Raise your hand if you’ve taken a truckload of garbage over your views on BambiCare.
…yes, that seems like just about everyone. You can put your hands down.
The votes are in, and the thing we hoped and prayed would not happen has happened. Since the vote, I have been cajoled, jabbed, and called names. A friend and colleague called me naïve and retarded—which, in the end, was worth it because he misspelled “retarded” and ended up looking like a…well, I digress.
The point is, this sucks. It’s election night all over again, and all I have left to cling to is a bottle of Goose and a well-worn Snuggie that’s seen worse and lived to tell the tale. I walked into my Constitutional Law class yesterday (cruel irony) and half expected a THREE WORD CHANT! THREE WORD CHANT! THREE WORD CHANT! as I walked in the door, and all the while I couldn’t help but wonder, if this bill, which for all intensive purposes is a blank piece of paper, can pass with thunderous applause, what’s next?
Then I went on the internet, clicked over to my favorite aggregate news source which shall not be named here due to lefty and otherwise supercilious content, and saw the future staring right back at me:
Free Speech in Canada–a Fairy Story
Long story short, Canada is attempting to censor Ann Coulter. Here’s the letter she received from University of Ottawa (all emphasis mine):
Dear Ms. Coulter,
I understand that you have been invited by University of Ottawa Campus Conservatives to speak at the University of Ottawa this coming Tuesday. We are, of course, always delighted to welcome speakers on our campus and hope that they will contribute positively to the meaningful exchange of ideas that is the hallmark of a great university campus. We have a great respect for freedom of expression in Canada, as well as on our campus, and view it as a fundamental freedom, as recognized by our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I would, however, like to inform you, or perhaps remind you, that our domestic laws, both provincial and federal, delineate freedom of expression (or “free speech”) in a manner that is somewhat different than the approach taken in the United States. I therefore encourage you to educate yourself, if need be, as to what is acceptable in Canada and to do so before your planned visit here. You will realize that Canadian law puts reasonable limits on the freedom of expression. For example, promoting hatred against any identifiable group would not only be considered inappropriate, but could in fact lead to criminal charges. Outside of the criminal realm, Canadian defamation laws also limit freedom of expression and may differ somewhat from those to which you are accustomed. I therefore ask you, while you are a guest on our campus, to weigh your words with respect and civility in mind. There is a strong tradition in Canada, including at this University, of restraint, respect and consideration in expressing even provocative and controversial opinions and urge you to respect that Canadian tradition while on our campus. Hopefully, you will understand and agree that what may, at first glance, seem like unnecessary restrictions to freedom of expression do, in fact, lead not only to a more civilized discussion, but to a more meaningful, reasoned and intelligent one as well.
I hope you will enjoy your stay in our beautiful country, city and campus.
Sincerely,
François Houle.
(FYI, this guy’s contact information is attached to the letter, so follow the link and give this guy hell.)
Anyway, we need to talk about this, first and foremost because it’s going to be AWESOME to watch Ann neuter this guy, and second, because this crock of crap is exactly what we’re being fed by progressives in the Administration, and at large. Look closely:
You will realize that Canadian law puts reasonable limits on the freedom of expression. For example, promoting hatred against any identifiable group would not only be considered inappropriate, but could in fact lead to criminal charges.
…
Hopefully, you will understand and agree that what may, at first glance, seem like unnecessary restrictions to freedom of expression do, in fact, lead not only to a more civilized discussion, but to a more meaningful, reasoned and intelligent one as well.
This is real life. Listen, I have a lot of friends from Canada, and I can tell you with unequivocal certainty that “free speech” means something different to them than it does to you and me. (Not to mention the fact that their “conservative” party makes the Pelosi-ites look like a bunch of missionaries hailing from a southern baptist church in Texas.) “Offending people”–at least in the sociopolitical sense—is just NOT something that is an option to most of my Canadian cohorts.
I’m not saying this to hate on Canada, or suggest that Canadians live in some sort of totalitarian Nazi regime where speaking your mind can land you in jail. (At least, I’m not suggesting the “Nazi” part.) I am, however, suggesting that Canadians have been living with a muzzle for so long that they are now inclined to defend the actions of this university administrator, rather than truly welcome the free, civilized exchange of ideas they pretend to guard so jealously. (Read the comments…there’s an awful lot of “Coulter should be allowed to speak if…” hidden in there.)
I do not think it’s out of line to suggest that if we lovers of personal freedom and expression do not stand up soon, this is our bleak, bleak future. I also do not think that this Administration (or it’s progeny) will go so far as to completely strip the American people of their right to speak freely. I do, however, completely and without reservation, believe that progressives in this country are working very hard to establish the simpering standard embodied in Houle’s letter to Coulter. One more time:
Hopefully, you will understand and agree that what may, at first glance, seem like unnecessary restrictions to freedom of expression do, in fact, lead not only to a more civilized discussion, but to a more meaningful, reasoned and intelligent one as well.
We see it every day. Progressives decried any intellectually honest debate regarding the piece of crap legislation that was passed this weekend because it would discriminate against/threaten/offend/upset/ruffle all of the unwed mothers/minorities/orphans/vegans/homosexuals/feminists/art students who so desperately need my unborn children to pay for their 15 completely non-elective abortions. Discussion of immigration reform is not allowed, because any solution other than “let everyone in, and make everyone who is here a citizen” is Raaaaacist©. Talking about the moral objections to gay marriage is hate speech, and any mention at all of Christian principles, or even the beliefs and goals of our founding fathers, is deemed unacceptable.
…and these people are in charge.
This weekend, teh Wons in power proved to the country and to the world that they are not afraid to strong-arm their way into heading the next great Nanny State. They took a stand against the will of the people, and in the face of enormous opposition, furthered their selfish ambitions with a piece of legislation that contains clauses and provisions yet unknown to even its most stringent supporters. The first step to restricting speech altogether is to make the true exercise of free speech itself meaningless, and this is what the progressives think they have succeeded in doing.
What happened this weekend is bigger than health care, or “leveling the playing field,” or any other stupid meme the progressives choose to attach to this monstrosity we’re stuck with. This bill represents the progressive desire to restrict, repress and control personal freedom, personal preference, and personal responsibility, all in the name of the “greater good.” This is why we fight; because they’re the one’s defining exactly what it is that means, and that definition will eventually mean the difference between cherished liberty, and unsustainable tyranny.
that amy miller 