Like all things it's about balance. If freedom is paramount there are different freedoms to be balanced

The Indian economist Amartya Sen offers an example. Three children fight over a toy flute. One has no other toys, when the others have many. One can play the flute, when the others can't. One made the flute, when the others didn't. Each has a just claim to the flute, but these are different kind of justices which must be balanced.

Freedom is the same - it comes in many guises. We value freedom from slavery and freedom from penury. We value the freedom in the "pursuit of life, liberty and happiness" and the freedom in "liberté, egalité, fraternité".

Should Folau's right to freedom of religion trump others right to freedom from religion?

Should he be allowed to say what he wants and not be held accountable for his actions?

Should his rights take precedence over the rights of his employer who paid him handsomely?

Society knows that in order to function properly it has to place limits on our freedoms. That's why we have defamation laws,  a racial discrimination act, sexual harrassment laws.

Falou's rights haven't been trampled on, he is still free to say what he likes. But he is not free from the consequences.

Raven wrote on Jun 27^th, 2019 at 8:26pm:


Exactly.

Well said.

Bobby. wrote on Jun 27^th, 2019 at 8:57pm:


Solution to what, Bobby?

His rights haven't been trampled on.

He is still free to say whatever he likes.

Raven wrote on Jun 27^th, 2019 at 8:26pm:



Indeed it is a balance, and it would be nice to see legal clarity on to the extent an employer can control an employees private social media posts. Israel didn’t post anything to do with his employment or employer which I am very happy to have curtailed as a matter of employment.

What he did post was unremarkable and widely held religious convictions. 

I think an employers power should be restricted and it’s ability to proscribe what people say that are unrelated to employment given a sharp check. 

Nor do I think just because it is in the contract is a universal key to controlling a persons social presence in this new world of ubiquitous social identities.  A persons social identity will soon be as important as the physical lived identity.

It should be embarrassing to the forum luvvies how basely they have rolled over at employer contracts or the “if you don’t like it leave”, a defeat that holds employer power supreme even to your own social posts and which leads straight back to grapes of wrath employment selection.

That’s what happens if you lack privilege points with the left. 

freediver wrote on Jun 27^th, 2019 at 9:06pm:


So you think a person who is religious should have more rights then a person who is not?

freediver wrote on Jun 27^th, 2019 at 9:28pm:


Well we all know what assumption is the mother of.

Falou has the right to his religious beliefs. By the same token other people have the right to not be subjected to those beliefs.

He was free to say what he liked and he could even keep his job.  All he was asked to do was stay away from a public platform.