Reference :- Freedom of speech is fast becoming a relic of the past .
Here in Kooralya we are hunkered down by the fireplace , weathering our annual " once in a hundred years " flood and the howling winter winds . We get poor reception on the tele out here , but Monte managed to adjust the aerial so we can watch the news on the ABC . It's a miracle that he didn't get blown off the roof . I asked him to clean the gum leaves out of the guttering while he was up there , but apparently the guttering needs to be repaired first .
" Screw your guttering . " , Monte said .
I guess I will have to pick up some screws next time I am at the hardware store .
Anyway , we saw on the news that there has been a lot of fuss about a band at that Glastonbury music festival thing that they run each year in Old Blighty . Apparently some chap who calls himself Bob Vylan is in a lot of trouble . I had never heard of him myself , personally , but Ken junior said he knows all about him , so I asked a few questions .
" Why is he called Bob Vylan ? " , I said .
" It's a play on the name Bob Dylan " , Ken junior said .
" Never heard of him . " , I said .
" He is in trouble for chanting "free Palestine and death death to the IDF " , Ken junior said .
" He sounds like an idiot " , I said .
" He's a lot smarter than you think " , Ken junior said .
" How's that ? " , I said .
" A smug interviewer told Bob Vylan that he would " soil himself " if he was confronted by the IDF " , Ken junior said .
" And ? " , I said
" Bob Vylan replied ' Why is that ? Surely the IDF would never harm or kill an unarmed civilian ? ' , Ken junior said .
" That certainly was a clever riposte .... makes you think " , I said .
These days it seems freedom of speech is becoming unfashionable . Ken junior called Dog away from his box by the fire so he could take him out into the yard for his morning ablutions . Dog stooped low and looked anxiously at the door , which rattled in the icy wind .
As he put his gloves on , Ken junior spoke .
" What do you think the most unfashionable quote in the world is these days ? " , Ken junior said .
" Tell me . " , I said .
" I may disagree with what you say , but I will defend to the death your right to say it " , Ken junior said .
" That is not a real quote . They say something like that was said by Voltaire , but nobody knows for sure . " , I said
" It's still the most unfashionable quote in the world today " , Ken junior said
I think the lad might be right .
Your comrade ,
Ken