Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Free Speech in Canuckistan

With a swing of the thurible to the Curt Jester, comes the story of Jessica Beaumont, who has been brought before the Canadian (aka Canuckistani) Human Rights Commission.

Her crime? Quoting Bible verses on (primarily US) websites that go against homosexuality.

Jessica Beaumont does not own a website. She was merely posting comments on existing sites (mostly in the United States). But the fact that she could go to prison for posting Scripture verses on a server in another country means that our religious freedom is in direct jeopardy.
Evelyn Beatrice Hall once wrote, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." It has also been said that the real test of a person's commitment to free speech is their willingness to defend the speech of those with whom they disagree.
I think, despite the fact that many of the targets in CHRC Internet tribunals have been people with political opinions that we find downright offensive, we need to put those differences aside and look at the big picture.

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