The United Kingdom just recently announced sixteen people who were banned from traveling to the country. Those mentioned in the ban are not terrorists or convicted felons, but rather those who hold extremist views. Without a doubt people will be arguing over this as a means to stifle freedom of speech. The recent announcement does not discuss deporting those who hold extremist views. Nor does it seem any citizens of the UK were included on the list.

“Coming to this country is a privilege. If you can’t live by the rules that we live by, the standards and the values that we live by, we should exclude you from this country and, what’s more, now we will make public those people that we have excluded.”

There will be those who cry foul, proclaiming that the UK has stepped over the line. The freedom of expression is so coveted in the United States that any infringement on it is closely scrutinized. Some are considering suing the UK, but I must ask on what grounds? Freedom of International Travel perhaps; sorry, but that does not exist. The UK is well within its power to restrict travel to the country. Where the government will get in trouble however, is the reason for the restriction. Based on the statement by the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, they seek to exclude those who break the laws and do not live up to the standard of the country? Would that entail deporting felons or those who do not have the resources to meet the standards? What are the standards anyways? Who decides the standards anyways?

Those who have been listed include gang members, Hamas lawmakers, white supremacists, and anti-gay advocates.

It is refreshing to see a European country make a clear statement that life is not an unrestricted playground where everything goes and everybody is free to satisfy their lusts and vices. However, their arguments for enacting such a policy are shaky at best. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.