Canada giving lessons on free speech

I'll bite.

I scanned the letter on the link and can't see any immediate problem. Would you care to enlighten me?
 
First off, the university can't arrest anyone. Second, we don't have freedom of expression in Canada, just freedom of speech which is different (in the US you have the freedom of speech AND expression).

Our expression is limited here, but in many ways it is also limited in the US due to liable and slander laws. However, slander and liable laws are stricter in Canada as they use the British system which makes it easier to prosecute. So if you go on a podium and accuse people of being communists, they better be card carrying communists or you're likely to get sued and you'll likely lose. Although in practice, our politicians sling mud around all the time and I haven't seen any of them in court, but that's probably because we are far less likely to sue then Americans are.

Then there's the hate laws. If you go up on a podium and start spewing shit about jews or blacks and inciting people to lynch certain minorities then you're likely to see the inside of a criminal court room real quick. This has been used to tear down white supremest web sites and phone lines. I have no problem with that, however, I may have some issues with what constitutes as hate speech. The definition may at times be too broad, and we do see a slippery slope here. This is obviously a controversial subject although hasn't been a high profile issue for some time.

In the case of Ann Coulter, she was probably being warned mostly about the slander/liable aspect of her speech as she's known to be a reputable bottom feeding mud slinger.
 
Wilse said
"I scanned the letter on the link and can't see any immediate problem."
----------------------------

Wilse' it seems your freedom of speech has been gone so long, that you don't even know it's gone.

And on the Canadian side of things, I now see why y'all post so much on an American site.
You like that true freedom of speech, don'tcha?
 
Fade said:
Wilse said
"I scanned the letter on the link and can't see any immediate problem."
----------------------------

Wilse' it seems your freedom of speech has been gone so long, that you don't even know it's gone.
Click to expand...
I asked you to elaborate on what the problem is but all you've done is attempt to ridicule me.

So are you going to explain what is wrong with the letter or not?
 
I can understand Coulter's problem. Being asked to keep her speech both civil and intelligent leaves her with no material she can use.

Hello, my name is Ann Coulter ....
Thank you and good night.
 
What I don't understand is why people go see her speak (and I imagine, pay to see her speak): Ann Coulter attacks gays and Muslims

Ms. Coulter, meanwhile, spoke last night at the University of Western Ontario. All long blonde hair and heavily-mascaraed lashes, she did not hold back, according to the London Free Press. A frequent contributor to Fox News – Barack Obama’s least favourite American network – Ms. Coulter took on a political science student who is Muslim.

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, she had joked that Muslims denied air travel should take “flying carpets.” When the student challenged that remark, Ms. Coulter told her to take a “camel,” adding that, “I thought it was just American public schools that produced ignorant people.”
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Honestly, did this guy think he'd get an intelligent answer from that douche bag?
 
FluffyMcDeath said:
I can understand Coulter's problem. Being asked to keep her speech both civil and intelligent leaves her with no material she can use.

Hello, my name is Ann Coulter ....
Thank you and good night.
Click to expand...
I've known about this speech restriction in Canada for many years. I find it odd and frankly a bit annoying, but it's their country and they can do what they like.

of course, coulter is an ugly, stupid cunt who flings her ugly speech anywhere she can. As an American I respect Freedom of Speech so much that I see her moronic babbling as proof that she is an uncouth bitch. Like a sign worn on her giant forehead.

"STUPID CUNT"

The great thing about Freedom of Speech is that I can point out what a moron she is. It works both ways.

Canadians just would prefer not to have such rude people within their borders. Actually, it's nice to know scum like coulter are not really welcome there.
 
Glaucus said:
What I don't understand is why people go see her speak (and I imagine, pay to see her speak): Ann Coulter attacks gays and Muslims

Ms. Coulter, meanwhile, spoke last night at the University of Western Ontario. All long blonde hair and heavily-mascaraed lashes, she did not hold back, according to the London Free Press. A frequent contributor to Fox News – Barack Obama’s least favourite American network – Ms. Coulter took on a political science student who is Muslim.

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, she had joked that Muslims denied air travel should take “flying carpets.” When the student challenged that remark, Ms. Coulter told her to take a “camel,” adding that, “I thought it was just American public schools that produced ignorant people.”
Click to expand...
Honestly, did this guy think he'd get an intelligent answer from that douche bag?
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that stupid bitch thinks she's "funny"

as someone who has enjoyed many a varied professional comedian I can tell you she has never said ONE funny thing. ever.
 
So basically, if Whyzzat was hosted in Canada they would have hauled him away a long time ago?
 
redrumloa said:
So basically, if Whyzzat was hosted in Canada they would have hauled him away a long time ago?
Click to expand...
why do some americans think they can tell other countries how to behave???
 
Correction: I got it backwards. According to the charter of rights and freedoms, here in Canada we have Freedom of Expression, but not Freedom of Speech. However, "expression" has both content and form. So it seems our freedom of expression is similar to the US's freedom of speech + expression. When I was in university a law professor explained to me the differences between Canada and the US on this topic, but I can't remember the details really.

Special Topics: Freedom of Expression in Canada
 
redrumloa said:
So basically, if Whyzzat was hosted in Canada they would have hauled him away a long time ago?
Click to expand...
Hauled who away?
 
Fade said:
And on the Canadian side of things, I now see why y'all post so much on an American site.
You like that true freedom of speech, don'tcha?
Click to expand...

1) whyzzat and all the conversations on it could equally be conducted on servers in the UK or Canada without a problem. However, if the site became a forum for discussing how we should kill all the jews or was used as a way to discuss and coordinate terrorist attacks or just to swap stolen PINs for bank accounts and credit cards then the site would be shut down equally in the US, Canada and UK.

2) The university is only a quasi-public place. The regents have the right to say what kind of speech they don't want to have on campus.

A public park or street is a public place but as you know, since Dubya's reign you are no longer allowed to take positions against the government in public that have not been designated "Free Speech Zones" implying that all other zones are not free speech zones. Under such conditions the US is mostly not a free speech zone.

So long as the speech you espouse is right wing (no matter how crazy) it is generally allowed or even encouraged (by those that own the media and for their benefit in general). You champion this kind of freedom of speech. However, should someone take a contrary position then they should not have such freedom of speech. Liberals should all be killed. Cindy Sheehan and all like her should be arrested for treason and hanged. According to the right wing, the freedom of speech means the freedom to speak in agreement with them. That is NOT what free speech is.

--

In this case Ann Coulter received a letter that merely cautions her to not be irresponsible with her mouth - but her entire schtick is encitement - that's her whole act so naturally she feels cornered. She was told that she is welcome to speak but don't be a dauche bag. This she considers an insurmountable problem because everything she does is based on having hissy fits and calling it common sense. She is a rabble rouser and here she has taken a civil and sensible letter (read it, it isn't inflammatory) and turned it into a cause to be taken up by her unthinking hordes of Coulter heads to wave as further proof that they are being persecuted (a technique of nutty churches and cults of the worst order) to bind her fold to her and to use their numbers to advance her own personal pettinesses.
 
Wilse, I knew that if I let a few posts go by before I answered, I could show you some prime examples. And it didn't take long.

But first, a reply to your faux indignation. You really do sound a lot like the guy that wrote that email to Coulter. At least wait till I take a swing before you feign abuse.

On to the examples.
unintelligent
douche bag
ugly, stupid cunt
uncouth bitch
STUPID CUNT
moron
scum
stupid bitch

The above are all examples of free speech in the US.

If Coulter used those words to describe the senior academic administrator Francois Houle in Canada it would be considered as promoting hatred and a violation of Canadian defamation law.

Of course the same people that felt free to use those words on Whyzzat to describe Coulter would love to see her prosecuted if she dared use them in Canada.
 
Fade said:
You like that true freedom of speech, don'tcha?
Click to expand...
There is no absolute right of free speech in any civilized country. This is a common myth.

On to the examples.
unintelligent
douche bag
ugly, stupid cunt
uncouth bitch
STUPID CUNT
moron
scum
stupid bitch

The above are all examples of free speech in the US.
Click to expand...
That statement is wrong or extremely imprecise at best.

Criminal-libel laws can be found in Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, also in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

So, yes, there are areas in the United States where you could be thrown into jail for spoken words.

Since we are talking about a university event, the following is a reasonably good example, even if the claims were later withdrawn:
http://www.citmedialaw.org/threats/stat ... ado-v-mink

A student's computer was confiscated and searched in Colorado after he ridiculed a professor...


If Coulter used those words to describe the senior academic administrator Francois Houle in Canada it would be considered as promoting hatred and a violation of Canadian defamation law.
Click to expand...
Well, even though this is fairly obvious, it is important to note that any victim of alleged libel (or invasion of privacy or copyright infringement, etc.), would usually need to make a claim before anything happens. Very few 'victims' do.
 
Fade said:
Wilse, I knew that if I let a few posts go by before I answered, I could show you some prime examples. And it didn't take long.

But first, a reply to your faux indignation. You really do sound a lot like the guy that wrote that email to Coulter. At least wait till I take a swing before you feign abuse.

On to the examples.
unintelligent
douche bag
ugly, stupid cunt
uncouth bitch
STUPID CUNT
moron
scum
stupid bitch

The above are all examples of free speech in the US.

If Coulter used those words to describe the senior academic administrator Francois Houle in Canada it would be considered as promoting hatred and a violation of Canadian defamation law.

Of course the same people that felt free to use those words on Whyzzat to describe Coulter would love to see her prosecuted if she dared use them in Canada.
Click to expand...

Yeesh! I keep forgetting myself and expecting you to grasp basic concepts and maybe have a vague clue about the subject of your wingnut ire. Silly of me.
 
It turns out Ann canceled her speech because, thanks to her own leaking of the email warning her to refrain from overly hateful speech, she's concerned protesters might cause her harm. Not only that, she wants the human rights tribunal to investigate Francois Houle, the guy who sent her the warning in private, for hate crimes.

Ann Coulter prepares human-rights complaint

The kicker is she makes fun of Francois name for being French. Hmmm... Isn't Coulter a French name???

EDIT: Ann asked if any Muslim speakers were treated that badly. I have no idea, but I do know that George Galloway was denied entry into Canada due to his support for Hamas (something Ann probably wasn't all that upset about): Galloway begins Canadian lecture tour via live video link from N.Y.
 
Gee.

Ms. Coulter said her aides told her protestors had been advised by some of her opponents to give her a rough welcome. “The liberal blogs were saying bring rocks and sticks and tar and feathers and don’t let Ann Coulter escape unharmed today.”
Click to expand...

And from another article.

The speech was called off moments before it began by organizers of the event, who feared for Coulter's safety, the Canadian news network CTV reported. Organizers called off the speech after someone triggered a fire alarm as people were entering the building, CTV said.
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Oh gee, I wonder why she canceled. But physical violence is OK because you dislike what she says, right?
 
redrumloa said:
Gee.

Ms. Coulter said her aides told her protestors had been advised by some of her opponents to give her a rough welcome. “The liberal blogs were saying bring rocks and sticks and tar and feathers and don’t let Ann Coulter escape unharmed today.”
Click to expand...

And from another article.

[quote:y8c5jhh8]The speech was called off moments before it began by organizers of the event, who feared for Coulter's safety, the Canadian news network CTV reported. Organizers called off the speech after someone triggered a fire alarm as people were entering the building, CTV said.
Click to expand...

Oh gee, I wonder why she canceled. But physical violence is OK because you dislike what she says, right?[/quote:y8c5jhh8]Not sure how you thought I advocated violence. To be honest, I think it was stupid to threaten her, if for no other reason then it plays into her hand. The only thing I would advocate is to ignore her speech. If you check my prior posts you'll see I questioned why people would bother to go see her. I never questioned why people don't try to kill her.

What I thought was funny is that she wants the Human Rights tribunal to investigate Francois for a private email that she herself leaked to the internet on her own blog. Not sure how a private warning can be construed as hate speech. Maybe she hates herself? That I could see.
 
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