Free Speech: A Radical Concept

Our Friends to the north are having free speech problems. So what's it all aboot, eh? Of course, offended Muslims are at the root of it. Mark Steyn, a witty conservative thinker, is on trial in some quasi human rights kangaroo court that has never found anyone not guilty. Rich Lowry has some entertaining comments on the proceedings. Here are two very un-funny excerpts:

One of the principal investigators of the Canadian Human Rights Commission was asked in a hearing what value he puts on freedom of speech in his work, and replied, "Freedom of speech is an American concept, so I don't give it any value."

"It is the genius of Muslim grievance groups to leverage Western anti-discrimination laws to their advantage."

This is scary. There is an excellent article in the International Herald Tribune discussing free speech in the west. I was shocked to learn that our first amendment rights are considered quite radical by many of our western cousins. It takes some major insecurity to want to use the power of government to shut up those you disagree with. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes summed it up nicely 100 years ago:

"The best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market," Holmes wrote. "I think that we should be eternally vigilant," he added, "against attempts to check the expression of opinions that we loathe and believe to be fraught with death."

Wise words. Remember David Duke? He revealed himself to be a racist goomer, so no one listens to him anymore. Obama's reverend is another example. No one outside his aggrieved flock pay attention to his rantings, other than out of morbid curiosity or for a twisted laugh. How about the Dixie Chicks? They and their fans tried to turn the blowback from their comments into a free speech issue, but it was not: The government didn't tank their CD sales, individual Americans upset at them trashing our president overseas did. It is way more satisfying to see fellow Americans ignore these people than it would be to see some government star chamber shut them down. That's the American Way.

Bill of Rights, 1st Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.