A few notes from the news in the last 24 hours:
First, Ann "the man" Coulter was told she couldn't be coming up to Canada to give a speech at Ottawa University and spew hate speech because they have laws against it.
Wow. How refreshing is that?
Imagine--rules against hate speech. One step further--enforceable rules on hate speech.
Then, as an additional bonus, it turns out 2,000 Canadians came 'round to rather vehemently demonstrate against her.
Who said Canadians are sissies?
So check this out---Ms. (Mr.?) Coulter cancelled her trip and speech.
Score one for the right thing happening.
Love those Canadians.
Second, according to the After Downing Street blog, "A journalist tried to arrest Tony Blair for 'crimes against peace' as the former prime minister arrived to give a speech at the European Parliament in Brussels."
Again, how cool is that? Someone standing up for justice in the world, even if it was just a symbolic gesture.
It seems the reporter attempted to make a citizen's arrest, right there on the street.
It wasn't successful, of course (unfortunately) but the article went on, "As Mr Cronin was pushed away on Monday, he shouted 'Mr Blair, you are guilty of war crimes' referring to the Iraq invasion."
Wouldn't it be great if this happened here in the States, to the person who's really responsible for the debacle and crime known as the current Iraq War, Former President George W. Bush?
For that matter, with Former Vice President Dick Cheney and/or Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld?
One last good thing that's happening in this regard is the ongoing investigation in the British government as to what happened, when and by whom, prior to the start of the Iraq War.
It seems the British have enough guts , intelligence and determination to see what happened in their government at the time and to see if it was all legal and proper. (Oh, and the Dutch also have enough fortitude to calmly and fairly see what happened in their government before the start of this stupid, misbegotten war, too).
Some terrific, strong examples of how Europe and Canada, at least, seem to have far more, again, intelligence, courage and determination in running their respective countries.
Don't accuse me of saying this isn't a good place, the US.
I'm just saying we could make some pretty significant improvements.
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6 comments:
So, in 2 1/2 years when the conservatives are back in power, and your hate speech is out of favor with those of a more traditional bent, what will you be saying then? Oh, FREE SPEECH! FREE SPEECH! Think long and hard and be careful of what you wish for, you just might get it and the consequences thereof.
I don't do hate speech.
At our country's lowest point--in it's history--when Geo. W. Bush was taking us into an unnecessary, unprovoked war, we marched, we protested. I was there. I did it. We didn't call for his death. We didn't call for anyone to be shot or to worry about the welfare of their children, as is happening now, with Right wingnuts.
I'll just shake my head, be in despair--as I was with both Ronald Reagan and "W"--and wish I could afford to move to a more educated, intelligent, reasonable and fair country in Europe.
Like France.
MR
By your definition, you don't do hate speech. Are you certain that the Cheney administration would agree?
For most laws, and especially constitutional provisions, you need to consider what your worst political enemy could do with that power. The power to define and persecute "hate speech" is huge, especially in its chilling effects.
And Ann Coulter is a perfect example of "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
Wow, you sure could have fooled me. Here are some examples of people advocating killing a sitting President.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7c7u-W-EXBs/S6zks82oaMI/AAAAAAAABIY/JBE8VTqgu70/s1600/bush3.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7c7u-W-EXBs/S6zkoj1zBeI/AAAAAAAABIQ/0gD_XTAAiqo/s1600/bush4.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7c7u-W-EXBs/S6zki_sQDhI/AAAAAAAABII/KG3vP3hMGf0/s400/bush5.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7c7u-W-EXBs/S6zkeLEIbmI/AAAAAAAABIA/cvlWTV_sdiM/s1600/bush7.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7c7u-W-EXBs/S6zkXvsDB1I/AAAAAAAABH4/wMON2HFkTrc/s1600/bush2.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7c7u-W-EXBs/S6zkSAl4CFI/AAAAAAAABHw/XOJohdCddgc/s1600/bush1.jpg
So your statement that 'we' didn't call for it is who? Who is 'we?'
a) those are news to me. I'd not seen pictures of these;
b) I don't know the source--I don't know where they are from, what site;
c) They don't show what country they were shot in.
By "we", I mean Democrats.
MR
Albania recently passed a sweeping anti-discrimination law, making it unlawful to discriminate against people based solely on sexual orientation.
In most of the US and its territories (including Kansas and Missouri and the US military), if an employee says "Hi, I'm gay," the boss can reply, "Goodbye, you're fired," and that's perfectly legal.
In terms of civil liberties, we are now behind Albania.
Albania, ferchrissakes.
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