Free Speech at Risk
By David Aikman
A prominent conservative Canadian author and journalist, Mark Steyn, is facing trial in Canada on charges of offending Muslims. An article by him in Canada's leading weekly McLean's Magazine mocked Islamic radicals in biting terms. The article was based on Steyn's book, "America Alone," in which he decries the collapse of resistance in the West to creeping Islamic dominance in society.
In the US, Steyn's book was popular and provoked no legal issues. But in Canada, the state's concern for social harmony extends to seeking to protect the feelings of Muslims offended by his article. But people's feelings are always being hurt. That's why, in America, the First Amendment protects people's rights to free speech, not the right not to be hurt. We should be thankful for that.
A prominent conservative Canadian author and journalist, Mark Steyn, is facing trial in Canada on charges of offending Muslims. An article by him in Canada's leading weekly McLean's Magazine mocked Islamic radicals in biting terms. The article was based on Steyn's book, "America Alone," in which he decries the collapse of resistance in the West to creeping Islamic dominance in society.
In the US, Steyn's book was popular and provoked no legal issues. But in Canada, the state's concern for social harmony extends to seeking to protect the feelings of Muslims offended by his article. But people's feelings are always being hurt. That's why, in America, the First Amendment protects people's rights to free speech, not the right not to be hurt. We should be thankful for that.
posted by HeavyHanded at
10:10 AM
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