David Harsanyi at the Denver Post:
The Mark Steyn affair is the most disturbing demonstration of the creeping authoritarianism of political correctness — not only because of Canada’s geographical proximity but also its moral proximity.
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Me? I’m a bureaucrophobe. The thought of government speech detectives hitting the pavement (or perhaps Google) to discern which words are suitable public discourse is an odious one. In Canada’s case, hate speech need only undermine the “sense of dignity and self-worth” of any designated group.
Scouring the U.S. Constitution, one can see that free speech is not contingent on making the masses feel loved or to foster their dignity.
So let’s hope Canada’s idea of “tolerance” is relegated to life up north.
Read More...Censorship is making a comeback. Outside the United States, it is considered an acceptable price to pay for the new diversity Western Man seems now to value more than the old liberty.
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Canada’s commitment to multiculturalism and the equality of all religions, races and cultures requires the silencing of those who do not believe all races, creeds and cultures are equal.
The dogmas of the Diverse Society dictate that the cherished rights of the Free Society be sacrificed on the altar of social tranquility.
What has caused this reversal of the advance of freedom?
Western Man has come to believe there are more important values than freedom, if men use their freedom in ways our new Lords Temporal find unacceptable. (…)
“The best test of truth,” said Justice Holmes, “is the power of thought to get itself accepted in the marketplace.”
