IN a free society one has a right to comment in support of or against any social, political, or belief or cultural norm.

In the current climate of political correctness the producers of Monty Python, Alf Garnett, or many other 1960s and 70’s TV and radio programmes would be sent to prison for a lifetime. That is clearly silly.

If newcomers to Britain are supposed to adopt British values as suggested by David Cameron, the question is from which period in history?

British values are constantly evolving and have moved away from what they were just a few decades back, let alone historic periods from centuries past.

Someone resurrected from say the 1940s and 50s or even the 60s and 70s would find themselves having difficulty understanding the language, manners, and cultural norms prevailing in present day Britain.

Freedom of expression is being demonised and there is no reason to demand that people respect alien religions and cultures when patently they may not wish to do so.

Tolerance of religions and cultures is only possible within a society if those believing in particular faiths and cultural norms keep these private.

Pushing particular religious and cultural norms and flags of allegiance to be accepted by all others only antagonises the majority.

Freedom to believe also means freedom not to believe and accepting other cultural norms.

The present rhetoric about anti-Semitism or Islamophobia has been blown out of proportion. Expecting everyone to respect belief systems and values they do not agree with is not real freedom but tyranny.

– Venk Shenoi, Blaisdon.