Too high a price (From York Press)

Too high a price

11:27am Saturday 22nd September 2012 in Letters By Reader's letter

FREEDOM of speech is a fundamental principle of western civilisation. Without freedom of speech democracy is unimaginable.

Janet Rowntree (Letters, September 19) believes this principle should be constrained in deference to Muslim fanatics.

This has an exact parallel with the universally condemned policy of appeasement adopted by the British government towards the territorial demands of Adolf Hitler: peace at any price.

A sufficient history of European civilisation might be written simply describing the centuries-old struggle for freedom of speech as an inalienable right.

We should revere those heroes who endured imprisonment, torture and death in that noble cause. They unhesitatingly paid the price. It is our duty to cherish what cost them so dear.

The American diplomats in Benghazi had every right to be honoured and protected.

Those who slaughtered them were both criminal and irrational. They deserve no consideration whatsoever.

William Dixon Smith, Welland Rise, Acomb , York.