We cannot allow censorship and silencing of individuals
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http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2015/feb/14/letters-censorship Version 0 of 1. The fate of Kate Smurthwaite’s comedy show, cancelled by Goldsmith’s College in London last month (“What could be more absurd than censorship on campus”, Nick Cohen, Comment) is part of a worrying pattern of intimidation and silencing of individuals whose views are deemed “transphobic” or “whorephobic”. Most of the people so labelled are feminists or pro-feminist men, some have experience in the sex industry, some are transgender. Last month, there were calls for the Cambridge Union to withdraw a speaking invitation to Germaine Greer; then the Green party came under pressure to repudiate the philosophy lecturer Rupert Read after he questioned the arguments put forward by some trans-activists. The feminist activist and writer Julie Bindel has been “no-platformed” by the National Union of Students for several years. “No platforming” used to be a tactic used against self-proclaimed fascists and Holocaust-deniers. But today it is being used to prevent the expression of feminist arguments critical of the sex industry and of some demands made by trans activists. The feminists who hold these views have never advocated or engaged in violence against any group of people. Yet it is argued that the mere presence of anyone said to hold those views is a threat to a protected minority group’s safety. You do not have to agree with the views that are being silenced to find these tactics illiberal and undemocratic. Universities have a particular responsibility to resist this kind of bullying. We call on universities and other organisations to stand up to attempts at intimidation and affirm their support for the basic principles of democratic political exchange. Beatrix Campbell Lynne Alderson Ruth Ahnert Dr Lucy Allen Nimko Ali Dr Kerri Andrews Lisa Appignanesi Prof. John Barrell Prof Mary Beard Melissa Benn Rosa Bennathan Katie Beswick Dr Sue Black Prof Jenny Bourne Taylor Alison Boydell Fiona Broadfoot Paul Burston Dianne Butterworth Prof Deborah Cameron Ivy Cameron Dr Rosie Campbell Cynthia Cockburn Anna Coote Caroline Criado-Perez Hannah Curtis Dr Liz Davies Kim Darwood Dr Sukhwant Dhaliwal Jane Diblin Sarah Ditum Stella Duffy Dr Victoria Dutchman-Smith Louise Evan-Wong Dr Katharine Edgar Jayne Egerton Carol Fox Kim Graham Rahila Gupta Prof Catherine Hall Prof Jalna Hanmer Jeremy Hardy Dr James Harrison Heather Harvey Lorrie Hearts Prof Nicholas Hewitt Dr Rachel Hewitt Deborah Hyde Bridget Irving Susan Jack Darren Johnson MLA Claire Jones Jane Clare Jones Judith Jones Prof Liz Kelly Karen Hanna Kruzycka Jenny Landreth Claire Lazarus Kate Leigh Prof Alison Light Prof Ruth Lister Dr Julia Long Sonia Long Prof Joni Lovenduski David Lusted Dr Samantha Lyle Shakila Maan Dr Finn Mackay Nancy Mackeith Rosina Mcrae Sarah Maguire Dr Sarah Mansfield Elizabeth Mansfield Heather McRobie Gia Milinovich Lucinda Montefiore Dr Helen Mott Hannah Mudge Sonali Naik Dr Peter Newbon Jill Nicholls Sian Norris Juliet Oosthuysen Sue O’Sullivan Femi Otitoju Ursula Owen Sue Parrish Pragna Patel Louise Pennington Cat Peters Prof Jill Radford Dale Rapley Dr Rebecca Reilly-Cooper Dr Victoria Rimell Roweena Russell Dr Adam Rutherford Gita Sahgal Dr Joan Scanlon Sandhya Sharma Vanessa Shaw Dr Ben Schiller Prof Sophie Scott Shelley Silas Karen Ingala Smith Prof Francesca Stavrakopoulou Sian Steans Mary-Ann Stephenson Prof Ann Stewart Marina Strinkovsky Southall Black Sisters Julka Szymanska Felicity Tarnell Peter Tatchell Steve Trafford Dr Sue Tate Dr Matthew Taunton Lisa-Marie Taylor Helen Thompson Dr Megan Todd Janet Veitch Judith Vidal-Hall Nicky Wallace Dr Jim Walsh Liz Waterhouse Prof Nicole Westmarland Lisa Whelan Dr Michael Whitworth Jim Wild Dr Heather Williams Clair Wills Prof Alan Winfield Harriet Wistrich Miranda Yardley The need to help suicidal men In 1997, when my son, Stuart, killed himself aged 27, I suddenly became aware that almost everyone I spoke to seemed to have been affected by suicide or known someone who had been (“Fragility of the strong, silent male”, Comment). In the late 90s, there was a flurry of concern about the suicides of young men and Calm was founded not long after this. The Samaritans were already established for people with the assertiveness to seek help for suicidal feelings. Councils started to prepare suicide strategies and Mental Health First Aid is providing as many people as possible with the skills to help. People who had known Stuart set up the Stuart Low Trust . Since 2001, we have been tackling the social isolation that can lead to suicide, providing activities that welcome people on the receiving end of racism, poverty, xenophobia, disability hate crime and the general climate of thought that mental ill health means that someone is dangerous and best avoided. Many might like to follow Anthony Clare’s advice to “find meaning and fulfilment ... in love, family and personal relationships”, but these options are beyond their reach. Virginia Low London N1 SNP’s policy of silence After years of the SNP government in Scotland, voters in hugely deprived areas of Glasgow have apparently decided to switch from Labour to…SNP! Kevin McKenna (“In the poor heart of Glasgow, political loyalties melt away”, News) says this is because they are tired of Labour’s “broken promises and infidelity”. He goes on to quote figures that demonstrate the appalling differences in life expectancy, and educational and health outcomes between the most and least deprived areas of Scotland. The best he can offer from the current SNP administration’s point of view is that their recently retired chief medical officer “is optimistic that the Scottish government is beginning to grasp” the need for “early intervention strategies”. Last week, it was revealed that the interest in parties such as Ukip, the SNP and Greens was greatly inflated by social media bandwagons. The SNP’s response is to maintain their long-term policy of silence on the reality of issues in Scotland and manufacture a phoney referendum mark 2, led by Salmond, in Westminster. Carolyn Kirton Aberdeen Vitalise vegans with vitamins You ask: “Is this the week that veganism finally came of age?” (“From Beyoncé to the Baftas, vegan culture gets star status”, News). Vegans avoid foods of animal origin and it is true that you can get almost all of the nutrients you need in this way. The crucial exception is vitamin B12, required for the production of red blood cells. Its lack causes pernicious anaemia. The Vegan Society’s website does make a clear statement that all vegans should take a vitamin B12 supplement . Dr Brian Curwain Former Chair of Science Committee Royal Pharmaceutical Society A boo and a hiss for Barbara Oh, Barbara Ellen, for once I’m disappointed in your column with your views on Wolf Hall (“Good news if you can’t sleep – Wolf Hall is on next”Comment). My friends and I were riveted by the Tudoresque atmosphere, understated acting, dim candlelight and stunning tableaux. And if you had a problem with the diction, either turn up the sound or put on the subtitles and enjoy something magnificently different. Glendra Read Ealing, west London |