Do people have a right to be not offended?

Do people have a right to be not offended?

I say "of course not!!!"

You take offense, it is not given!

I'm offended by bad driving, uncoordinated clothing, stupid people, people who chew with their mouths open, people who walk with their mouth open, people who take homeopathic medicine etc.. and that is MY PROBLEM!! not theirs.

Offense is your reaction to something, and does not necessarily reflect the intention of the act.

Well this is what is on trial in the Netherlands. Geert Wilders is going on trial for offending Muslims by stating that he believes that Islam is bad. He has no problem with Muslims, but thinks that the ideals of Islam is a danger to our culture. He makes a good point. I would go further by grouping Judaism and Christianity in with it.. but I may offend :-\

There is a new trend to treat groups (religions and businesses) like they are people. But are they? If I get together with friends, to we as a group get extra rights?

A decent rant about this is given by Pat Condell in youTube



Geert's website is wildersontrial.com. A good article by Douglas Murray is found here.

what do you think?