Freedom Of Speech In Canada

What exactly does the term free speech mean? Does it mean to that you have an absolute right to say whatever you want, whenever you want? Actually, yes it does within certain limits.

Does it mean you will see no repercussions from exercising that right? No, it does not.

Are there times when the exercise of free speech should be curtailed? Yes there are. The famous example of yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater - when no actual fire is present - is the perfect example. Advocating violence against someone is another.

Should someone's speech be curtailed because they disagree with you? I would hope this one is a no-brainer for everyone. Absolutely not.

Do you have to listen to someone else whether they agree with you or not? Nope. Freedom of speech does not guarantee an audience. You - and I - may have a right to free speech, but it does not mean that you - or I - have to listen to what someone else says.

Do you have a right to demand that someone listen to what you are saying? Again, no.

Do you have a right to silence someone you disagree with?

Apparently, some Canadian politicians believe so.

Early yesterday, the website address was flying into the inboxes of politicians, political staffers, journalists and even the strategists from other leadership campaigns.

Mr. Volpe's campaign had the site shut down without knowing, it seems, who put it up: "Hi Everyone," wrote Brenden Johnstone, who is with the Volpe campaign, in an e-mail to other leadership campaigns. "There has been concern about how the issue of the Volpe donations was reflecting on the leadership race.

"My Office has had the website suspended through CIRA [Canadian Internet Registration Authority] and CDNS [Canadian Domain Name Services] and it will be down as soon as 6 p.m. I think the issue with the website has been dealt with. . . ."

I'm of the opinion that letting someone you really think is being wrong-headed about a position should be allowed to speak. Because they'll either convince you that you are wrong or will show themselves to be idiots. That said, I have a limit with how much I'll tolerate here on my bandwidth and will ban someone who crosses the line in my opinion (calling the host names = ban - I'm not that tolerant, sorry). I think that policy is in line with my earlier statements - you're not guaranteed an audience, certainly not when someone else is paying for it. You may have a right to put up a sign in your front yard announcing your views to the world, but you do not have a right to nail your sign to someone else's house.

Sadly, as the Canadian example shows, too many people think the proper way to deal with dissent is to shut it off. And that group of people are NOT on the right, but on the left. Don't bother to try to tell me about how you're being suppressed in this country. Move to Canada, where your freedom of speech depends on not offending a politician. And a so-called Liberal politician at that.

This is absurd, censorship and an abuse of power. As a citizen, regardless of your political affiliation, and as a Internet consumer, this should outrage you. The Internet is for free speech, and this fundamental freedom is really only labeled as such because it is one of those elements of our liberty that had to be protected from tyrants with power. If one cannot lampoon a political candidate (the archetype of free speech in a free society) then we aren't truly free. What is perhaps most chilling is that this censorship has come from a candidate for the Prime Ministership.

I think Mr. Taylor has it about right there.