Free speech certainly isn't a given. When we hear about a crackdown on someone for what he/she said we first assume it was in a third world dictatorship, certainly not a western democracy. Not necessarily so.
Two recent examples. First, German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a remark that most Americans and other targets of al Qaeda should approve of: "It is good news. I am happy that they have succeeded in killing bin Laden."
So along comes judge Heinz Uthmann who filed charges against Merkel for the crime of rewarding and approving of a crime for her words. Good grief. It's one thing for politicians to disagree, but criminal charges?
Moving along, here's another "free" country without free speech. A couple of years ago we talked about Guy Earle, the Canadian comedian who took the time honored tactic of talking back to a heckler. Well, the heckler was gay, and Earle joked about her sexual orientation. Look out.
He got charged with a human rights violation by the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal. On April 20, 2011, the Tribunal issued its ruling (pdf), and the joke is on free speech lovers, because Earle was ordered to pay Ms. Pardy C$15,000, "plus post-judgment interest, for injury to her dignity, feelings, and self respect." The owner of the night club -- the scene of the crime -- was ordered to pay her C$7,500.
More power to Ms. Merkel and Mr. Earle for speaking their minds. But it sure is great to be an American. Makes me want to shout, "USA! USA! USA!"
Why is it that the illiberal liberal self-loathing corrupt elite regimes that are governing most western countries think that freedom of speech only applies to those who they agree with?
Posted by: Lee | May 14, 2011 at 09:39 AM
Lee, best I can figure is that power is intoxicating. Makes people in power want to control subjects even more.
Posted by: Geo | May 14, 2011 at 04:32 PM