Christopher Hitchens -- Free Speech Part 2

[pchatingliberal]

I'm starting to think the most aggressively enforced status quo is not about religion but remembrance day. I think Hitchens and his respected opponents are living proof of that. I think people disrespect this issue when I hear them say things like "if you don't think like me then get out of Britain" they have really missed the point.

P.S I do have respect for remembrance day, but freedom of thought and expression can only work without exceptions.

[Sboy200]

who else was speaking?

[jansuch]

It wasn't a witch-hunting prosecutor More had that exchange with, it was his future son-in-law, Roper.

[anglianchannel]

chrtopher hitchens is my god

[rainbowspite222]

I can't believe Hitchen's has cancer now. I'm sure the Christian fundamentalists etc will have a field day with this information. Personally I guess you could label me as an agnostic so I'll pray to whatever force is up there for him to be well. He is an arrogant son of a bitch with a brilliance and genius I have yet to see anyone match, especially his debators and he has enlightened me with his opinions. Cheers Hitchens!

[Neanderthalcouzin]

I listen with envy to Hitchen's oratory skills!

[marcehole]

aaaaaah.... to be determined to be offended... is... BEING offended... :-) pity... only in Canada?? Tsk.... and I was looking forward to some wonderful tea! Aaaaah! There it is... yes.... very tasty.... irreverent perhaps too... i hope wish... so that the 'offended' may reflect upon their 'sufferings'... in the name of the forehead, chest, left shoulder, right shoulder, aaaaaaah...

[bastardrob]

''The censure is in ill repute''

[BillyDKY]

If you want to question what you think you know, you should check out my channel.

[rsl4yt]

I am proud to reflect the displays of forgotten truths held in your jeans.

[braindoodle89]

we love you hitchens!

[AllenbysEyes]

Hitch slightly misquotes A Man for All Seasons - the quote was spoken to More's son-in-law and not Cromwell or Henry - but otherwise a brilliant point. It's my favorite play so forgive me for being nitpicky.

[Normalman50]

I am a Canadian born senior citizen who is very concerned about the Canadian government stripping "Freedom of speech" from our society. We have people in prison who demand their right to free speech, and judges are saying that "The truth is no defence". For example: White Canadian's cannot openly criticize the government for flooding our country with excessive numbers of third world people. I am very concerned for my children, and grandchildren. These new communistic measures are very scary.

[camino1ca]

If your concerned with immigration you are wholly missing the issues in Canada. Immigration has been a benefit. Canadian population growth is almost nil and immigration is providing more workers skilled and unskilled. Why is it an issue to be white? This is pure nonsense. However it was an issue when the ideology of Islam was criticized in Macleans Magazine as a danger and a lawsuit was brought up against them, that is wrong(the lawsuit).

[Normalman50]

Hello camino - As a former government employee in Canada, I can assure you that excessive immigration has a major effect on our social systems. Providing schools for English training, housing, and welfare cheques, has virtually bankrupt the city of Toronto Canada. The imported crime from Jamaica is also a major expense. Legal aid lawyes for the killers, court costs, extra policing, even the cost of funnerals when they kill their own people. The loss of free speech just adds to the problem.

[camino1ca]

Those are good points that I would not argue with. Major amendments need to be maid but that's not a case against immigration but a case against policies that are way too open. I don't believe that anyone should be let in, the immigration process should be revised. Perhaps It is too "PC".

[Normalman50]

Hello camino - I guess it all really doesn't matter anymore, as Canada (as a country) will eventually die from the self inflicted cancer called "excessive immigration". Every murder in Toronto over the weekend involved imported Jamaican gangs, and we still import from that gun culture country. Absolutely nothing good has happened to Canada since the third world immigration flood gates were left open. The US and Britain are also suffering from the same cancer.

[bbpro]

100% truth!  Excellent comment!!!

[InterludetoPeace]

Lets not dance around the question of immigration. You and I both know that every individual living in North America today is an immigrant from elsewhere in the world, whether it be Europe, Asia, Africa or the Caribean. The real question to be addressed is the quality of immigrants moving into Canada, and whether these individuals can meaningfully contribute to the economy and government to maintain our society. It is frivolous for you to expect these changes to occur within...(cont.)

[InterludetoPeace]

any new immigrant population in the matter of a few decades, as it often takes much longer for a newcomer to Canada to take in their new rights and practice their responsibilities. For example, I have confidence in the immigrant Indo-Chinese groups that arrived in Canada (mainly over the last two decades) to take a larger role in public service and government, and to become meaningful members of the Canadian society. The Jamaican gun culture issue you address is valid, but not to an extent...

[InterludetoPeace]

that it can be generalized to address the issue of immigration in general. There are many immigrants that are convinced to make better individuals of themselves, and hold themselves to a higher standard of public discourse and service in Canada, and many immigrants that came here from the Caribbean and Africa came for the very reason of escaping gangsterism and violence, and are committed not to ever go back to such a violent environmen...

[InterludetoPeace]

I sense you pessimism in the immigrant community, but a closer examination of it will probably lead you to a much more optimistic view of immigrants as contributors, not detractors of Canadian society. Don't let the bullies and gansters in the streets convince you that the immigrants are violent and thuggish, for many are not and do not wish to be so. There are questions of illegal immigrants and immigrants entering Canada falsely as refugees to recieve government benefits, nad these should...

[Normalman50]

Hello Inter- I am not questioning the quality of immigrants, I'm concerned about the quantity, and the cost of accomodating them. Excessive immigration has financially drained our social programs, including the welfare system. Some of these people come into Canada with absolutely no knowledge of the English language, and it costs us tens of millions of dollars to house, feed, and teach them the language. Too much of anything is poison, plus we are now into a recession.

[InterludetoPeace]

I was aware of immigration job-aid programs, but not of any government subsidized program to feed and shelter immigrants. Honestly, I think that you are making all of this up, so unless you actually provide me examples of exactly how these "tens of millions" of dollars are being spent to feed and house them, I have reason to believe that you are simply throwing out wild arguments to make a point. To the contrary, I am certain that immigrants pay for their food and housing, not the government.

[InterludetoPeace]

The drain on the welfare system in Canada is caused by our "top-down" population, meaning that our senior population is growing at a faster rate than the youth worker population. This is the underlying cause of social welfare drain, as more and more seniors rely on it and less and less workers are able to support it with taxes. I honestly do not see how an injection of immigrants youth and new families increases this problem. On that note, I think it would be wise for us to regulate...

[InterludetoPeace]

and limit regulation in the light of increasing resource shortage globally, but I do not think that limiting the amount of immigration is going to solve the social welfare problem. Ever since the "baby- boomers" aged over the last 50 years, it has become clear that the low birth rate (on average) in Canada cannot replace workers as quickly as the rising senior population. This problem, ironically, is caused by our high standard of living and long life span of individuals...

[Normalman50]

Hello Inter - We are facing a 8% unemployment rate in Canada. That fact alone squashes all your reasoning.

[InterludetoPeace]

By applying such diverse and nuanced problems to the single issue of immigration, your arguments lose objectivity and therefore credibility.

[Normalman50]

Hi Inter - So you honestly believe Canada can afford excessive immigration. Do you realize that the city of Toronto went broke, like in bankrupt, from attempting to provide social programs (like English speaking schools) for immigrants? You sound like an educated person, but you cannot comprehend that our country cannot afford to continue with excessive immigration, I'm confused.

[InterludetoPeace]

As I made clear in my previous response, I'm all FOR restricting immigration, but I don't think that limiting immigration will solve the social welfare drain. The root problem of the welfare drain is an increasing proportion of seniors per worker in the Canadian economy. Other than that, I am in agreement with you about limiting immigration in the light of the economic downturn.

[Normalman50]

Hi Inter - Canadian seniors continue to work out of necesity. They may have worked all their lives for companies who did not offer a pension, or the company went bankrupt and stopped paying their pension. Also make note that Canada Pension is highly taxed. I am 61 and my CPP is just $350. per month (less 30% tax). I will have to work until the day I die.

[johnclavis]

Don't you think it's intellectually dishonest to "seed" your question right from the get-go with the word "excessive"? How is it a fair question to start out by characterizing the immigration in a negative way? I'm not on anybody's side; I just saw that you did that I wanted to point out that it isn't right. If I asked you "Are you in favor of excessive borrowing?" or "Do you like to engage in excessive exercise?", who wouldn't answer in the correct way? Think about it, brother. Happy new year!

[TheSpankymonkey]

@Normalman50 "like in bankrupt, from attempting to provide social programs" - I doubt removing such social programs would of stopped toronto from going/being bankrupt. Sounds more like a sign of poor financial management than any single issue.

[BlissfulKnowledge]

"he is an nazi homosexual commie with a black boyfirend who has aids.what kind of roal model is he for white kids?"

Who on earth are you talking about?

[rftluong]

I believe this individual is projecting some sort of fantasy.

[FA8T]

his imaginary friend who he thinks is real?

[camino1ca]

Where was that quote taken from?

[Atheist321LiftOff]

@BlissfulKnowledge To the irrational the rational is profane. Therefore ignorance is a hate crime.

Great speech, I wish he pointed out that while we should consider all dissenting viewpoints, we ought not entertain the absurd as being as credible as the valid once it has been recognized as such.

[phuturexy]

@BlissfulKnowledge hes talking bout his dad

[FA8T]

It's great to see someone laying down a simple proud case for freedom of speech. I'm with hitch, I don't believe Irving should have gone to jail. Under that logic I should file a citizens arrest against anyone who offends me. God the streets would be empty.

[kentamitchell]

THANK YOU! Couldn't have said it better myself!

[redryan20000]

@FA8T thats a reductio if i ever saw one. or actually it's just a dumb use of logic.