lunachick

...for even discussing this in Parliament.

Nothing is finalised yet, but what a great success if the bill is passed, and actively enforced!

Source

Godot

Svend Robinson is amazing. I wish more pollies were like him.
Chances are his bill will eventually be passed, it just remains to be seen how watered down the final copy will turn out to be.

Shake

Yeah, couldn't happen here in the US w/o the religious right citing the "free exercise" clause of the First Amendment.

Bill Snedden

You know, I have mixed feelings about these sorts of things.

On the one hand, I applaud the good intentions behind such activities. It certainly would be a good thing to get rid of hate and hate-mongering speech.

However, I have some very real concerns about the freedom of speech. Even the best ideas won't win in the marketplace if all others are suppressed. It's a much better strategy, I'd say, to let everyone have their say and let the marketplace sort it out.

While I don't agree with the minister who preaches on the evils of homosexuality, I don't think his speech equates to promoting hatred and I think it far better to hear him out and then demolish his risible viewpoint with rational argument. Suppression is an act of desperation.

Those screaming the loudest are usually those who realize no one is heeding their words. Right now, it's the hate-mongers and their ilk. When we take action to suppress their speech, we galvanize them into righteous indignation and lend unwitting support to their cause.

Regards,

Bill Snedden

hezekiah jones

I'm just waiting for Sakpo to show up and do his Svend Robinson impersonation.

lisarea

I don't. I think the whole idea sucks.

I have no interest in defending the content of the speech, but I've always been 100% behind the idea that free speech is a natural human right, and any government that prohibits honest expression is way overstepping its bounds and needs to be crushed, torch and pitchfork style. I'll concede limitations on certain incitements to violence--falling just short of, oh, say, if someone were to say a government needed to be crushed, torch and pitchfork style--slander, commercial speech, etc.; but not regular old opinion, no matter how offensive.

As much as I do appreciate the acknowledgement of certain religious expression being hateful, I can't stand the idea of making that illegal. Even if it is just Canada.

Comquirk

I think rather than limiting free speech, it would be much better if the governmnet would finally give homosexuals equal rights under the law!

That to me makes much more sense in this situation. Give them the rights they deserve, and let the fire-and-brimstone preachers scream themselves into a stupor.

Of course, I agree with much harsher punishments for hate crimes wherein someone is physically hurt, killed, or defamed in some manner (under current defamation law, not by limiting free speech). However, no one should be silenced, even if they are idiots.

yelyos

Just a note on Canadian hate speech law-the speech that is targeted by the hate speech law is speech that publicly advocates commiting crimes or advocating genocide against a group based on race/age/gender/religion/etc.

A person is allowed to say "Blacks are evil" or "Muslims are evil" all they want. All they are prohibited from doing is saying "We should kill all the Jews" or some such.

Also, there are much harsher penalties for crimes if they were commited because of hatred against such a group.

Seeker196

Svend Robinson is a Parliamentary sideshow.