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Thursday, August 14, 2008
Ezra, Guy, and Yakov
Ezra Levant is on hiatus for a week, but he leaves us with two pieces of news:
"I'll have some interesting news: two different federal cabinet ministers supporting reforms to the Canadian Human Rights Commission and -- you won't believe this -- a new human rights complaint against me. For publishing this blog! Gentle reader, did you know that you are participating in a hate crime just by reading this!?"
Another human rights complaint? When will people feel chastened by the outrage Canadians are expressing over the Human Rights Kommission? (The "K" is for "Kangaroo," in case anyone confuses my meaning).
Meanwhile, Guy Earle has posted all of his videos from the Comedians for Freedom Rally. I watched every single one, and, I assure you, the one-minute acts are offensive. Here's a schtick from Yakov Smirnof that may hit a little too close to home:
Posted by P.M. Jaworski on August 14, 2008 in Current Affairs | Permalink
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Meanwhile ... in Dublin ...
"An English pipe fitter has been awarded 20,000 euro in compensation after being racially abused in his Irish workplace.... They would say 'send the Brit in' to clear the way if they had to enter potentially dangerous spaces at work. Negative reports about England's performance in the 2006 World Cup were also read aloud in his presence. He said some colleagues never spoke to him and others deliberately sang Irish songs of a political nature in his presence."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7555589.stm
... and in Paris ...
"French prosecutors have opened an investigation after T-shirts carrying anti-Semitic slogans were seen on sale in a shop in Paris. The tops carried slogans in German and Polish that translate as 'Jews forbidden from entering the park'. They were reproduced from Nazi signs from 1940.... The sales assistant at the Parisian store, in the Belleville district, said one person had bought five.... The neighbourhood of Belleville in eastern Paris has been the site of ongoing scuffles between groups of Jewish youngsters and youths of North African origin."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7557499.stm
Posted by: Fact Check | 2008-08-14 12:09:56 PM
Guy Earl is a horrid comedian. I have seen him perform. I sympathize with his plight regarding the dykes and the CHRC, but as comedian ... He needs to re-think his career path.
Posted by: John V | 2008-08-14 12:19:28 PM
CAF's having an interesting event tonight, a "Hate Crime Victims Provincial Support Network Workshop": http://www.caf.ca/Admin.aspx?AppModule=TxAppFramework.Web.Admin&Command=EMBEDDEDFILE&DataObjectID=701&ColumnID=3581&FieldName=CONTENT&Lang=EN&RecordID=1724
The panel includes a human rights commissioner, which seems inappropriate given that CAF just had its complaint against Macleans dismissed. More proof that the HRC isn't a real court.
The panel's rounded out with two entirely self-styled representatives of the "Hate Crimes Investigative Unit" - TV pilot still in production;)
Posted by: Mere | 2008-08-14 12:23:55 PM
FC - so what is your point? Yes, Eurabia allows the "right not to be offended", or rather feel offended and Canada is trying catch-up. Nothing good to crow about.
Posted by: Alain | 2008-08-14 1:22:00 PM
Hey, I went to university with that Cole Osborne character - Small world.
I'm looking forward to seeing where this whole situation goes with Guy - I feel fairly confident that things will work out in his favour, but there's no denying that this has already set a dangerous precedent for stand up comedians in this country.
What about comics who make fun of their own race, or sexual orientation? Someone ought to file a human rights complaint against themselves and see how the HRC responds.
Posted by: Alex | 2008-08-14 1:53:24 PM
Guy Earle is an asshole but, he's OUR asshole.
The issue of free speech transcends assholery.
Posted by: Atric | 2008-08-14 3:44:29 PM
Atric: I've met Guy, and I don't think he's an asshole. We all snap under pressure, and I think the incident at the comedy club is an instance of that. I hardly think it reflects on his character (he came to the Liberty Summer Seminar, hung out with me and others, cracked some jokes, but was decent, gentle, and full of compliments and pleasantries).
Even if he were an asshole, I agree with you. The issue of free speech transcends assholery.
I might add that if you don't defend the speech of the assholes, then you're no defender of free speech at all. Just a defender of the speech you like.
Posted by: P.M. Jaworski | 2008-08-14 8:02:18 PM
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