Mark Steyn: Canada's Attack on Free Speech

SCE2AUX Says:

Jun 17, 2008 - "Freedom of speech is an American concept, so I don't give it any value," - Dean Steacy, Investigator for the Canadian Human Rights Commission

SCE2AUX Says:

Jun 19, 2008 - (Actually, the concept of free speech is British), of British philosophers, and as I recall, Canada is still part of the Commonwealth. Never mind that Canadians are, in fact, Americans.

edwardlane34500 Says:

Jun 22, 2008 - Mark Steyn wants the freedom to be racist (Islam isn't a race, but prejudice is prejudice) and to spread racist ideas buried under statistical mumbo jumbo. It's like wanting the freedom to throw rocks at a cat. It might be fun for the thrower, but - guess what - the battered and bruised cat might just want to "limit your freedoms"!

edwardlane34500 Says:

Jun 22, 2008 - Macleans deeply hurt the muslims of this country by penning poorly-supported Islamophobic arguments and featuring pictures of "bad muslim kids" on the front cover. Reminds me of anti-jew literature in Germany in the 1930's. Fascist? I think not. "Freedom of Speech" should not be used as an excuse to peddle hatred.

LLLLLLLLP3 Says:

Jun 22, 2008 - If we can't say anything offensive then we can't say anything at all. Someone is bound to find anything anyone says offensive. Mark and I, among many others will stop bad mouthing Islam when it stops the violence, abuse to women, stonings, honour killings, terrorism, hanging gays, suppresing women.

fuzzy883 Says:

Jun 23, 2008 - Ed: Please define statistical "mumbo jumbo". Or, is it just your way of avoiding truth ... when "facts" don't line up with your perceived reality, you call them "mumbo jumbo" ... is that it. So, for starters, which of Steyn's stats, as presented in his book and editorials, are "mumbo jumbo"?

edwardlane34500 Says:

Jun 23, 2008 - "Mumbo jumbo" is a folksy family-friendly term to describe "bullsh*t" lol. Steyn does quote real statistics - not fake ones - but he is highly selective in what he chooses to report and then leaps to outrageous conclusions. He is guilty of non sequitur. So it's not a questions of "which of his stats" but how he has chosen to MISUSE statistics to add a facade of legitimacy to what are in fact some extremely old-fashioned (19th century!) style of argument about the competition between "races".

edwardlane34500 Says:

Jun 23, 2008 - No LLLLLLLLP3, you're wrong. Free speech MUST have limits. If I wrote a story about your mother getting raped, would that be okay? Getting beaten by a stick? Getting hit by a soft pillow? You can debate WHERE to draw the line, but you MUST have a line. Trust me, if you were the victim of hate speech you wouldn't be so supportive of UNLIMITED free speech. The very essence of civilised society is to put some form of control over some of the more ugly impulses of humankind. That includes racism.

LLLLLLLLP3 Says:

Jun 23, 2008 - Not the same thing, what he says about Islam is true that's the difference. But go ahead and write that story. There is no such thing as hate speech, only free speech.

edwardlane34500 Says:

Jun 23, 2008 - No what he says about Islam is alarmist, misleading, and is obviously motivated by racism. He demonizes them and although he quote real statistics, he is very selective in what he cites and draws completely unwarranted conclusions. You seem to be completely unaware of the points I made below. I encourage you to (1) make Muslim friends and learn that they are human, and (2) put yourself in their shoes. Go ahead and debate some real Muslims. You will find them friendly and reasonable. I dare you!

LLLLLLLLP3 Says:

Jun 23, 2008 - All religon is garbage so I'll save my breathe. He never said all Muslims are bad, but an alarming number of them are.

fuzzy883 Says:

Jun 24, 2008 - Edwardlane34500: Mark Steyn pens the truth. If it offends Muslims; too bad. They can do battle with him in the arena of ideas and free speech ... they can let the world know the truth ... if Steyn is wrong. Have you ever wondered why they don't fight back with "truth", but try to crush freedom of speech. Just this week the UN Human Rights Commission outlawed any negative comments about Sharia ... outlawed! Louis Arbour, a very leftist, very liberal judge resigned in disgust. Wake up Ed.

fuzzy883 Says:

Jun 24, 2008 - More for Ed: There should be virtually no limit on free speech. Let the courts deal with slander and libel. Quasi-judicial HRCs are dangerous, because they leave it to a handful of people to decide what is offensive and what is not. I'm stunned at your lack of understanding in this matter and the incredible danger faced by democracy that try to stop speech. Democracies thrive on the free-market of ideas, even if they sometimes hurt. And never forget, slander hurts ... but so does truth.

stringanime Says:

Jun 25, 2008 - If people take offense to me talking about God stuff, then they ought no talk about anti-god stuff. Even not talking or doing or trying to stop me from speaking about God stuff, IS a stand against God stuff. Because when someone says, "God is not relavant" God is then relavant, according to their stand which is in view of a spiritual person, as anti-God stuff. What is God stuff? Judging peoples deeds and words according to my God's statutes and spirit.

Eagles6Landing Says:

Jun 26, 2008 - The US has "Girls Gone Wild" and Canada Has "Government Gone Wild". This is amazing and scary. When did this all start and how did things get so perverted?

scytale6 Says:

Jun 29, 2008 - It's all down to that philandering nazi cheapskate pig Trudeau. May he rot in hell for what he has done to Canada!

StoogeWatcher Says:

Jul 14, 2008 - So in your opinion, Muslims can say "Death to the West" and get away with it. But someone who publishes cartoons critical or radical Islam should be jailed.

StoogeWatcher Says:

Jul 14, 2008 - Forget Canada, this is Canuckistan, where offending Muslims is now a hate crime.

soccerrocks383 Says:

Jul 19, 2008 - This situation makes me ashamed to be Canadian. Ironically though, there is a silver lining. I didn't know who Mark Steyn was until this happened. Now I've read his book. Hopefully I'm not alone in doing so.

fuzzy883 Says:

Jul 19, 2008 - You certianly aren't alone ... it's a best seller.

wolzek Says:

Jul 23, 2008 - I'm torn on this... On the one hand, Steyn is bringing some much-needed attention to this issue; on the other hand, he's a disgusting neo-con stooge. The guy makes it sound as though Muslims were the numero uno threat to Canadians' free speech; the reality is that Jewish organizations have been using these laws and tribunals *for years* to stifle free expression in Canada, and were the biggest promoters of this parallel legal system.

wolzek Says:

Jul 23, 2008 - Trudea was anything but a "nazi." More like a commie.

wolzek Says:

Jul 23, 2008 - Why are an "overwhelming" number of Muslims "bad"? I can think of quite a few minorities I'd rather not have living next door to me.

wolzek Says:

Jul 23, 2008 - Oh, I see. Muslims are "bad" because they support traditional gender roles, don't support gay marriage, are faithful to the religion of their forefathers, and have enough honour and backbone to stand up for themselves when they're being attacked. In other words, Muslims are kind of like what Westerners used to be like until a few decades ago.

LLLLLLLLP3 Says:

Jul 23, 2008 - IDK maybe it's the whole worshiping a pedophile thing.