Mr Atkinson - who used to deliver mock sermons on the comedy show Not the Nine O'Clock News - warned that British society would cease to permit "open and vigorous" debate and adopt "a veneer of tolerance concealing a snakepit of unaired and unchallenged views". At the meeting in Westminster, he insisted that "there should be no subjects about which you cannot make jokes".
There was, he said, a fundamental difference between race - already covered by legislation - and religion. "To criticise a person for their race is a manifestly irrational and ridiculous. But to criticise their religion - that is a right. That is a freedom. And a law that attempts to say you can criticise or ridicule ideas, as long as they are not religious ideas, is a very peculiar law indeed.
"It all points to the promotion of the idea there should be a right not to be offended... In my view, the right to offend is far more important than any right not to be offended."
The comedian said he recognised that the bill attempted to provide "comfort and protection" to British Muslims unfairly living with antagonism in the post-September 11 environment. But, he stressed: "This is wholly inappropriate, because of what it robs from all communities."
Dominic Grieve, the shadow attorney general and a Church of England church warden, said experience of a similar law in Australia proved it only increased intolerance. Britain would "lose something very precious in our society - the ability to laugh at ourselves."
Offensive... Or just funny?
If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name at a Swiss bank.
~ Woody Allen
At the last supper, Jesus Christ tells the Apostles: 'Now I'm going to turn the water into wine.' And the others told him, 'No, you put your money in the kitty like everyone else.'
~ Stan Boardman
A Jewish grandmother is watching her grandchild playing on the beach when a huge wave comes and takes him out to sea. She pleads: 'Please God, save my only grandson. I beg of you, bring him back.' And a big wave comes and washes the boy back onto the beach, good as new. She looks up to Heaven, and says: 'He had a hat!'
~ Myron Cohen
I believe Dr Kevorkian is onto something. I think he's great. Because suicide is our way of saying to God: 'You can't fire me. I quit.'
~ Bill Maher
Last year, I went to Mecca to repent my sins, and I had to walk around the Black Stone. All the women were dressed in black, you could only see their eyes. And I felt a hand touch my bottom. I ignored it. I thought: 'I'm in Mecca, it must be the hand of God.' But then it happened again. I didn't complain. Clearly, my prayers had been answered.
~ Shazia Mirza
Sarah Hall and Tania Branigan
Tuesday December 7, 2004
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