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Sunday, January 13, 2008

The State Of Free Speech In Canada Is Not Good

Here is Ezra Levant, publisher of the Western Standard, appearing in a hearing before a Canadian government “human rights commission.” Levant is being questioned for publishing the now-infamous “Mohammed cartoons” in his publication, something Canadian Muslims took offense too.

Pay particular attention to the second segment, where Levant was asked what his intent was in publishing the cartoons.

Is anyone else wondering why a supposedly free and liberal western democracy is questioning someone about the intent of their speech?  Would it matter if Levant’s intent was to make Muslims angry?  It apparently does in Canada given that they have a “human rights” bureaucracy tasked with interrogating and prosecuting people who do offend others, but it shouldn’t.

Free speech means free speech, up to and including speech that offends us.  We all agree that there are certain specific exceptions to this, such as libel, but in general letting citizens say what they want when they want to say it is a bedrock part of being a liberal democracy.

For instance, I detest some of the things John Edwards says.  When he starts spewing his populist rhetoric about robber barons and “two Americas” it really gets under my skin.  But anyone trying to deny Edwards his ability to say those things would find no bigger enemy than me, a person who probably couldn’t even agree with Edwards on whether or not the sun was shining.  Because despite the fact that I disagree with Edwards, I cherish his right to free speech as much as I cherish my own even though much of what he says offends me.

I feel the same way about members of hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan.  Most of the time I don’t give the rantings of those semi-literate, mouth-breathing bigots the time of day.  But if someone tried to stop them from engaging in public discourse I’d be on their side.  Because, again, the larger issue is free speech.

In Canada, the government has taken to harassing people who say controversial or provocative things because it offends certain segments of the country’s population.  They’re doing it to Mr. Levant and they’re doing it to Mark Steyn.  If I were a Canadian I’d be very, very worried.

Comments

For instance, I detest some of the things John Edwards says.  When he starts spewing his populist rhetoric about robber barons and “two Americas” it really gets under my skin.

There ARE two Americas. There’s the America where a worthless turd like John Edwards gets rich off of suing innocent hardworking doctors, and then gets to tell us how there are two Americas. And then there is teh real America everyone else lives in where those who bust their asses succeed and those who do nothing fail.

Kenny on January 13, 2008 at 02:00 am

Sure, it goes with the territory. 

Attack their Canadian version of Right to Arms with the horrendously-overbudget C-68 (compulsory gun registration, sweeping restrictions on gun ownership and weapon seizures by government) and now the Right to Free Speech.  (try speaking freely on Canadian forums like PlentyofFish and you will quickly find yourself edited, warned and ultimately banned).

Domestically, the Framers put all those rights in the Bill of Rights as restrictions on government from arrogating to itself all those elements of control that were necessary for a dictatorship to flourish (arms [*], assembly, free speech, property, due process, etc...).

It’s just that other members of the old Commonwealth (UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand) are further down the road to dictatorship than we are.  With the Real-ID Act, the Patriot Act, the numerous gun bans and restrictions enacted by state, local and federal governments, the accelerating loss of the right to privacy, we too are swiftly losing the full protections of the first ten amendments (e.g. Bill of Rights—Void Where Prohibited by Law).

So it comes as no surprise that, once the guns have been seized by government and the owners registered, now they can go after free speech.

I guess freedom isn’t lost all at once, but slowly squeezed out of a nation until getting it back is all but impossible.

[*]

“The right of self-defense is the first law of nature; in most governments it has been the study of rulers to confine this right within the narrowest possible limits. ... and [when] the right of the people to keep and bear arms is, under any color or pretext whatsoever, prohibited, liberty, if not already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction.”

-- St. George Tucker, Judge of the Virginia Supreme Court 1803


...for great justice

Move_Zig on January 13, 2008 at 03:02 am
Avatar for botg

Levant was asked what his intent was in publishing the cartoons.
i wonder what the intent of the question is?

botg on January 13, 2008 at 09:20 am

It alarms me when my Canadian friends say things like, “Oh, you musn’t say that”, “My, my, that will hurt people’s feelings”, “That will cause trouble”, or this one, “You Americans think you can say whatever you want”. Part of Canada’s problem comes from their decades old effort to support and sustain a bilingual population using draconian federal regulations. There is many lessons here for us.


"Here lies, in honored glory, an American soldier, known but to God.”

The stakes are high. Whether the issue is the economy, or energy, or the federal courts or national security, the right answers are coming not from the Democrats, but from the Republicans. The surge of operations that began a year ago is succeeding. The only way to lose this fight is to quit. Richard M. Cheney, Vice President, 30 May, 2008

pparets on January 13, 2008 at 09:46 am

Sorry:  “There are many lessons…


"Here lies, in honored glory, an American soldier, known but to God.”

The stakes are high. Whether the issue is the economy, or energy, or the federal courts or national security, the right answers are coming not from the Democrats, but from the Republicans. The surge of operations that began a year ago is succeeding. The only way to lose this fight is to quit. Richard M. Cheney, Vice President, 30 May, 2008

pparets on January 13, 2008 at 09:54 am

"We published those cartoons for the intention and purpose of exercising our inalienable rights as free-born Albertans to publish whatever the hell we want no matter what the hell you think.”

“The only thing I have to say to the GOVERNMENT about why I published them is because it’s my bloody right to do so!

Man, this guy is a new hero to me!


I think Rob hates me… I mean, just look at the pic he took of me!

Sphagnum on January 13, 2008 at 10:01 am
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I agree.  When I heard that part of the video I almost stood up and cheered.


When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

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Rob on January 13, 2008 at 10:12 am
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Hey, that’s Canada.  A couple years a go a guy from Ohio was arrested for swatting his kid on the butt when she ran out into a mall parking lot in Toronto.  Corporal punishment is illegal in Canada.

ec99 on January 13, 2008 at 10:52 am

Mike? Hello, Mike. What was that you were saying a few days ago about freedom of expression in your country? HHeellllooo? Mike, calling Mike Adamson.


Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

2Hotel9 on January 13, 2008 at 11:07 am

Everything our Canadian commenters say may not be sincere. They have to avoid pissing off their big brother national government. So who knows if they’re really telling us what they really think?

Question everything the Canadian citizen subject says. They’re oppressed up there in the north. You have to read between the lines to see what they’re really trying to say.

The reading between the lines thing is something you have to do in backwards and oppressed nations.

likwidshoe on January 13, 2008 at 01:54 pm
Avatar for Muslims Against Sharia

Canada: Freedom of Speech succumbing to Kangaroo Courts of the Human Rights Commission

Proceedings against Ezra Levant are nothing short of ridiculous, but let’s consider the implications for moderate Muslims. This “investigation” will further divide Muslims and non-Muslims in Canada. It will give credence to radicals’ claims that the West is at war with Islam. It will antagonize non-Muslims and radicalize moderate Muslims. Regardless of the outcome, once again Islamists skillfully manipulated Dhimmi justice system and came out as clear winners. Thank you, Human Right Commission!

Muslims Against Sharia on January 13, 2008 at 07:30 pm
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So, what you’re saying is that the Human Rights Commission in Canada is doing more harm to Muslims than anything Mr. Levant has published?

Makes sense to me.


When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

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Rob on January 13, 2008 at 07:48 pm

Likwidshoe hit the nail squarely on the head when he replaced the word “citizen” with “subject.”

There was a time when you could be jailed or even hanged for insulting the King of England. All hail the new King: Political Correctness.


Election ‘08 - We Are So Screwed

Pilgrim on January 14, 2008 at 08:03 am
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