Who is the better champion of free speech? Maclean's or the Muslim law student? - John Miller

John Miller, professor of journalism at Ryerson University, argues that free speech is not equally available to all and so there is some role for human rights commissions in fielding complaints about discriminatory expression in the media. Presented at the Joseph Howe Symposium, "The Media's Right to Offend: Exploring legal and ethical limits on free speech", hosted by University of King's College School of Journalism and the Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership on November 1, 2008.

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News & Politics

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[forgetfulmuse]

What Levant's Muslim readers went through? Is he joking? They need to grow a skin. Life is full of inequities; the idea that some Osgoode law students have a right to "equal time" with Mark Steyn is ludicrous. The argument boils down to "it's not fair". Well, mama said there'd be days like this, there'd be days like this, my mama said. To say they champion free speech when they effectively tried to shut Mark Steyn up for criticizing their religion is illogical and foolish.

[RustyIronloins]

It's very important to get the facts straight . . . Ezra went through hell: his life was turned upside down, his magazine was destroyed, it cost him 2.5 years of his life and around $100,000.

Ezra's readers who are muslim went through nothing.

[fiddleman31]

I would say MacLean's.

[gundamWWW]

John Miller should speak for himself. I always suprised when a individual takes it upon themselves the champion themselves of behalf of a entire community.

Apparently John Miller believes the he the voice of all Cauacasians in Canada... Interesting...

[JohnAdamCulligan]

He's a former Ryerson prof. He can't help himself.

[RustyIronloins]

HAHAHA!!!

This man typifies what is wrong with tenure.

[greyone40]

This guy is misrepresenting Steyn's article too. Didn't anyone who opposes it ever read it? He is also boring and his ideas(?) aren't well presented. Too much non sequitur.

[RustyIronloins]

To answer the question posed at 7:00+ . . . are you serious? That's just a plain counterfactual.

MacLeans is the better champion of free speech: they were defending the right of freedom of expression. The muslim law student was opposed to the free expression of ideas.

Give me a break . . . who was better?

It's nice to be open minded, but let's not be so open-minded that our brains fall out.

[RustyIronloins]

Yes, we are different than the US with regards to free speech. They handle it much much better than we Canadians do. They appreciate what it means. Understand why it's important. Plus, they have legitimately interpretively conservative judges.

In almost every way, the US has a superior understanding and experience of freedom of expression.

[RustyIronloins]

The UNUDHR is not a legal document in the sense of justiciability. It's a hortatory document. It's aspirational. And when talking of "dignity", full of Kantian metaphysical mumbo-jumbo.

[mackdan7]

If you can't win in the marketplace of ideas just file a lawsuit... Canada has some serious problems.