteric practices” directly or indirectly have already been blocked on pay-as-you-go Orange phones.
Did you know that? All this has nothing to do with protecting children. If the government is so concerned, why is the increasing amount of sex and violence on the nightly soap operas so readily accessible? Is Mr Cameron going to censor the scriptwriters and producers? This entire campaign of feigned righteousness is unsavoury in every way.
It’s time Nanny State’s bluff was called. The smoking ban backfired. The old style village pubs closed in their hundreds as the “regulars” were banished to draughty outdoor shelters if they should dare to fancy a cigarette with their pint.
And whose crackpot idea was it that by hiding the cigarettes at the supermarket kiosk, smokers would be discouraged from buying tobacco products? The sliding doors concealing the evil weed have made no difference and appear to be swishing to and fro all day!
Judging by late night conditions on our streets, the ban on teenage alcohol consumption also failed. We are hemmed in by regulations. This latest underhand attempt to bring us to heel is the most serious to date.
It is a fundamental attack on our way of life, our religions and our opportunities for discussion and learning.
Could it ever get off the ground? This is attempted mind control, and our protests must be loud and clear.
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