Few Americans are familiar with Mark Steyn, the conservative writer out of Canada who has a huge International audience. This year he was indicted by the British Columbia Human Rights Commission for what is broadly charged as a hate speech crime for Steyn’s mild condemnation of Islamism in an article that appeared in Macleans Magazine. (It was actually an excerpt from his book). As far as I know, this is an attempt to put the magazine out of business and has yet to be resolved. There is almost no coverage of this in the American press. A search of the Google News site brings up almost nothing, except in Canada.
I found some videos that outline this deplorable situation. All this proves to me is what I’ve said all along, we should consider Canada to be a terrorist state for harboring terrorists. This whole Human Rights Commission thing up there is a form of terrorism itself.
Let’s start with the Rex Murphy editorial on the National that addresses this issue. Also read this Rex Murphy editorial in the Globe and Mail here.
Then we go on to Steyn on the Mike Duffy Show in Canada.
Here is Steyn at a more typical conference talking about the inherit dangers of multiculturalism. Does he seem like a dangerous hate-monger to you?
Steyn is a publicity seeking douche. I don’t care if he believes his crap or not, the guy can’t hold a rational thought without visiting several others first, and in between.
He makes obviously incorrect accusations about the Human Rights Tribunals solely to make himself look better. He reminds me of Don Cherry being a pompous ass just in order to gain the publicity. Publicity hounds like him like to create controversy just to keep their name out in front so people will buy the next copy of Macleans.
This same tactic is quite common with the wing nuts.
BTW, I am basing my opinion on just the interviews I have seen tonight.
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JC Calhoun & Jag,
Thanks for posting that video. It sheds a much different light on the subject.
Just in response to the “Kangaroo Court” assertion… perhaps it would be best to assess that by reading the decisions that have come out of these commissions:
http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca/media_room/jurisprudence/jurisprudence-en.asp
I think it is a mistake to slander a valuable institution just because of how some individuals have used or misused it.
Just when I’ve gone and lost faith in John C. Dvorak.org/blog, the man himself restores it by posting two desperately needed, and incredibly (discourse) stimulating posts in under a week. This one, and the revolutionary one about how perhaps its a good idea to scrutinize Barack Obama, just a little bit. Bravo, John, bravo.
You are right..I looked over those cases. A lot of low-level labor disputes handled by administrative justice. Laughable.
Wow. You Americans really get worked up about the weirdest things.
A few things. Rex Murphy and Mike Duffy are big names in the Canadian media and this story has gotten a fair amount of air time up here. Good. It’s caused argument and debate, because, guess what? It’s a democracy. It’s also made Cross Country Checkup more interesting.
The reason it hasn’t gotten any airtime in the US is because Americans really don’t give a damn about Canada or any other country for that matter. For example, when a US pilot killed 4 Canadians in Afghanistan it didn’t register either. That’s just the way it is since Paris and Nicole were still partying together then.
Mark Steyn and the Canadian Islamic Council are pretty much whackos and they’ll continue to have it out. Steyn’s been baiting them for a while, and probably they deserve it. MacLeans is a nice, boring magazine and are doing the right thing and exposing the Islamic Council for the nutters they are.
As usual, Rex was dead on but he was wrong on one thing. The Alberta Government has kicked a good chunk of money to cover the Western Standard’s costs – it didn’t bleed them dry. It was punitive and they didn’t deserve it. Their circulation has gone up since it was a publicity stunt. BTW, lots of other magazines and newspapers (included MacLeans) printed the cartoons – the WS went out of their way to poke the bear. They’re kind of like that at the Standard.
John said at the top “This whole Human Rights Commission thing up there is a form of terrorism itself.” Um, not even close. Heavy handed bureaucracy? Maybe. As for calling it a Kangaroo Court – I guess it’s not American enough so that would kind of make sense from your point of view.
It kind of reminds me of when Charles Heston used to come up to Canada and made speeches about our gun laws being Un-American. Kind of weird, but he’s entitled to his opinion. He also bought a shit load of Cuban cigars at the same time.
Relax a bit John, drink a brewskie, and keep your stick on the ice. It’s almost like it’s another country up here. đ
P.S. I really need some people to sign my petition to stop the polar bear hunt in Toronto. I hope I can count on your support.
P.P.S. Rex, Rick Mercer, and all the other Newfies keep us in line up here. You Yanks could really use some Newfie wisdom. Mike Duffy is an Islander but we still love him just the same.
“Doesnât America have some human rights tribunals too?”
Judge Judy, check your local listings đ
#19, you should really use the active voice when insulting another country.
Oops, did that sound superior?
Ok, here we go!
John, you “want a link to the Macleans article that specifically says that Muslims have sex with animals. Give me a link.”
I got ya link! All the info you’re looking for is in this formal complaint from the CIC to the human right commission. Their complaint (interesting to read) is on page 10 and the actual Macleans article is on page 17.
http://tinyurl.com/6cwy6h
Also check this out. It’s more on Steyn’s concerns about the spread of Islam. Some interesting points presented.
http://tinyurl.com/5r6xx4
“All this proves to me is what Iâve said all along, we should consider Canada to be a terrorist state for harboring terrorists.”
Well there may be some truth to that, I can’t say. But unfortunately, this isn’t the only thing that Canada harbors. A lot of con-artists operate from there, and prey on americans via the internet and the mail. And Canada doesn’t seem to feel the need to do much about them. But then if it weren’t for the US entertainment industry filming every show and movie they can, up there, to save a buck. Canada wouldn’t probably have to rely on the con-artists for a big chunk of their tax revenue.
[Duplicate comment deleted. – ed.]
Oh the poor, benighted USA. Getting picked on by big brutal Canada. Oh, the Huge Manatee!
http://hugemanatee.ytmnd.com/
I think Canada is smart, lining up with the side which is clearly gonna be the winner in the US/Islamic war. The USA has shot its wad. What a dry hump that turned out to be.
That first one never came back, so I submitted another one with a few revisions.
Waaaaaah!
Glenn E said: “Canada wouldnât probably have to rely on the con-artists for a big chunk of their tax revenue.”
This is absolutely true. Apparently 80% of our GDP comes from fleecing innocent Americans with spam. We use the money to train terrorists at our Jane Fonda branded madrassah.
BTW, Mark Stenyn revels in this stuff. He’s never been happier. The guy is funny, offensive, opinionated, and a self admitted asshole. He masquerades as a racist and a nut job. Not my style but I have to admit he’s pretty good at it.
He’s Canadian and a con artist – he’s keeping our economy afloat.
Why does anyone think that any freedom of speech has been trodden upon? The tribunal hasn’t decided anything yet. It isn’t being used to infringe on any freedom of speech. Not many people up here are siding with the CIC. You are forming your opinions on very little of the story, with even less of an understanding of how Canada gets stuff done.
“Why does anyone think that any freedom of speech has been trodden upon? The tribunal hasnât decided anything yet. It isnât being used to infringe on any freedom of speech. Not many people up here are siding with the CIC. You are forming your opinions on very little of the story, with even less of an understanding of how Canada gets stuff done.”
Except that it’s exactly freedom of speeech that’s being attacked here. If the CIC wins and MacLeans has to pay, this forms a chilling effect on all other media sources, essentially saying “Don’t publish ANY anti-Islamist literature or you’ll pay an unreasonable price”. This will have the effect of enjoining smaller magazines and newspapers from publishing anti-Islamist opinion, and even probably stop some of the bigger magazines from doing so. Thus, you chill free speech – it’s a collateral attack on the freedom of the press.
Such an attack would never survive in an American court. Unfortunately, it appears that such an attack *might* have an effect on this “Human Rights” Court, given the decision that was given by the Ontario human rights group (which, according to the linked articles, said “We don’t have jurisdiction, but if we did we’d find the magazine responsible.”)
This is not being taken out of proportion at all (well, perhaps Dvorak’s comment about Canada harboring terrorist was a bit), it’s a serious attack that anyone who has a love for freedom of the press/free speech should be watching very carefully, for precedents set in “civilized” nations can affect their neighbors.
#41, mmayday,
But he claims that they should be able to take a hit and be held responsible like anybody else.
Yet for some reason he denies that same responsibility applies to him.
Now the CIC has made the argument that they havenât been able to give their side of the story. Well, they have, or they wouldnât be covered by the media.
The CIC has not made the complaint, three law students did. And Mike Duffy didn’t interview them either. Nor has Mcleans offered them equal response.
As for Steyn, heâs just a guy with his own principals. Sure he may come off as a wacko, but who doesnât when they stand by their principals?
Steyn is a publicity hound out to be controversial because any publicity is good publicity. In the US we have idiots like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly shooting off their mouths. In Canada there are people like Christie Blachford and Barbara Amiel. Steyn wants to added to the list. Being controversial for these pundits though is just a polite way of justifying their intolerance and bigotry.
Standing by your principles does not make anyone a wacko. Standing upon wacko concepts makes you a wacko.
And can someone please clarify the whole point of a human rights council? Arenât all humans in Canada governed by the same rights?
Yes. Included is the right not to be the target of hate. The easiest examples are those preaching hate towards minorities. Neo-Nazis are prime examples. There is nothing that says the Nazis must love Jews, but there is a law that says you may not discriminate against them or hold them up to hate and ridicule.
You can hate and deride an individual with reason, but making the whole race the object of your hatred is wrong. In Canada, and most of the civilized world, that practice is also illegal.
Pray tell, what race is Islam?
#48, Alex,
Except that itâs exactly freedom of speeech thatâs being attacked here.
No it isn’t. Even the US has restrictions on freedom of speech. Go ahead, stand in front of the White House and tell a press conference you want to shoot the President. Then come back and tell us all about your âfreedom of speechâ and fully justify yourself.
If the CIC wins and MacLeans has to pay, this forms a chilling effect on all other media sources, essentially saying âDonât publish ANY anti-Islamist literature or youâll pay an unreasonable priceâ. This will have the effect of enjoining smaller magazines and newspapers from publishing anti-Islamist opinion,
No it doesn’t. No more than publishing secret war plans or advocating the violent overthrow of the legitimate government. In Canada it is immoral and illegal to promote the hatred of an identifiable group. Publishing some anti-Islamic article may be wrong and actionable. There is no chilling effect here; there is an effort to keep the playing field level.
There is nothing stopping any Canadian publisher, except the libel laws, from publishing any article condemning the leader of the CIC. It is, however, wrong to publish an article condemning all Muslims because of the actions of this one person.
Such an attack would never survive in an American court.
And many American Judges could never sit on a Canadian Bench. They are too unqualified. Also, many American judicial practices would be tossed as too draconian and prejudicial.
itâs a serious attack that anyone who has a love for freedom of the press/free speech should be watching very carefully, for precedents set in âcivilizedâ nations can affect their neighbors.
I have the feeling you don’t know what âfreedomâ even means. You can’t yell FIRE in a crowded theater, publish lies about your neighbor, or invite people to gather up their guns to take over the government. When you are prepared to give me an honest reason why those instances should be allowed, then we can move on to banning hate speech.
#47 “Why does anyone think that any freedom of speech has been trodden upon? The tribunal hasnât decided anything yet.”
The fact that a tribunal exists that people can be drug in front of to have their speech & beliefs judged means it’s already trampled.
Like I said earlier, those who haven’t had free speech don’t understand it.
#50, Slug,
Substitute âIdentifiable Groupâ for âraceâ. That may include: race, religion, skin color, country of origin, hair color, geographical origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, or whatever.
Mark Steyn the Rush Limbaugh of Canada.
Just like Rush he starts with a false and/or ill conceived notion and bases his entire nonsensical argument on it.
#51 Fusion said: “Steyn is a publicity hound out to be controversial because any publicity is good publicity. In the US we have idiots like Rush Limbaugh and Bill OâReilly shooting off their mouths.”
Actually Steyn lives in the US and guest hosts on Limbaugh’s show. Personally, I think he’s got a really good shot at taking over US talk radio. Rush has lost his punch since he got off the pain killers and diet pills. O’Reilly and Ann Coulter have no sense of humor.
Steyn’s perfect for the job. Grade 9 education and the fake English accent BS are just frosting on the cake. He’ll have to stop calling people “Chinks” and “Wogs” in his columns and on the air but that’s the price of fame.
Steyn isn’t suing anyone in court. They are going after Steyn in court. I suppose we should drag you into court for your blog posts, and you see nothing wrong with that so long as the case is dismissed?
#52, Cow-Paddy,
The fact that a tribunal exists that people can be drug in front of to have their speech & beliefs judged means itâs already trampled.
LOL, now if that isn’t an indictment of the American judicial system I don’t know what is.
However, having an impartial tribunal to settle disputes is a significant hallmark of a civilized society.
BTW, In Canada, Human Rights Tribunals rule on acts, not beliefs. Believe whatever you want, just don’t injure others with what you do.
They also went after a website called bcwhitepride for being hateful.
I couldn’t find a reference to sex with animals in the complaint, starting on page 17, but I didn’t look that hard.
Mark Steyn might as well have been talking about Mr Fusion in his critique of how Westerners have gotten weak and conciliatory in the face of attacks.
The Complainant, Richard Warman, alleges in his complaint that the Respondents, Bobby Wilkinson and the Canadian Nazi Party (“CNP”), engaged in a discriminatory practice, within the meaning of s. 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, by communicating repeatedly hate messages through an Internet website.
[3] On the first day of the hearing, the Commission filed a motion requesting an order prohibiting Mr. Paul Fromm from appearing before the Tribunal as an agent for a period of at least three years.
[4] The Commission argued that the Order should be granted because of comments Mr. Fromm made about the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (the “Tribunal”), and the Canadian judicial system. According to the Commission, these comments are contemptuous.
He has described the Tribunal as “a Soviet style kangaroo court” and its decisions as “Stalinist lunacy”. He has also stated that the Tribunal’s decisions in hate speech cases are leading Canada to become a “Third World banana republic”.
John, you are now excluded from ever appearing before that commission, except as the defendant.
Pedro said: “So youâre basically comparing Canadians with French. Makes sense.”
Come on Pedro, that was pretty weak. You can do better than that. đ
Yup, San Pierre and Miquelon. Apparently that gives the French rights to the entire Atlantic fishery and bingo playing privileges in Gaspe.
#63-Pedro,
A bigger France actually.