Lars Vilks, of Sweden, is an academically trained art theorist having earned a PhD in art history from Lund University in 1987. In 1988 he moved to Norway and worked at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts until 1993. From 1997 to 2003, he was a professor in art theory at the Bergen National Academy of the Arts. A self-taught artist and mostly an outsider in the Swedish art scene, he creates various types of art ranging from sculptures and paintings to drawings. When his work is discussed by media and art world insiders, it is seen as deliberately provocative.
He has described himself as an equal opportunity critic of religion having criticized all religions in one way or another in his work but in 2007, he crossed the rubicon when he produced a series of drawings depicting the prophet Mohammad as a roundabout dog.

He’ll be speaking in Philadelphia, Ottawa, Toronto, and Boston Sept.30 – Oct.4. Details at the International Free Press Society website.

*
Also, today’s required reading.
Update: Looks like everyone got what they wanted – submission! Sure glad that’s over, so that moderate Islam can get back to its regular enforcement schedule.
I hope you all enjoyed the spectacle of western world leaders stepping up to display their sharia compliance bona fides as much as I did. “Don’t do it or they’ll hurt us.”
We’re all so much safer for it, yes?
Following is my (slightly edited) emailed response to a friend in media, who remarked privately, “like i said kate..the whole so called principled stand was a hoax”…
I don’t care if Mickey Mouse had sparked the controversy. The issue is the reaction of our political and media betters.
Shameful and frankly, frightening. As one of my commentors just remarked, “Islam has now been officially sanctioned as the most powerful religion on earth and if we offend it they can kill us and we deserve to be killed.”
They should have kept their mouths shut, at the very least. They have an obligation to defend our constitutionally protected rights to freedom of expression.
Instead, they have telegraphed to barbarians – some of whom have the arsenals to do real damage – that they will cow into submission the acts of even the most lowly and unimportant of our citizens to avoid confrontation.
Indeed, the fact that it WAS this fringey pastor who set this international incident off is the most disturbing aspect of all. Unlike the flag burners and bible burners and crucifix defilers that number in the tens of thousands, he did nothing but state an intention. And look at the force they brought down on him to prevent it.

I can only aspire to becoming as good and generous a person as Ezra Levant;

Gentle reader, do not gloat. It might be tempting to smile at the fact that Moon, who has tried so hard to defend the legitimacy of human rights commissions, is now getting the kangaroo treatment himself, and at the hands of Barbara Hall, no less. But schadenfreude is unbecoming. Just because Moon believes politically correct hunter-killer bureaucrats should be sicced on you and me, doesn’t mean we should descend to that level and cheer that they are now being sicced on him.

No, it doesn’t.
But we will.

Apply for a job as a Bylaw Officer for the municipality of Clarington.
Be sure to mention how many tattoos you have, any history of animal torture and arson, and your score on the Hare Psychopathy Checklist.
Tell them you’re applying because you read about how Clarington employees get to harrass harmless local taxpayers like the Jaworski family, and you’d like to take part in these Gestapo adventures, too!

No, really. Contact info at this link.

… are carrying granite slabs inscribed (in both official languages) with the words rights, dignity and equality, just in case you forgot the monument’s omnipresent message. The words are also reiterated in “47 of the more than 70 languages of the First Peoples of Canada”, although why members of Canada’s First Peoples are especially important to “the historic struggle of all people of the world” (more so than, say, North Koreans, Iranians or Cubans) is lost on me. And why only 47? Are the other 23 not significant enough to be represented? Isn’t that sort of – what’s the word … unequal?

“We come, finally, to the matter of the red underpants. It was suggested I put them into this article, and I initially resisted. After all, a defamation trial is serious business, and red underpants are anything but.”

h/t

Canadian Jewish Congress v. Henry Makow, via Jay Currie;

[9] For these reasons I hereby adjourn these proceedings sine die pending the final outcome in the Warman v. Lemire case.

Now is the time at SDA when we juxtapose!
Canadian Jewish Congress – … hate crime sentencing provisions were meant to reflect not just simple membership in a group, but an “unchangeable” or “inescapable” aspect of the victim.
Archie Bunker – You was born black, so you didn’t no choice about that. But, why’d you turn Jew?

First he came for your property ….

Progress;

The Government claims Saskatchewan’s Human Rights Commissioner is recommending the human rights tribunal here be scrapped. And it is being considered.
The Commissioner feels the perception of the tribunal is that it isn’t independent enough. Because of that Justice Minister Don Morgan is considering the change, “and its not seen as being independent or at arm’s length.”
Only four to five complaints a year end up in front of the tribunal the rest are dealt with though the Commission, “trying to deal with the complaints that come in at a preliminary level by way of mediation.”
If the change goes ahead those few complaints that aren’t resolved at the Commission level will end up at the Court of Queen’s Bench, with the cost the same as before a tribunal. Morgan maintains he hasn’t yet made any decision.

Canada’s charter does, on the other hand, establish some pretty explicit protections for free speech. But what happens if you ask for protection from authorities when someone is infringing on your right to speak at a public forum?
Not much it seems.

In a real country, with real rights, and real journalists, this letter would provoke a national media scandal and formal investigation – but it won’t, for all of the reasons stated above.
More from Shaidle;

When I gave a speech about free speech earlier this year, there was a lot of tisking at my jab at the cops.
Now do you still trust them to protect you? If so, why?

The BCHRC: they’ll define your rights like they design their hearing rooms.

Continuing Guy Earle trial coverage here.

Ellen Ocran, independent Coulter rage student…

…BUSTED.

“Mr. Speaker; Honourable Senators,
“I rise to join my colleague, Senator Finley, in support of an inquiry into the state of freedom of speech in Canada. “I share Senator Finley’s love of freedom and his concern about the growing phenomena of censorship. “I approach the subject from the perspective of someone who, as a journalist for more than forty years, has used freedom of speech every day of my life, and has seen its essential role in keeping our democracy healthy. “And that’s my first observation: freedom of speech is much bigger than just politics.
“It’s about our right as free men and women to express ourselves in any way we choose – not just politically, but socially, musically, artistically and through every other human endeavour.
“Our freedom of expression is inextricably linked to our right to think for ourselves, to choose our place in the world, to talk back to the world, and even to fight against the world. “If you doubt that, ask any high school rock band why they do what they do! “So while it’s often political speech that grabs the news headlines – we should never forget that millions of Canadians put freedom of speech into action every day, from film-makers to authors, to stand-up comedians, to advertising agencies to PTA meetings and Rotary Clubs. “Free speech is a thread of personal liberty that is woven into every part of Canadian society.

Continue reading →

To be told what it is we do not have.
But it’s the thought that counts. (Press Release)

Today, Senator Doug Finley (Ontario South Coast) will introduce the Senate inquiry on the Erosion of Freedom of Speech in our Country on the floor of the Senate at approximately 4:00pm. Afterwards, Senator Pamela Wallin (Saskatchewan), Senator Mike Duffy (Cavendish – Prince Edward Island), and Senator David Tkachuk (Saskatchewan) are scheduled to share their thoughts on Freedom of Speech.
If you are unable to attend, you can access audio here.