Sheep/Goats

“We absolutely respect our customers’ right to choose what they wish to read and buy and we support the First Amendment,” Bingham said. “And we absolutely support the rights of Free Inquiry to publish the cartoons. We’ve just chosen not to carry this particular issue in our stores.”
sf gate

Faced with the prospect of mad Mullahs Borders follows the craven lead of Chapters/Indigo in Canada and refused to carry a magazine in whih the Danish cartoons appear. Because those Muslim dudes are soooo scarrry!

Hey, in Calgary one of those very scary dudes has filed a human rights complaint against The Western Standard - and that’s scary because it gives Ezra the hook to send out a fundraising letter. I should think a tart “Fuck off” printed on legal letter head and sent to the Commission offices should suffice. Cost, call it $1.00 all in.

Here’s why: the complaint filed is incoherent and even a Human Rights Commission should be able to see that; however, on the off chance that they find against the Standard Ezra has huge PR and a real case for judicial review and a Charter (you know, the stupid one) argument which would combine freedom of speech with a good run at Human Rights Commissions. A twofer!

Written by jay on March 31st, 2006 with 3 comments.
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Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com Sean
#1. March 31st, 2006, at 10:41 AM.

“and that’s scary because it gives Ezra the hook to send out a fundraising letter”

If he was a private individual with a blog who was getting sued, I’d contribute. But a business that published the cartoons as a business decision? Nuh-uh.

I support free speech. I also support people dealing with the consequences of their free speech.

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com jay
#2. March 31st, 2006, at 11:01 AM.

The funny part is that he is not being sued…No cause of action. Can’t libel a dead man even if he is claimed as a prophet.

No, this is the Kangaroo Court of the Human Rights Tribunal,

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com DCardno
#3. March 31st, 2006, at 10:45 PM.

I am debating whether to donate or subscribe to the WS. As a taxpayer, I am already supporting the prosecution (albeit, this one is in Alberta, so I am only supporting a couple of their affiliates, not this one directly). I am already (involuntarily) acting to restrict Ezra’s right to free speech - it seems only fair that I act (voluntarily this time) to act to protect it. While I accept that Ezra made a business decision, the complaint is not so much intended to punish him as to deter others - including everyone reading or posting here.

This is scarier than if WS was being sued - Human Rights Tribunals have an atrocious record of deciding in advance what outcome they would like, and then following whatever tortuous road is needed to get them there.

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