Salman Rushdie goes on offensive after Indian
festival appearance is cancelled

But in the real world where societies are plural, then it is both inevitable and important that people offend the sensibilities of others. Inevitable, because where different beliefs are deeply held, clashes are unavoidable. And we should deal with those clashes rather than suppress them. Important because any kind of social change or social progress means offending some deeply held sensibilities. The right to ‘subject each others’ fundamental beliefs to criticism’ is the bedrock of an open, diverse society.

Colbert explains how to deal with Internet
censorship protests

[Update Jan 15th] Atheists have no right
to decide what is, or what is not offensive to believers
Atheists face Muslim-led censorship from
UCL Union

Could You Be A Criminal? US Supports UN Anti-Free Speech Measure

Richard Dawkins's review of The Social Conquest of Earth, by Edward O Wilson (WW Norton, £18.99, May)

[Journalists] seem to feel let down when they discover that the real people aren't anything like the way they so relentlessly portray us; as if, since they've gone to the trouble of inventing extravagant caricatures of us, we should at least have the decency to live up to them in real life.
Also in Polish

Whatever else the Bible might be – and it really is a great work of literature – it is not a moral book and young people need to learn that important fact because they are very frequently told the opposite.

Even if you are unaccustomed to living by reason, if you are one of those, perhaps, who actively distrust reason, why not give it a try? Cast aside the prejudices of upbringing and habit, and come along anyway. (Also translated into Polish)

Following a week of attacks, the evolutionary biologist responds to his critics – and argues Britain must not make policy by following “Census Christians” who can’t name the first book of the New Testament.