Rob Breakenridge Interviews Ezra Levant - Part 2

Canada is at a pivotal point in its history. Canadians must decide whether Free Speech is truly a right -or- just something they like to talk about but, when push comes to shove, don't really support. Failure to speak out is exactly the same as saying, "I don't care that much about my Free Speech rights. Feel free to take them away."

In this interview with CHQR's Rob Breakenridge, Alberta lawyer Ezra Levant discusses some troubling recent events that are most clearly taking us down a very slippery slope.

On a personal note, I'm absolutely convinced that this issue has little to do with Muslims vs. non-Muslims, Gays vs. Bigots, or Whites vs. Minorities. Rather, it has everything to do with how we're going to collectively get along and deal with each other in the future.

It's very easy to say "I believe in free speech" and "I'm open minded". These are catchy phrases that everyone spouts off all the time. But the test of your convictions is when you encounter people who you vehemently disagree with and maybe even deeply offend you. When this happens, you have three choices: 1. Try to get in a reasoned debate with them.
2. Ignore them.
3. Shut them up through the force of the government.

I fully realize that the last option is most tempting, especially when it comes to those people whose views seem absolutely repugnant to you. Fully understandable! And this inclination has a lot to do with what we've been taught since we were young, namely don't fight back through violence but instead go to an authority figure to get justice - a parent, a teacher, a policeman, a judge.

BUT Free Speech is an entirely different matter. To truly believe in Canadian values, to truly be open minded, you must be willing to be offended. It's absolutely that simple.

Unfortunately it has been complicated by the fact that long ago politicians allowed Human Rights Commissions (HRCs) to venture into the arena of Free Speech, not paying attention to the wise maxim, "The path to Hell is paved with good intentions" or acknowledging the so-called Law of Unintended Consequences. It has further been complicated by Jewish groups using HRCs to silence and punish Neo-Nazis. All of these were mistakes but what kind of reasonable person would spend the time & energy to defend a Nazi? Civil Liberties Groups did. I criticized them for defending these horrible people. I was wrong and so was everyone else like me.

Canada is at a tipping point. If you truly believe in liberty & freedom then now is the time to speak out. Write the Attorney Generals and Premiers of your province. Write the Federal Attorney General and the Prime Minister. Even if you're not Canadian, still write. Their e-mail addresses are easy to find.

Finally, don't forget that there are Hate Crime laws both provincially and federally in Canada. So there will always be full protection for all of us. But such lawsuits will be held in front of a real judge, with real rules of order, where facts and truth are a defense. Such novel concepts are beyond the understanding of the HRCs!

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Canada
• Ezra
• Levant
• free
• speech
• freedom
• liberty
• Rob
• Breakenridge
• Mark
• Steyn

[vancouver57]

By the way, you've actually done us all a great service by posting what you have. Because now, anyone who supports free speech can use you and your YouTube site as proof positive of how so-called right-wing Nazis like yourself are very much in league on this issue with those on the ultra-left. That will make them more than a little squirmish!

[vancouver57]

Amigo, in this modern age there are countless ways to get your msg across. YouTube and Google Video are prime examples. Even though you've proved to the world that Hatred of Jews is the primary thing in your life from morning to night, you very much have the right to post whatever you want.

The issue at hand in Canada has nothing specifically to do with Jews or Muslims. It's about political correctness, pure & simple.

[vancouver57]

I hope that everyone visit the home page of "messiahsoon" to see what a complete twit he is. It's quite fascinating how many against free speech also have a hate-on for Jews. Fascinating and pathetic.

[starchaser1960]

Ezra I support you 100%. Canada is totally broken, we need people like you!

[St37One]

I wasnt speaking for Canadians.

For an organization that supresses dissent and criticism, violence is the only language that can bridge the gap.

[vancouver57]

I wish you were right but I suspect that no matter what the Canadian government does to clamp down on our free speech, 99% of citizens will just sit back and take it. Collectively we truly are a bunch of passive sheep.

[St37One]

If they do that then it is all out war. No question about it.

[rakshark]

now they going to pass a low not to creticise human ritrs orgenisations as an insightment to damege human rites

[Yesica1993]

Thanks for posting this. And cheers to that radio host as well!

[grathodie]

thanks for posting this Vancouver57 !

[robert7777777]

Utter nonsense. Ezra is being charged for blasphemy in Canada. Ezra has always stood up for freedom of speech and has battled Canadian Jewish Congress on it. He even invited Nazi defender D. Christie to speak at Uof A Law. Nice try though, brainiac.

[robert7777777]

Rachael Corrie storie burried??? That just doesn't pass the giggle test. She has a broadway play!! And all because sh is a white American. Shelhavet Pass never got a broadway play. She was a lowly Israeli baby who was shot in the head.

Corrie was a radical that protected terrorists, and went into a war zone to do so. Look up her name on google images where she is demonicly screaming while burning a US flag while even children look at her strangely.