I’ve got mixed feelings about Ann Widdecombe. By that, I don’t mean that I find her prehistoric views on matters like homosexuality and abortion particularly attractive, nor for that matter her politics. For all that, I do feel that, in a supposedly free country, she should be free to say things the rest of us might find offensive. Not just her, everyone.
As long as people don’t stray into the land of illegality, why should people not say what they think? If I want to mock and ridicule a religion, I should be free to do so, whether that’s Widdecombe’s Catholic church with its odious recent history of sexual abuse or the so called religion of peace, Islam. If I want to draw a cartoon of a prophet, I should not be prevented from so doing. You have the right to be offended in a free country.
A theatre in Ilfracombe has cancelled Widdecombe’s one-woman show Strictly Ann, following her comments about science finding a ‘cure’ for homosexuality. David Hutchinson, the CEO of Sellador the company that owners the theatre tweeted that he: “Took no time in immediately cancelling her planned ‘evening with’ event at one of our Selladoor venues.” He added that her comments were were indefensible and refused to “provide a stage for these vile people”.
Well, yes, her comments were indefensible, and she’s pretty vile, but should she be banned or punished for making them? Personally, I don’t think she should. Better, surely, that her comments are debated, preferably with her? She makes a comment about homosexuality which we know exists, not least because she believes in a God who in all probability doesn’t. Who’s the one who needs the cure?
My response is probably as offensive to her as hers was to me. Too bad. This is what freedom looks like. Within the law of the land, people should be free to say and do whatever they like, as long as their decisions don’t affect anyone else’s. I’d rather use sandpaper as toilet paper than see Widdecombe’s one-woman show. I think she’s a hateful old hag. Happily, she’s free to be a hateful old hag. The people should decide whether they want to see her show, not self-appointed censors.
