http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/thou-shalt-not-annoy/2008/06/30/1214677946009.html

"EXTRAORDINARY new powers will allow police to arrest and fine people for "causing annoyance" to World Youth Day participants and permit partial strip searches at hundreds of Sydney sites, beginning today.

The laws, which operate until the end of July, have the potential to make a crime of wearing a T-shirt with a message on it, undertaking a Chaser-style stunt, handing out condoms at protests, riding a skateboard or even playing music, critics say"


What kind of t-shirts would the pope find offensive?

Well I can imagine plenty of stuff that would be considered offensive, I just worry about who gets to decide.

I could imagine ones of the pope with nazi references would be popular, but probably not allowed.

It is this very grey area of freedom of speech, vs hate speech, and deciding just where the line should be.

I do not know the answers, on a purely philosophical level, I would err on the side of free speech, but I also would not like to see kids being too over the top in their choice of protest T-Shirts.

I remember someone driving past an open air mass, blasting their horn and screaming out their versions of sexually perverse acts that the holy family committed in hell, this was obviously motivated by hatred and a desire to be as offensive as possible.

That goes beyond the boundaries of allowable free speech.

This is a call that unfortunately needs to be made, but whoever makes it will certainly need to exercise great judgement.

freediver wrote on Jul 1^st, 2008 at 11:03am:

So do I,

Its bad enough that millions of taxpayer money is being spent on this thing, but to then dictate that certain t-shirts or music or handing out condoms wont be allowed is an outrage.

You should see a browse button below where you type in your post.

freediver wrote on Jul 1^st, 2008 at 11:56am:



Got it! Thanks. I was misled by the "Insert Image" icon above the post.

It's absolutely pathetic and the Pope's visit is being taken far too seriously and to the extreme.   How harmless is it to give out condoms and wear anti-catholic T-shirts?  Of course violence should be curtailed - but those wanting to make fun of this circus should be entitled to.  Anyone caught doing either of these two things could be liable for a $5,000 penalty or imprisonment.  Meanwhile the whole city has to come to a standstill for a week for 80,000 visitors - no-where near the 500,000 predicted.

mantra wrote on Jul 1^st, 2008 at 7:23pm:


I don't think the Christian religion should be fair game. Substitute the Dalai Lama or the King of Sweden. Anyway, Roman Catholicism is rapidly becoming a minority religion. We should respect our minorities.