Amen.
The court case against Mark Steyn has begun here in Canada without much fanfare. Actually, the silence is deafening.
Imagine that, the BC Human Rights Commission has the nerve to move forward on this. Make you wonder what the prevailing mindset is these days among our legal, political and intellectual masters. They certainly don't seem to speak for me.
How did all this nonsense begin? For years, it's been a curious thing having to watch Mohamed Elmasry, head of the Canadian Islamic Congress, scrurry around demanding action against people when his own track record is far from honorable. Can you say shit disturber?
As usual, Canadians are content to let the government take matters relating to freedom of expression into its own hands.
Personally, this whole episode leaves me disturbed and frightened like a little girl.
Steyn expressed an opinion in a book. We can disagree with its content indeed but to try him in court for it is an attack on freedom of speech. Nothing more, nothing less.
A couple of things to consider:
1) Blogs get away with far more offensive things. They are not held accountable for their words and actions. Do we now go after them? Or is it simply easier to go after an author paid to offer his or her opinions?
2) Food for thought: Mein Kempf is still available for all to see - as it should be.
3) Why should Elmasry get a free pass for how own distasteful comments, for example, about the West and homosexuals?
4) What about the attacks on Christianity that have become the norm on television in Canada?
5) Have you been on message boards? Not pretty, huh? Writing behind a computer with a pseudo-name emboldens people to write stuff far worse than Steyn. For instance, soccer forums are a cess pool of prejudicial (and racist) trash. Yet, comments are rarely deleted or censored. Should the Human Rights Commission tie its hands up with this given it is now engaged in thought control?
The ruling will determine if Canada has lost its mind or found its power to keep perspective. If it finds Steyn guilty, one has to ask: What are Canadian "values" (never clearly and properly defined - to me anyway) anymore?
We don't need no education
We dont need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall.
"Wrong, Do it again!"
"If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you
have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?"
"You! Yes, you behind the bikesheds, stand still laddy!"
Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)
Once you lose one freedom, even if it is in trade for presumed safety, it becomes easier and easier to be stripped of another and another and another freedom. It's happening here in the US too, and becoming more frequent. I'd say that it will be one big, rude awakening someday.
ReplyDeleteIt's happening here too except Canadians are very slow to react - if at all.
ReplyDeleteI think it's something Western civilization as a whole is facing.