Posted on 06/11/2008 6:06:41 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
Usually, when a journalist is censored in a Western nation, American news organizations respond with collective outrage.
But as a major attack on press freedom unfolds in Canada, Americas mainstream media are silent. Neither the TV networks nor the major newspapers have reported on hearings last week at what amounts to a Stalinesque show trial in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Mark Steyn, a Canadian journalist who now lives in New Hampshire and whose column appears in National Review magazine as well as several U.S. and Canadian newspapers, is facing charges before British Columbias Human Rights Tribunal.
His crime? Spreading hatred.
The evidence? A 5,000-word excerpt of Steyns book America Alone that was carried as an article, The Future Belongs to Islam, in October 2006 by the Canadian magazine Macleans, which is also a defendant. The hearings, which were held June 2-6, amount to a star chamber with the rules of evidence constantly changing according to the whims of the three commissioners. A verdict is expected in September.
Steyn and the magazine are also expected to be charged with a hate crime by the national kangaroo court, the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and another such tribunal in Ontario. Not a single defendant has ever prevailed before the national board in its 31 years of existence. To be accused is to be guilty, Soviet style.
The Canadian press has been all over this story, but it has not registered a blip in the United States, except for an AP brief, an article in The Washington Times and on conservative Internet sites and talk radio.
(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...
But isn’t that against the freedom of speech clause in their Bill of Rights.. oh , nevermind.
OPINION:
I understand what you are saying.
It should be noted our freedoms are eroding here in the U.S.A., too.
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We can expect this type of treatment here in the US if Obama takes the White House in November and if the Democrats retain Congress.
I don’t have much hope for McCain, although I do plan to vote for him. My focus is on supporting the Republican Party in retaking Congress in November - we ought to let Democrats throw everything they have in getting Obama elected and steal Congress right out from under them. That is where our resources and support should go.
If Democrats retain or make gains in Congress, we are in for some bad years regardless of whether McCain or Obama wins the main election. If McCain wins, the Democrats will do everything in their power to make sure that oil prices go sky high and that the economy enters a downward spiral. They will pin the blame on McCain and he will be a lame duck from the get go.
And I shudder to think what will happen if Obama wins and has a Democratic Congress to rubberstamp his personal neo-socialist brand of “Change”. The type of things we are seeing in Canada right now are simply the tip of the iceberg of what Obama and his ilk would love to do.
I think this is an excellent point.
I keep expecting somebody somewhere in the US (well, other than here, but we're different) to say something about this or even acknowledge that it's happening.
Canada keeps a low profile and I think many Americans are only vaguely aware that it exists. But really - this is completely insane, and it's happening right next door to us. And no network or other channel even has anything to say about it?
The bias, the dishonesty, the slanted “news”, the propaganda, the disinformation, the voluntary censorship—failing to inform the American people truthfully—all have earned the U.S. mainstream “newsmedia” and its so-called “journalists” the utter contempt of honest and decent people everywhere and for all time.
I don’t like McCain and I thought about staying home. But it ain’t gonna happen now. We have to get out and vote for him. He’ll be bad, but BO will mean the end of our country. And probably, before too long, our lives.
BUMP
A pity that “Robespierre” and “Marat” no longer mean anything to them. They were among the instigators of the French Revolution, and it turned around and ate them. The socialists pushing for “change” should learn from their example.
cmon this is the same socialist state that prevented or at least assisted in the effort to keep fox from being broadcast there. they don’t want their people to know everything, but only what they ‘need’ to know to be good liberal, socialist, tree-hugging, secular or muslim citizens....
but certainly not anything close to Christian
"And we have to tell them, you know what,if you're not going to allow us to do that, there will be consequences. You will be taken to the human rights commission, you will be taken to the press council, and you know what? If you manage to get rid of the human rights code provisions (on hate speech),we will then take you to the civil courts system and you know what? Some judge out there might just think that perhaps it's time to have a tort of group defamation, and you might be liable for for a few million dollars".
In the meantime Canadians can dutifully watch CBC television. We take you to see the bumbling, brooding, "muslim", full of self doubt and a sexually demanding blonde wife.
Little Mosque on the Prairie anyone?
Who will need a Fairness Doctrine?
“Hate Crimes Laws” and “Human Rights Commissions” can do the trick with censoring the media.
There is some good stuff happening in Canada — some awesome Church stuff...but naturally you’re not going to hear about it.
Agreed but the trial is held in Canada and as they have such little riveting news - one would think they would spend hours creating historical newsprint and voice overs
Canadian style.
Not so.
Not even their forums of which there are plenty - hardly a word being exchanged.
Canada has become a hostage nation.
Canadians are also “only vaguely aware” of this event.
My family in B.C. didn’t know about it until I wrote questioning them if they were keeping up with the news and they hadn’t seen anything.
Now they scour the internet for information - of which there is little.
That’s sad. But I think one of their clverest techniques - “they” being the people who want to control us - is to suppress information and to suddenly invoke secrecy for all sorts of formerly common information.
You write: “Thats sad. But I think one of their cleverest techniques - they being the people who want to control us - is to suppress information and to suddenly invoke secrecy for all sorts of formerly common information.”
I respond:
The first step towards the loss of our civil rights and independence allowable as individual thinkers - the base of all democracy.
Communication unhindered is one primary reason for success of the great experiment called the United States of America.
Freedoms expected and given and earned.
sharia gag ping
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