Huffington Post Canada Senior Business Editor, Daniel Tencer, has written a very interesting piece entitled Progressives Are Making A Big Mistake Abandoning Freedom Of Speech:
It’s true that we live in strange times, but I had not realized, until I read that sentence, that we are so far through the looking glass that we now inhabit a space where some people working in news media have actually stopped believing in free speech.
This opinion piece is not an isolated incident. On campuses across North America, a growing number of people on the left are turning against the very notion of freedom of speech, having grown convinced that it is yet another bludgeon used by “them” against “us.” In the now-famous castigation of Lindsay Shepherd at Wilfrid Laurier University, university officials on three occasions likened free speech to Nazi ideology. Is this what academia has come to? The belief that freedom of speech is fascist?
To me, a student of history, this is bizarro world.
He makes some excellent points and comes across as extremely sincere. However, he is also somewhat naive on this issue. Leftists (aka “Progressives”) suffer from a deep seated infection of PVS (Permanent Victim Syndrome). They all have a major chip on their shoulders and portray themselves as victims who have gained the courage to fight back. L.A. podcaster Adam Carolla has frequently said that much of this is fueled by “Daddy Issues”. So they protest loudly, on the Internet and in public, intuitively knowing that weak kneed politicians. heads of academia, and business people will cave in to most every one of their demands, no matter how ludicrous. This strategy has been very effective for at least a decade, though 2017 has shown some indications that the majority of the population are now fed up with these whiny tyrants. What the author fails to realize is that these Leftists wholly subscribe to the notion of big governments enacting more & more laws which entirely support their views of the oppression of anyone who falls into the category of Hillary Clinton’s “deplorables”. When it comes to free speech, they absolutely support the elimination of all speech that they disagree with. Whether through fines, reeducation programs, or even imprisonment, Leftists have consistently supported all of these punitive actions. Indeed, we have entered a bizarro world but not just recently.
One comment to this article was particularly refreshing:
Leftists never take responsibility for their own lives. This is why they must constantly blame others for their problems, cry for resources and sympathy, and expect everyone else to respect them when they deserve none. It’s no surprise that many of these individuals tend to be in favor of nanny-governments. They have no accountability, because they’ve been coddled all their lives, and because they view themselves as victims who need to be compensated for, the leftists have the most deranged and shameless sense of entitlement. They seem to think that the world owes them everything, which is why they have such arrogant and hostile attitude towards everyone else. The whole concept of working to earn something for yourself is lost to them.
My favorite example lately was Taylor Swift saying she had a great year. That caused a storm because of course how could you have a great year with drumpf in the oval orifice.
They’re going to try the worst year ever thing again once festivus is over. Remember 2016 the worst year evah! Meme? The entire leftist have pushed that until everyone repeated it as fact.
My 2016 and 2017 we’re fantastic. All my kids are in school and doing well. The job is great marriage is great. If I was famous declaring it was a good year means I’m a racist sexist bigot homophobe. These people are insane.
My father died earlier this year, leaving everything to me. I’m sure that if any of those lefties found out about it, they would demand that I hand it all over as, clearly, an inheritance is a form of unearned and unwarranted privilege. Besides, the money that I received, and which my father worked long and hard for, would be seen as having been stolen from those who refuse to earn their own keep.
Whether 2018 will be a better year remains to be seen. I have to pay the taxes on the estate and I’m sure the Aga Khan’s (new) long-time buddy considers me a tax cheat.
Well, it all hinges on property rights; without private property, you got nothing.
Where will you speak, if there is no place you are allowed to speak?
Where will you worship, if there is no place you are allowed to gather?
Where will you write, if ownership of a printing press is illegal?
How will you run a business, if you are not allowed to choose your employees or customers?
Diefenbaker’s charter enshrined property rights; which is why Trudeau had to kill it.
The progressives have determined that … any … “arrangement” is a family. That’s soooo progressive. Who needs a “father”… after all, the media, academia, and even the government mocks and derides men as all dull-witted, rapist, monsters who should be jettisoned from any “family”. A “dad” is just a tired old hackneyed remnant from the 1950’s.
But then … when the children of the progressive “reformed” families turn 18 … and have NOTHING entering adulthood. NOTHING from their single mothers who no longer receive a government paycheck to aid their dependent family. Completely adrift economically … due to their simulated family … these poor children covet what REAL families are able to provide for their children. So they stamp their feet and whine and act-out because they never received the discipline from a father. No, they were mom’s “best friends” who were NEVER chastised or punished for any transgression. After all, that might jeopardize mommy’s relationship with her “best friend” children. So they whine about the 1950’s nuclear family construct that they never had. They whine and DEMAND other people’s stuff. And call the very thing they mocked … “privilege”.
The only option for these children of fake families is to take the welfare of government administrated college loans to attend some useless liberal arts college and eventually drop out before completing their degree in the political economies of Marxist States. Or, they can join the military, briefly, before being discharged for failing to conform to the discipline demanded by their employer. So then, these INCOMPLETE children put on black shirts after their shifts at the local Starbucks and break windows, while screaming and demanding society conform to the total anarchy of their upbringing. They demand that THEIR LIVES MATTER. And that all the privilege and inheritance of a traditional, cis-gendered, two parent male and female FAMILY be handed over to the State … the Village … to be redistributed to the children of “progressive” families.
The Left has deconstructed the Family … and now demand reparations for the destruction they wrought. All I can say to that is F-u … you and your mommy made a “choice” … now live with it.
Where will you worship, if there is no place you are allowed to gather?
Ah, but we will have places to worship. We’ll soon have ma and pa mosques on every corner, thanks to the enlightened wisdom of tomorrow’s birthday boy’s policies.
And we won’t have much choice about worshipping, either. We can either bow towards a certain city several times a day, we can remain as we are and see half of our income stolen in the form of a tax, or we can be executed for not converting.
Who needs a “father”… after all, the media, academia, and even the government mocks and derides men as all dull-witted, rapist, monsters who should be jettisoned from any “family”.
Especially nowadays since “men” can now give bear children.
I forgot to add that my parents and I came to Canada from Europe. I’m sure I’ll have to pay some sort U. N.-mandated indigenous peoples compensation tax as well, considering that it seems that it’s running this country now.
“indigenous peoples”…ever notice that everyone EXCEPT Whites is considered to be “indigenous” to some place or other?
It’s kind of funny that nomads have somehow become “indigenous”…
Of course the more perceptive among us will realize that “indigenous” is just another word that is code for anti-White racism.
Great post. In today’s Toronto Sun there is an excellent article by Antonella Artuso on Professor Peterson and the Lindsay Shepherd affair at Laurier. He blames this whole mess on Kathleen Wynne and her legislation that made the gendered and sexual violence office at Laurier a mandated, legislated necessity. He states that our universities had decided that social justice trumps free speech.
Damn.
it is finally dawning on these mentally challenged twits,that freedom of speech might be important.
Having orchestrated the denial of this right to their perceived opponents, by shouting down,abusing and protesting contrary voices.
They now find the high ground has washed from under their feet.
We are the righteous they have chanted, as they have behaved like beasts.
Human rights trump all legeslation in Canada….another way of saying you have no rights but what we,the chosen, allow you to have.
And now they see the backlash building and are running for cover.
Oh so sorry ,progressive trogolites, you showed us what you are.
Too bad so sad.
Free speech is key to any fight for rights
But in an open society where you every right to do what you will, including failing, then free speech must be banned. Have I understood this correctly?
I demur with respect to some of the comments. I think we need to separate the Leftist politicians, Media and ideological Academics from the mass of the Liberals.
Many of my family are Liberal. While they are not doctrinaire, they support many of the policies advocated by the likes of Schumer, Pelosi, and Bernie. These are highly functional, self supporting individuals, who truly believe that government can make a difference; and that bigger government can make a bigger difference.
It does no good to paint with a broad brush, or simply throw stones. These people have to be engaged and shown that there is a better way. It would help if Conservative politicians would lead the way.
“We can either bow towards a certain city several times a day,”
I wouldn’t bowing to the East once in a while,but I’ll be damned of I’ll bow in the direction of Toronto,the main cause of all this BS. I shall carefully bow just a bit South and direct my prayers to Buffalo.
I am sure Allah will understand.
Good article, the millenials don’t care who runs the Country,they will obey every order,as long as they still get their free stuff. When they are old and costing the system too much in medicare, the new overlords will simply kill them off under a euphemistic bureaucracy,and there will be nary a peep of protest,as those of us who gave a damn will be long in the grave.
Funny you should mention this today when this obscenity appeared almost simultaneously:
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/first-amendment-too-broad-case-regulating-hate-speech-america-ncna832246
I am not persuaded by the case made within about racism leading to high blood pressure and sexism in the office leading to “trauma”, etc. There is no such thing as a right not to be offended.
One revealing implied assumption of all the anti-First Amendment/free speech advocates is that they would be the ones deciding what speech is permissible. To that I respond, “Who made you the judge? Why can’t I be the judge and shut YOU up?”
They have no answer to that because their assertions are all based on the desire for power. Without First Amendment protection speech then becomes a matter of who can use force against the other side. If that happens, Delgado and Stefancic would do well to remember that our side has a lot more guns.
The discussion of freedom of Speech really should also include “International LAW”… Understanding what Canada gave up as a signatory of the EU/UN developed NEW World Order may open some eyes.
The USA did not ratify the International Law or the Amendments to the Geneva Conventions,,, (BUT Hillary Clinton committed to adhere to Article 75 protocol I) ….We need to understand that NATO countries who are bound by International LAW are NOT able, or limited in supporting parts of the NATO agreement..
The attitudes taught in Colleges MAY be consistent with International LAW.. We need a deeper understanding of what the EU/UN are doing “Legislating” Laws for Democratic Sovereign Nations, and exactly what these laws are intended to achieve…
Highly unlikely.
Free speech is a natural right of every person, once there are qualifications that some speech is more free than other, you are on downhill slide into speech diktat. You will follow the protocol or the body snatchers will get you …. into reeducation camps or prison.
There is no return until the regimes collapse and the cycle renews.
Unfortunately the rulers of the next generation don’t know nothing of history, it was hidden from them, they have no reference points.
In general they don’t read the papers, they don’t know the news other than what they are fed. They have no reference point.
They can’t wait until the airhead in Ottawa legalize the weed, then it will get worse, everybody will float in the purple haze and be happy with themselves. There is no point of reference.
Perhaps I should point out that they do have a point of reference.
It just happens that their point of reference is not their own best interest and is therefore wrong.
captcha: road locust
my definition of an indigenous is one who was born here. I was born here, my parents were born here, my grandparents were born here, my great grandparents were born here, my great great grandparents were born as and before that. I am equal to any damn person in this country. for all those indigenous morons, get over it.
Exactly.
They do not realize what it is like to live in a society where you can only whisper thoughts to your wife, if you can trust her that is. Talking to friends could get them and you into trouble and your children have been programmed by the educational system to inform on their parents deviant political speech.