The Heresy Corner yesterday was having a rant about “diversity” and tolerance. And quite rightly. In the pursuit of “diversity” we have thrown away the principle of free speech and tolerance.

Diversity of appearance, diversity defined as a number of officially-defined, externally-validated “characteristics” is to be tolerated, celebrated and legally enforced. Diversity of thought and opinion, on the other hand, attracts suspicion and censure, sometimes official, often moral, always self-righteous. Intolerance of dissent has become the hallmark of a “diverse” society.

What this amounts to is that if I’m a black, Estonian, homosexual, paraplegic I have to be provided with wheelchair access to every building, allowed a civil marriage and who knows what other “privileges”. If I were to express an opinion that gay paraplegics should be castrated and have their state-funded wheelchairs and crutches taken away I would be banged up in HM Wormwood Scrubs hotel. Well maybe not quite that extreme, but most venues would refuse to give me a platform from which to speak.

That flies in the face of not just diversity and tolerance but free speech. It’s as has been said many times before:

I may disagree with, even abhor, your opinion but I will defend to the death your right to publicly express that opinion.

That is free speech and tolerance. And by listening to all opinions (yes, including those we dislike) is how progress is made. As the writer at the Heresy Corner remarks:

Censors invariably begin their remarks with the pat phrase “I believe in free speech, but…”. If you believe in “free speech, but”, you don’t believe in free speech.

It’s the same as saying you don’t agree with discrimination but you’re happy to go along with positive discrimination or (say) female only short-lists for appointments. If the latter then you don’t believe in non-discrimination.

Read the whole Heresy Corner article; it’s important.