Skip navigation

 Login or Register | Member Centre

Beware ‘slippery slope' to censorship, hearing told

SUNNY DHILLON

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 7:32 AM EST 07/06/08

Closing arguments made before B.C.'s Human Rights Tribunal over complaint about Maclean's ...Read the full article

This conversation is closed

  1. Blaque Jacque Shallaque from Canada writes: This not merely a slippery slope.

    This is a small group of individuals who have infiltrated what was a naive but well-intentioned Human Rights Commission system, and have become a law unto themselves, pushing a social agenda that is unaccountable to politicians or the public.

    Anyone reading the proceedings of the BC HRC case against Steyn this week will see how clueless and biased the judges are. These kangaroo courts are reminiscent of those seen in Communist countries.

    Ordinary people who assume that our bureaucrats and public servants are basically honest basically good-willed people are stunned when they find out what goes on here.

    The Commission courts obey no standard rules of evidence nor rules for expert testimony. They presume guilt, and are supervised by political hacks, not real judges. They have powers to seize and search that EXCEED (!) those of the police. They seem accountable to no one. They believe they 'know better' than regular people, than elected politicians, than those who disagree with their ideology. This seems to permit them to justify any action, even if ethically questionable or downright illegal, to accomplish their 'mission'.

    People who have not been engaged in this issue for the past year just cannot believe this. They think this is hyperbole, but please spend 1 hour reading Ezra Levant's site, and learn about how a cancer is living inside this nation, destroying its values from within.

    www.ezralevant.com
  2. Black Bart from West, Canada writes: Totally agree with BJS comments above. These extra-judicial censorship committees have outlived what good intentions they might have been founded upon and transgressed well into freedom of expression territory. Also, organizations with power have been infiltrated by biased individuals with a private agenda from SPCA right on up to the HRC. This is abuse of the power of the state.

    Furthermore, I have read Steyn's book, excerpts of which were published in McCleans and it is a far cry from racist. There are aspects of Islam which very much need to be questioned by any western democracy, because we are very much living with Muslims now and that will continue and become more common.

    Considering any Islamic theocracy in the world, I have very serious questions about what is acceptable and when and where. I also realize many Muslims are not Islamists. In making such distinctions, those who would use a HRC to attempt to shut down debate do not impress me as the sort favouring liberal democracy.

    Shame on the HRC - they are no better than the 'police' who run about the streets of Tehran chastising and threatening women who are not dressed 'appropriately'
  3. anonymous newswatcher from toronto, Canada writes: Sometimes i feel that media...newspapers, radio, television cater exclusively to law and order / police agendas without questioning of proposed legislation and its REAL social impact on those that we call the 'working poor'when their lives are ruined by heavy handed punishments that have snowballing effects on their work opportunities and their social reputation/exclusion through background checks and the like. Although i am not necessarily saying Maclean's is biased, all media outlets ARE. They reflect the biases of their owners. To suggest otherwise would be falacy. It's time to wake up to biased media..Media is NOT objective as they claim..THey routinely avoid printing stories questioning police budget spending and the like for fear of being sued as an example....I don't support Islam. More questioning of Islam can foster changes in this religion that may make it more positive..In any event FREE SPEECH must always be upheld no matter who the speaker (even those in prison) to really understand the cumulative hardships of those who end up unnecessarily in the justice and legal system and prisons and the compounding nature of human suffering...
  4. shannon hall from Oakville, Canada writes: Will the GLOBE AND MAIL delete these comments like they deleted the last set of comment on the same subject?

    It's ironic that the Globe and Mail is scared of similar lawsuits because members of the general public have the gull to express their opinions about a topic at hand.

    I guess the Globe and Mail has become the thought police - such irony. I guess the CIC has already won!

    Congrats on the Globe to pre-censoring itself.

    Nobel - very noble.

    For those who don't know - an article Wed. has hundreds of comments - some a bit to the extreme level and the Globe pulled the comment thread! So much for supporting the principles of open and free speech.
  5. A Skeptic from Canada writes: The BBC news had this item a few days ago:

    'A French court has fined former film star Brigitte Bardot 15,000 euros (£12,000) for inciting racial hatred.

    'She was prosecuted over a letter published on her website that complained Muslims were 'destroying our country by imposing their ways'.

    'It is the fifth time Ms Bardot been convicted over her controversial remarks about Islam and its followers. This is her heaviest fine so far.

    'The fine - equivalent to $23,000 - related to a letter she wrote in December 2006 to the then Interior Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, which was published on her website, in which she deplored the slaughter of animals for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.

    'She demanded that the animals be stunned before being killed.

    'She said she was 'tired of being led by the nose by this population that is destroying us, destroying our country by imposing its acts'.

    'In a letter to the court Ms Bardot, who is a prominent animal rights campaigner, insisted she had a right to speak up for animal welfare.

    The British also arrested a 15 year old who was carrying a placard in a peaceful protest which said 'Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult'. They later backed off on charging him.
  6. Chris E. from vancouver, Canada writes: I recently had the opportunity to trade views with one of these young Muslim/Middle Eastern law students.

    His fundamental argument was that because of past Western colonialism, contemporary white Western people don't have the moral right to resist encroachments by people of other races and creeds.

    He had convinced himself that the West, meaning whites, should bow to his aggression.

    Anyone who wants to judge the merits of their complaints should know what their agenda is, and it isn't to do nice things in the world.
  7. Chris E. from vancouver, Canada writes: Last year in Brussels, a group, which included EU parliamentarians, tried to hold a peaceful demonstration against the Islamization of Europe.

    The leftist and Muslim-dominated city council disapproved, and the marchers were beaten by police and taken away by force.

    Free speech had a boot placed on its neck that day. Will the same thing be repeated here?
  8. Rev Ertebrate from Vancouver, Canada writes: While I disagree with Mr. Steyn's views for the most part, I do not entirely agree with those of the Canadian Islamic Congress either. Should they win this case, I shudder to think of the Pandora's box this will open up. Any number of groups in the future could be prevented from exercising free speech based on political agendas of the day. It IS a slippery slope. This dialogue in general had to be held sooner or later, but I'm not sure the Human Rights Commision is the place to have it.
  9. Bill Grigg from Kelowna BC, Canada writes: Has anyone been to http://www.canadianislamiccongress.com/ and read their 'Zionist' diatribes? It is interesting to compare the writings of Mr. Steyn and his accuser Dr. Elasmry. Perhaps someone should lodge a complaint against Dr. Elasmry, the Canadian Islamic Congress?
  10. John Deriso from Edmonton, Canada writes: The Globe and Mail deleting comments does not limit your freedom of speech. The Globe and Mail is a private entity, not a government one. Feel free to start your own blog or newspaper where you can complain about foreigners until your heart is content. You could also simply stop reading the Globe and Mail if they oppress you so much.
  11. Kevin Desmoulin from Toronto, Canada writes: I guess they would to prove it, and prove that it does have a sizeable efect, quite frankly I doubt they can?
    If i said Islam and free speech is not compatible, Would that be human rights Case?

    Be big about it, Discourse is sometimes uncomfortable es if it concerns one's values and religion.

    Their is just way to discourage proper discourse.

    Quite Frankly I think Islam is a little too extreme for most people.
    and its value should to one's self like with out religions.

    What do people these think this looks like.
    Intolerance,
    doesn't Islam have the put on it enough
  12. Paul Bunion from Borups Corner, Canada writes: One thing you don't hear about in the media is a discussion about the other side of Native issues instead of the 'we need more government money'. We continually hear the victom story about Natives. What about, 'what can Native peoples, do to help themselves-the immediate things that will help, that work for everyone else things'As soon as you move the topic to do some things to help yourself a little bit, be responsible for your own actions' you get lambasted as a racist and the government isn't living up to the Treaty, or Treaty Rights. Canada, read any of the numbered Treaties, they don't say much. Basically its about that they can hunt and fish in the lands 'surrendered' except those areas taken up from time to time for mining, forestry and settlement. Doesn't say anything about free housing, food, clothes, health care or free university education or rights that the government 100% look after them more than any other group. The media doesn't even talk about these issues because they'll be called out racist too and be seen to be bashing a poor despondent group and called out as 'racists'. So in Canada we continue on with illegal road blocks, occupations and hear all kinds of allegations about not living up to the Treaty and no one calls it they way the everyone sees it. There is no two way discussion.
  13. John Doucette from Manotick, Canada writes: Mr Steyn, although I consider him to be a bigoted idiot with a long history of representing the worst of anti-Muslim fanaticism, has every right to speak out. Similarly his opponents, both the moderate and the equally fanatical have the same rights. The real problem is that in this country, there is no media who will ever seriously publish the other side of the argument. All of the wealthy and well established special interests in this matter have long ago purchased both the political parties and the media, thus, it really doesn't matter who is right or who is wrong, the Muslims will always be evil terrorists. The comments in this thread, as well as the articles in most of the Canadian media, are truly indicative of the level of rational thought being brought to bear on the issues. While free-speech exists on paper it has departed Canada on a wide range of issues.
  14. sandy macpherson from Canada writes: John Doucette - well said.
  15. Chris E. from vancouver, Canada writes: John Doucette, it isn't just Middle Eastern terrorists doing the overtly terrorist things that we need to worry about. Nature is inherently competitive, and we are subjects of nature whether we're conscious of it on a daily basis or not.

    The Middle Eastern and Asia Minor people have been attacking the West since the Persians, Ottomans, and the Caliphates. Our job is to defend ourselves. That's just the way it is. Every new mosque, hijab or Middle Eastern baby delivered in the West is a statement of expansion and conquest by degrees.
  16. Joe Gopher from Canada writes: It aint the scandal that gets you it's the cover up.
    The HRC has released a redacted transcript to the proceedings at a March 25th hearing.
    Some very important info was missing.
    The missing info that was found by comparing the audio tape of the proceedings shows perjury.
    The HRC tried to keep the media out, then when that failed they said there was no transcript, then when that was released it was found to be different from the taped record.

    Once again Ezra has the details:
    http://ezralevant.com/2008/06/testimony-relevant-to-rcmp-inv.html

    I think someone from the HRC should be going to jail.
  17. Tilting @ Windmills from Marbella, Spain writes: It's not complicated: If Islam isn't stamped out, it will replace common sense and democracy everywhere. Elmasry is an engineer, and should be thoroughly ashamed of himself for promoting the ignorance of his religion, and Canada has to watch its back if it allows this fifth column to flourish.
  18. Eye Sore from Dog Pound, Alberta, Canada writes: Had Canada's various human rights commissions, whether the federal or provincial bodies, occupied themselves with going after the usual small fry (e.g. the Saskatchewnite Tim Houk who paid a $400 fine in 1998 for his temerity in suggesting to a native woman that the native reserves across canada was bad social engineering), this case and this article would not be appearing here, and the issue of free speech for all would still remain very much the non-issue as it had for many years. It's just that these HRC boa constrictors happened along and are now trying to swallow Maclean's magazine. Different strokes...
  19. Trent River from The Great Have-Not Province, Canada writes:

    I read the MacLains article as well as America Alone and they contain nothing which could be considered racist. However in the land of Barbara Hall, B.C.'s Human Rights tribunal, the media should play the game of roll over and play dead.

    Paradoxically it's okay for Linda McQuaig and many like her to slam the Americans. It's OK for Carolyn Parrish to use the hate word towards an entire population. It's OK to denounce Christianity in numerous ways. It's OK to jump down Israel's throat for so called over reacting in her own defense. But thou shalt not slam a newcomer who may wash their feet in the office sink because it's part of their religion.

    The Human Rights folks are turning Canada into a farce, so it might not be such a bad thing if Islam took over-I find them less offensive than Barbara Hall, David Miller, or the CCCL.
  20. by jove from Canada writes:
    Human Rights Tribunal more like Political Correct Tribunal.

    The kind the Soviets ran or the Nazis.

    It is a threat to democracy.

    Freedom of the press is paramount in a democracy, only a court of law presided over by a judge and evidence presented to a jury should hear such cases.

Comments are closed

Thanks for your interest in commenting on this article, however we are no longer accepting submissions. If you would like, you may send a letter to the editor.

Report an abusive comment to our editorial staff

close

Alert us about this comment

Please let us know if this reader’s comment breaks the editor's rules and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.

Do not use this to complain about comments that don’t break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.

Back to top