A 9 month suspended sentence just for writing a poem?

Question

A young woman wrote poems praising Muslim Terrorists. Most of us wouldn't agree with the sentiments expressed but isn't this really a conviction for 'thought crime'?
Where's George Orwell when we need him?

Answer 1

sometimes we may not agree with what others think but that does not give us the right to damn them.
poetry is just a written expression of your thoughts and whatever your thoughts may be, whether others agree with them or not, it is not a criminal offence to have those thoughts.
Jihad and martyrdom were the subject, or so i heard on the radio today. if it were shakespeare spouting vengeance and hatred, i am sure the powers that be would be applauding rather than locking him up. strange world we live in eh?

Answer 2

Hi. Orwell here. answering under a pseudonym. Physical punishment for a mental crime is indeed a grave injustice. On the other hand, religious terrorists do just that--kill people because of what they think about the thoughts of others. Ideas can be justifiably defended against with other ideas; physical force is only justified as a counter-measure against physical force.
However, what is just seems to have no effect at all upon the modern idea of justice and we are often compelled only to speak our minds among minds who happen to agree with us.
People nowadays DO take violent physical action against the mere expression of thoughts. It does not take a thinker of my Orwellian caliber to realize that the world is insane.
I am quite insane (outside the social norm) for taking a rational view of justice. And so I remain in hiding.

Answer 3

If it encourage people to kill it does push it over the top. Why would someone write a poem praising muslim terrorist? Maybe she just wants some attention and does extreme things to get it.

Answer 4

ok Phil, i'm going to objective my days artwork is finished, i'm back at domicile my spouse welcomes me with a hug my acquaintances are the final, i'm no longer on my own existence is staggering i desire to grin Oops, rubbish poem. yet I do sense good as we communicate

Answer 5

A poem is not thought. Poems are usually our deepest feelings, not just a flight of fancy.
If she praises them so highly, maybe she needs to go there & profess her allegience to them, instead of a slap on the wrist here, & leave her here to get worse & possibly become a puppet for them, or be a bomb hanger perhaps...if she is that deluded, she may have just the kind of mind they are looking for.

Answer 6

I think you will find there's more to it than that, like an incitement to promote racial hatred. And anyone who does that be it a Muslim or a Christian should go to prison.

She was lucky she got a suspended sentence going on the report i read earlier.

Answer 7

if that is true.... if she wrote this poem and it was for private use so be it, but if she sought to put this poem in the public domain she would be in breach of the incitement to hatred act and charged, anyone who seeks to further their aims through inciting hatred should be removed from that society, i would like to stress that what i have just stated applies to anyone, that's anyone involved in this breach of the incitement act.

Answer 8

I'd imagine she was done for 'inciting racial hatred' or something. I agree it is a bit excessive

Answer 9

I agree just because you dont belive in peoples ethics you shouldnt jail them, your worse than the perpertrators then, our society is based on free speech so we should upheld it, and show other societies that this is the right way to behave.

Answer 10

Link please.

Without the complete story, there isn't much one can say in answer.