Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Shorter Ezra Levant:

Because Richard Warman keeps filing human rights complaints that Ezra disagrees with, the CHRC is an invalid, rogue organization.

Of course, in Ezra's fevered imagination, there is no due process wrapped around the CHRC complaints process, and every complaint that Warman makes is slavishly granted by the tribunal. I've already pointed out how Ezra has distorted the reality of the situation to suit his own ends.

I won't speak to the merits - or lack of them - in Warman's complaint filings - it's actually quite secondary to Ezra's real goal, which is to ensure that Ezra has the absolute right to spew whatever crap about whomever he so chooses - just so long as he stays on the legal side of libelous.

Of course, what Ezra conveniently doesn't tell people in his grandiose tirades about the CHRC is how half-truths that don't fall into the heading of libel can be used to demonize entire populations - quite legally under the comparatively narrow definition that applies in libel law.

The human rights laws in Canada came into play because the issues that they address are not adequately covered by legal concepts such as libel. The kind of remedies available are relatively limited - why? Because the very issues being dealt with are often much more vague than is appropriate in a court of law. Lastly, the option does exist to appeal a decision to the courts.

Contrary to Ezra's repeated claims of a lack of due process, there is in fact a process in place and one that is largely balanced to keep the vast majority of cases from going much beyond initial investigation. It is a sad statement indeed that a lawyer with Ezra's professional background not only cannot see that, but seems so blinded by ego and ideology that he will not admit that there's a lot more to the picture than his strident claims of censorship.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Most people, including the media would probably agree that it is unacceptable to post a sign on any commercial establishment which states that members of certain groups (gays, black, Jews, - pick one or make one up) are NOT ALLOWED.

What the media and the public don't seem to understand is that publishing material which is likely to expose a target group to hatred or contempt is more harmful than posting a NO ????"S ALLOWED" sign. It spreads the message to everyone that "that" target group should not be allowed anywhere; that people should not serve
"that" group, should not rent accomodation to "that" group, or employ "that" group. It can also increase the likelihood that members of "that" group could be exposed to physical or emotional violence.

The real issue here is, taken in context, does Lavant's publishing these cartoons increase the likelihood that muslim people will face increased discrimination in services, housing, employmnet etc.

Every magazine carefully considers whether material will expose it to a libel suit before it is published.

The Courts have ruled that no charter right is absolute, and conflicting rights must be balanced.

Human rights legislations simply calls upon everyone to use their freedom of expression responsibly and to present views and opinions in a way that does not deny members of any target group their rights to live free from discrimination, fear, and violence.

Like any school yard bully, Lavant thinks that only he has rights, or that his rights are superior to the rights of others.

We now recognize the harm caused
by bullies.ies cause to others.
Schools must take measures to rein in this kind of anti-social behavior.

By law, the Alberta Human Rights Commission must rein in the sociopaths who trample on the rights of others.

We are very fortunate to have the Commission's complaint process to resolve disputes in a civilized way. Other countries resolve disputes with bullets and bombs.

Cry me a river, Ezzie! You picked the fight, now face the consequences

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