Voltaire's remark was in defense of free thinking and expression.
That is an entirely different animal from expressing one's hatred for another group of of people, in a forum where the aim has been to discus and deliberate on issues of mutual interest and to build better understanding of each others' issues . There have been some remarkably good illustrations of that in the USA in recent days. Just ask Mel Gibson. He would looooove your interpretation of Voltaire's defense of free-sppech. On Aug 19, 2010, at 11:31 PM, kamal deka wrote: > A decision not to say or write something because it might cause > problems or offend someone is one thing and hate-speech is quite > another.What is wrong with Voltaire's remark? > KJD > > On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 11:09 PM, Chan Mahanta <cmaha...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> We simply cannot force him to >>> >>>>> self-censor.That will be a naughty, naughty idea. >> >> >> **** What did this mean then? Did you not imply that one is free to indulge >> in hate speech, >> based on YOUR skewed and bizarre interpretation of Voltaire's defense of >> free-speech >> holds? >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Aug 19, 2010, at 11:04 PM, kamal deka wrote: >> >>> At no point did I say that hate-mongering is anacceptable >>> behaviour.That is your opinion.Tried to share my life experience with >>> you all;if that amounts to "hate-speech",so be it. >>> >>> On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 10:46 PM, Chan Mahanta <cmaha...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> I appreciate the fact you did not lose your voice, when there is a need to >>>> be heard from. >>>> >>>> I don't agree with your position, which seems to suggest it is OK to >>>> indulge in hate-speech >>>> based upon your own experiences at Tinsukiya, the Assam town where the >>>> indigenous Assamese >>>> are hard to find. >>>> >>>> That is where your admonition, or rhetorical question, IF two wrongs make >>>> a right, comes to mind. >>>> >>>> Does it? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Aug 19, 2010, at 10:28 PM, kamal deka wrote: >>>> >>>>> To all Netters save moderator, >>>>> Lest I be misunderstood,let me be explicit here by saying that I am >>>>> not ,by any reckoning,trying to defend Dhrubojyoti Deka for allegedly >>>>> using unpolished and unrefined words ( I don't know if he did) in this >>>>> Net. >>>>> >>>>> However,it reminds me of Voltaire, who once suggested that he would >>>>> disagree with his opponent, but would defend to the death the >>>>> opponent's right to have an opinion. We simply cannot force him to >>>>> self-censor.That will be a naughty, naughty idea. >>>>> >>>>> I was born in Tinsukia and spent quiet a few years of my life there.I >>>>> know how it feels like to be an Assamese in that milieu--a town where >>>>> we were the only Assamese ( in the main town).I also spent a few years >>>>> in Silchar and I had a providential escape one night during the peak >>>>> of Assam Movement.Those pontificating goody two shoes will never be >>>>> able to convince me about certain things which will remain indelibly >>>>> branded in my memory .I had sensed ' hate' in others really well.There >>>>> are certain truths in this world that cannot be erased. >>>>> >>>>> FINALLY,PACIFISM WORKS ONLY IF BOTH SIDES AGREE TO PLAY BY THE SAME >>>>> SET OF RULES. >>>>> >>>>> Kamaljit Deka >>>>> >>>>> On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 8:46 PM, Dhruba Jyoti Deka >>>>> <dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Are you threatening me? By showing CC, Moderator at top? >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Nothing to response your meaningless sentances. >>>>>> >>>>>>> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:32:23 -0700 >>>>>>> From: ankur_bora2...@yahoo.com >>>>>>> To: assam@assamnet.org >>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Cc : Moderator , Assam Net >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Dhruba Jyoti , >>>>>>> >>>>>>> You mentioned in your earlier posting that you were kidding about the >>>>>>> topic. Your subsequent postings are quite contrary to that. >>>>>>> Are you kidding or are ‘you serious ? >>>>>>> If you are serious, have you noticed the list of websites below the >>>>>>> signature of Sushanta. Have you gone through the online link of >>>>>>> “Pragyan”? Pragyan is a fruition of painstaking work of Sushanta and >>>>>>> teachers of Tinsukia college. Pragyan has guided thousands of studenst >>>>>>> of Tinsukia and that region in career planning , higher study , >>>>>>> creativity and leadership. There are valuable articles published in the >>>>>>> Assamese section of Pragyan related to Assamese language , culture and >>>>>>> history. >>>>>>> In the story of blind men and the elephant , each man described the >>>>>>> animal based on the part that they could feel i.e. the foreleg , the >>>>>>> tail and the trunk. Each one insisted that he alone was correct. Of >>>>>>> course, there was no conclusion for not one had thoroughly examined the >>>>>>> whole elephant. Their observation was limited to parts of the body, >>>>>>> they could not realize the magnificence and the splendor of the >>>>>>> majestic creature. >>>>>>> Would you continue to focus only on the “signature dots” or will you >>>>>>> open yourself to the total of the parts ? >>>>>>> I am not kidding here , seriously. >>>>>>> Ankur Bora >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> --- On Thu, 8/19/10, Dhruba Jyoti Deka <dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com> >>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> From: Dhruba Jyoti Deka <dhrubajyotid...@hotmail.com> >>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form >>>>>>> To: "A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the >>>>>>> world" <assam@assamnet.org> >>>>>>> Date: Thursday, August 19, 2010, 1:55 PM >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Sorry for that. But i have seen usage of such slang recently by 2 >>>>>>> senior fellow here. >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> From: absarangap...@hotmail.com >>>>>>>> To: cmaha...@gmail.com; assam@assamnet.org >>>>>>>> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:39:15 +0000 >>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> That's what I was going to say. Can we or should we bear with this >>>>>>>> type of behavior here in Assam Net? I can't believe in today's world >>>>>>>> this type of mentality is still there. I thought it was a passe`. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -ABS >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>>>>> From: Chan Mahanta <cmaha...@gmail.com> >>>>>>>> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:22:48 >>>>>>>> To: <assam@assamnet.org> >>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Dhruba: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Those are extremely intemperate words and have no place in a forum >>>>>>>> like assamnet. I don't know how much you know about this forum, but I >>>>>>>> have been in this net for a very long time, over 12 t years. There >>>>>>>> have been instances like this before, but most of us nipped those in >>>>>>>> the bud. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Please do NOT ever again use such vitriol against anybody, I don't >>>>>>>> care who. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I can assure you, most of us ion this forum will share my view. And I >>>>>>>> invite everyone , who wish to, stand up and be counted on WHAT is >>>>>>>> right! Remember, when we lose our voices when it is important to set >>>>>>>> things straight, silence is not a virtue. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> cm >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Aug 19, 2010, at 2:54 PM, Dhruba Jyoti Deka wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> > I am mailing from mobile, due to power failure. That is why I will >>>>>>>> not be able to go point to point or detailed because of character >>>>>>>> limitation. >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> > Now, Mr Sushanta, you a***** deserve only hatred. And what the hell >>>>>>>> is PRANTIK? Do not say what it was. Say what it is. >>>>>>>> > This time I would like to express that I hate Bengali people. >>>>>>>> Because nuisance always want that other should read and learn bangla, >>>>>>>> but never u nuisance read and learn other language's literature. You >>>>>>>> do write is another thing, that may be done by dictation and writing >>>>>>>> by other. >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> > Final saying, it is assamnet, not your banglanet. It is all about >>>>>>>> Assam, not about your bangla and Rabindranath, who licked toes of >>>>>>>> british for prizes, while other were getting killed fighting against >>>>>>>> british. >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> > You people are the snake of hidden corner, for whom, bangladeshis >>>>>>>> are getting ease to settle in Assam. You people helping them, so that >>>>>>>> one day bangla becomes the majority language of assam. Bloody >>>>>>>> backbitter bangladeshi. >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> >> From: pragyan.ts...@gmail.com >>>>>>>> >> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:47:16 +0530 >>>>>>>> >> To: assam@assamnet.org >>>>>>>> >> Subject: [Assam] Ramayana in Comic form >>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> >> Dear >>>>>>>> >> Krishnendu and others >>>>>>>> >> "'I have always found a handful chauvinist like you who are up in >>>>>>>> arms to >>>>>>>> >> discourage people like me or Sushanta.' said Krishnendu. >>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> >> That's why very few Bengali come and join here. >>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> >> Dhrubojyoty started all these arguments only because he hate >>>>>>>> Bengali. There >>>>>>>> >> is no use of argue with him. I'm not going to. >>>>>>>> >> I can only state that there are thousands of Bengali here in Assam >>>>>>>> and >>>>>>>> >> Elsewhere who also hate Assamese and never talk anything positive >>>>>>>> about >>>>>>>> >> them. I have bad experiences with them either. >>>>>>>> >> The point is, dose Dhruba Deka and people like him want that >>>>>>>> those people >>>>>>>> >> living in Assam and speak languages other then Assamese should >>>>>>>> create >>>>>>>> >> separate group and talk all the rubbish like Dhrubajyoti against >>>>>>>> Assamese. >>>>>>>> >> Will it be a healthy practice? >>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> >> As far my knowledge goes, in University level Assamese was first >>>>>>>> introduced >>>>>>>> >> in Kolkata University. After creation of GU and DU Assamese >>>>>>>> department there >>>>>>>> >> ceased to exist only because dearth of Student. Saying thus, I >>>>>>>> don't want to >>>>>>>> >> certify West Bengal as as ideal state of the country. I don't >>>>>>>> need to. >>>>>>>> >> Because that was/ is not my state. >>>>>>>> >> Rather , Personally I think , it's a disease which was imported >>>>>>>> from modern >>>>>>>> >> Europe and has infected whole the country and all the states.( I'm >>>>>>>> talking >>>>>>>> >> about the very concept of 'Nation State and nation Building'.) >>>>>>>> Every one is >>>>>>>> >> here busy with creating their own nation. And so, no where in >>>>>>>> India minority >>>>>>>> >> linguistic groups enjoys the equal status and honor. Most of the >>>>>>>> linguistic >>>>>>>> >> group has no state to claim their own. That's why Rajbonshis are >>>>>>>> fighting >>>>>>>> >> against both Assam and Bengal government for recognition of their >>>>>>>> mother >>>>>>>> >> tongues. >>>>>>>> >> Ask them , they will say if the government and Middle Class >>>>>>>> Bengali and >>>>>>>> >> Assamese has any different attitude towards them. To my knowledge, >>>>>>>> No. No >>>>>>>> >> one want them to secede from the Majority language! If they are >>>>>>>> Bengali, >>>>>>>> >> then WB Bengali should have been fight for their right in Assam. >>>>>>>> If they are >>>>>>>> >> Assamese ,Assamese should have been fight for their right in >>>>>>>> Bengal. But, >>>>>>>> >> who bother? Rather friends like Dhruba Jyoti Deka prefer to >>>>>>>> behave same >>>>>>>> >> way in thier own state. This was he will forget those Assamese >>>>>>>> who lives >>>>>>>> >> elsewhere, specially in WB and Bangladesh. His Bengali counterpart >>>>>>>> will >>>>>>>> >> exclude those Bengali who live out side the Border of WB. >>>>>>>> >> Dhrubajyoti may consider Bengali as Migrant in Assam, I'm not. He >>>>>>>> just >>>>>>>> >> forgot that present Assam is a >>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> >> Conglomeration of different region and part of provinces of >>>>>>>> British India. A >>>>>>>> >> Part of Bengal also transferred to Assam. He has referred to >>>>>>>> Bengali of >>>>>>>> >> Cachar, who thinks Cachar is not part of Assam and they use the >>>>>>>> word Assam >>>>>>>> >> for Brahmaputra valley . He hate Bengali so he referred Bengali >>>>>>>> only . We >>>>>>>> >> often hear Whenever an Assamese talk about Assam he means >>>>>>>> Brahmaputra >>>>>>>> >> Vally. Only the other day AGP MPs raise question in Parliament >>>>>>>> about the >>>>>>>> >> big river dam in Assam. They talked about Dams in Arunachal >>>>>>>> Pradeh. didn't >>>>>>>> >> uttered a word about Tipaimukh Dam. Being a college teacher I >>>>>>>> often hear my >>>>>>>> >> college say Assam has only three University, GU, DU and TU . They >>>>>>>> just >>>>>>>> >> forget that there is another University call Assam university at >>>>>>>> Silchar. >>>>>>>> >> I'm not citing these example to finds faults . I'd just request >>>>>>>> you all to >>>>>>>> >> find the reason behind such people's psycho. >>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> >> Whole India is infected with such problems and very few want it to >>>>>>>> be >>>>>>>> >> treated positively. I know a good number of Barak Velley People >>>>>>>> are >>>>>>>> >> waiting eagerly for separation of NC Hills and Karbi Anglong from >>>>>>>> Assam, so >>>>>>>> >> that they get it without any blood loss. That will be another >>>>>>>> Bengali lead >>>>>>>> >> province that way. People like Dhruba Jyoti are only working for >>>>>>>> that dream >>>>>>>> >> comes true! >>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> >> That's why , I don't consider post colonial India is an ideal >>>>>>>> country to be >>>>>>>> >> happy with. >>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> >> Each and Every minority here lives with a guilty feeling . As if >>>>>>>> he is >>>>>>>> >> living in a foreign land. Each and every Bengali, be he or she a >>>>>>>> chauvinist >>>>>>>> >> or a democrat like me has to always produce certificate for his >>>>>>>> loyalty >>>>>>>> >> towards mejortity group.Or they require a supporter like Chandanda >>>>>>>> or >>>>>>>> >> Uttamda or Ramda to feel secured . >>>>>>>> >> If we get compel to follow people like Sri Deka and his or her >>>>>>>> ideals , I >>>>>>>> >> don't know if Axom will be 'Xunor Axom' in near future , but, >>>>>>>> India will be >>>>>>>> >> a worst country to feel proud about and live in. >>>>>>>> >> I know a good number of Barak Velley People are waiting eagerly >>>>>>>> for >>>>>>>> >> separation of NC Hills and Karbi Anglong from Assam, so that they >>>>>>>> get it >>>>>>>> >> without any blood loss. That will be another Bengali lead province >>>>>>>> that way. >>>>>>>> >> People like Dhruba Jyoti are only working for that dream comes >>>>>>>> true! >>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> >> Dhruba Jyoti has said he can read Bengali,Just read a quotation >>>>>>>> from Old Mad >>>>>>>> >> Rabindranath in My signature ,""??????????? ??????? ???? ?????? >>>>>>>> ????? >>>>>>>> >> ???????, ????? ????? ?????? ??????" >>>>>>>> >> Sushanta Kar >>>>>>>> >> ??????? ?? >>>>>>>> >> ??????????, ???? >>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> >> ???? ????????: >>>>>>>> >> http://sushantakar40.blogspot.com >>>>>>>> >> http://ishankonerkahini.blogspot.com >>>>>>>> >> http://ishankonerkotha.blogspot.com >>>>>>>> >> ???? ???????? '????????' >>>>>>>> >> http://pragyan06now.blogspot.com >>>>>>>> >> http://sites.google.com/site/pragyan06now >>>>>>>> >> ??? ???????????? ???? ?? ???????? ??? ???: >>>>>>>> >> http://www.xobdo.org/ >>>>>>>> >> >>>>>>>> >> "??????????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ???????, ????? ????? ?????? >>>>>>>> ??????" >>>>>>>> >> ??????????? >>>>>>>> >>_______________________________________________ >>>>>>>> >> assam mailing list >>>>>>>> >> assam@assamnet.org >>>>>>>> >> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> >_______________________________________________ >>>>>>>> > assam mailing list >>>>>>>> > assam@assamnet.org >>>>>>>> > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>> assam mailing list >>>>>>>> assam@assamnet.org >>>>>>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>> assam mailing list >>>>>>>> assam@assamnet.org >>>>>>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> assam mailing list >>>>>>> assam@assamnet.org >>>>>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> assam mailing list >>>>>>> assam@assamnet.org >>>>>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> assam mailing list >>>>>> assam@assamnet.org >>>>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> assam mailing list >>>>> assam@assamnet.org >>>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> assam mailing list >>>> assam@assamnet.org >>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> assam mailing list >>> assam@assamnet.org >>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> assam mailing list >> assam@assamnet.org >> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org >> > > _______________________________________________ > assam mailing list > assam@assamnet.org > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _______________________________________________ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
