Ezra Levant On Mohammed Cartoons And The Enemies of Liberty
EXRA Levant puiblished those Mohammed cartoons in his Western Standard magaine. He has brought before a “kangaroo court”, aka the Alberta human rights commission.
He notes:
Our magazine had published eight of the Danish cartoons to illustrate a story (you can read it here after a quick and free registration) about the cartoon riots and the Western media’s fear of printing them.
The magazine spoke for itself — it’s an artifact; anyone could see the words and pictures we used. Why would the commission ask me about my “intentions”?
Why would my intentions as publisher be relevant in determining whether or not the publication was illegal? The answer is that these “human rights” commissions are interested in what George Orwell called “thought crimes”. If my thoughts were pure, the publication might receive their blessing. If my thoughts were impure, the very same publication would be banned. It’s worse than a limit on freedom of expression — which is when you say or print what’s on your mind. It’s a test of what’s on your mind itself — a limit on freedom of thought.
His opening remarks:
Opening remarks by Ezra Levant, January 11, 2008 – Calgary
My name is Ezra Levant. Before this government interrogation begins, I will make a statement.
When the Western Standard magazine printed the Danish cartoons of Mohammed two years ago, I was the publisher. It was the proudest moment of my public life. I would do it again today. In fact, I did do it again today. Though the Western Standard, sadly, no longer publishes a print edition, I posted the cartoons this morning on my website, ezralevant.com.
I am here at this government interrogation under protest. It is my position that the government has no legal or moral authority to interrogate me or anyone else for publishing these words and pictures. That is a violation of my ancient and inalienable freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and in this case, religious freedom and the separation of mosque and state. It is especially perverted that a bureaucracy calling itself the Alberta human rights commission would be the government agency violating my human rights. So I will now call those bureaucrats “the commission” or “the hrc”, since to call the commission a “human rights commission” is to destroy the meaning of those words.
I believe that this commission has no proper authority over me. The commission was meant as a low-level, quasi-judicial body to arbitrate squabbles about housing, employment and other matters, where a complainant felt that their race or sex was the reason they were discriminated against. The commission was meant to deal with deeds, not words or ideas. Now the commission, which is funded by a secular government, from the pockets of taxpayers of all backgrounds, is taking it upon itself to be an enforcer of the views of radical Islam. So much for the separation of mosque and state.
Read more here.
He’s right…
Posted: 13th, January 2008 | In: Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
