In Your Face Or What!

I read the National Post at work, (hey, it's free, why wouldn't I?), and today I can honestly say that they outdid themselves. Article, after article was dead on right. My favorites were in the editorials and letters.

Unless you had a printed version of the National Post, I don't think (but correct me if I'm wrong) you could see the real Letters page, it was a true work of art. Right smack in the middle of the page, a big picture of Pablo Rodriguez and CBC journalist Krista Erickson, with the quote, "This may hurt her chances of being governor-general", and 4 online comments from the "fullcomment.com"

In your face or what!

Nice to see they are keeping the pressure on the Liberals. They are also giving exposure to people who are commenting online, so go make your opinions heard, you might get published next week!

One of the editorials, Fire the censors.

Terry O'neill, National Post
Published: Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The free-speech controversies currently swirling around Maclean's magazine and Alberta journalist Ezra Levant ultimately can be attributed to one thing: the legislation that allows Canada's human rights commissions to act as censors. Amend the various human rights acts blanketing the country and the problem vanishes.

..........In 1998, the NDP considered broadening the act even further at the urging of the pro-choice lobby, which tried to persuade then-attorney-general Ujjal Dosanjh to criminalize criticism of abortionists.

Although the episode was virtually ignored by the mainstream media of the day, I remember it quite well because of the growing threat it posed to free speech. I especially recall that, in writing about the pro-choicers' demands, I interviewed an erudite and eloquent public-policy expert who spoke passionately about this threat.

"Human rights commissions, as they are evolving, are an attack on our fundamental freedoms and the basic existence of a democratic society," the man said. "It is in fact totalitarianism. I find this very scary stuff."

That person was the president of the National Citizens Coalition, a politically astute fellow by the name of Stephen Harper, a man who, of course, has now gone on to much bigger and better things.

I don't think it would be too much to ask of Mr. Harper now that he put his words into action, and move to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to eliminate the commission's censorious powers. Perhaps such a move would inspire Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell to act similarly.

All three leaders should realize that their governments' human rights laws are badly flawed, and that the longer they remain unamended, they are, in effect, acting as a barrier separating all citizens from their fundamental right to free speech.

In this light then, we should all exclaim: "Mr. Harper, Mr. Stelmach and Mr. Campbell: Tear down this wall!"

An excellent article, I particularly liked the quote from PM Harper. So, how will the PM react? The very least Conservatives expect, is a new bill to address these badly flawed laws. The thing we really want, is to abolish the HRC's.

Another, in your face, article!

I also enjoyed the article on "20 years of silence".

Since the 1988 Supreme Court of Canada decision vindicating Morgentaler and decriminalizing all manner of abortion, a political chill descends whenever the subject is broached. In the last federal election, Paul Martin exploited the fear of an abortion ban to demonize Stephen Harper, who pointedly distanced himself from any challenge to the existing non-law. And when Conservative MP Rob Merrifield suggested pregnant girls might benefit from pre-abortion counselling, feminists tore a strip off him, urging women not to vote Conservative on that basis alone. Other politicians took the hint and kept shtumm.

Let global warming for babies rights, take away the chill on this very important human rights issue...the rights of the baby! And yes, you fembots, it's a BABY! What else do you expect to be born, an elephant?

So, we had Afghanistan, human rights, Pablogate, and abortion all in one issue. It took me way longer to read the National today, because of all the excellent articles. Kudos, and good work.

Keep up the, in your face, articles on issues that people need to know about.