The kangaroo courts and star chambers in Canada are far scarier than any hate-speech!
“It is not clear to me that the Europeans are mistaken.”Well it should be, Jeremy.
(Would I be committing a "hate crime" in Canada to observe that Jeremy's intellect could not be considered profound?)
"There is only one justification for making incitement a criminal offense: the likelihood of imminent violence. The imminence requirement sets a high hurdle."Yes. And so it should.
“Innocent intent is not a defense. Nor is truth. Nor is fair comment on true facts. Publication in the public interest and for the public benefit is not a defense. Opinion expressed in good faith is not a defense. Responsible journalism is not a defense.”Every single one of these should be an air-tight defense.
The fact that any one is not is scarier than "hate speech".
After witnessing the travesties in Canada and France, I now see the wisdom of the judicial decisions in the U.S. in favor of freedom of speech--many of which seemed wrong--e.g. the desecration of the flag; allowing the Ku Klux Klan to march in Skokie; the criticisms of American foreign policy, the Viet Nam War, the War in Iraq, et al., that seem to border on treason; even restrictions on obscenity and pornography.
On a previous thread on the Steyn / Maclean fiasco,
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2028489 "O Stalinoid Canada"
I posted the following ...
Yet Canadians tout their "CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS" as their equivalent of our "Bill of Rights" and better because it is modern and reflects the high ideals of the United Nations. The pertinent part of this document follows;
FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS.
2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
(a) freedom of conscience and religion;
(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
(c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
(d) freedom of association.
Now to me in my ignorance, it appears that in Mr.Steyn & Maclean Magazine's case, they should simply stand, plead "Article 2b of the Canadian Charter and then sit down. Of course, I am neither Canadian or a "Queen's Counsel", [Where is Rumpole when you need him anyway?]
Sir, I think that you and I are in full agreement. What a travesty of culture to sell your freedoms for domestic 'feel good'. I wonder how well these would operate under Sharia Law?