The Topsy Turvy Whirld of Free Speech
I've never visited Stormfront, the notorious White Supremacist site allegedly frequented by Canadian Human Rights Commission employees, and ex-employees - doing the job, or ex-job, as the case may be - but I have read several Canwest editorials in real live print newspapers that I've found to be both sexist and racist - it's why I cancelled my subscription to the Ottawa Citizen a few years ago - so I'm wondering now if anyone has ever made a complaint to the CHRC regarding Canwest editorials that didn't make it on to the agenda for one reason or another.
I mean, lots of people who aren't White Supremacists have read offensive editorials in Canwest newspapers, but how many people who aren't White Supremacists - or see above - looking for hate speech to be delighted - or repulsed - by, visit Stormfront? Sure, I could see accidentally clicking on Stormfront thinking you're linking to a weather site and reading a few posts and wondering, "Grampa Angus?" but it strikes me that Mark Steyn might have a point about the CHRC being a bit of a selective racket if no one, ever, has complained about a sexist and/or racist Canwest editorial causing them offence.
Because, you can cancel your subscription - and, like I say, I did - but since Canwest is often the only game in town, it does mean going without a local newspaper, which for many people is a cherished daily ritual. You know, like a morning constitutional.
And it does seem unfair that those of us who are offended by sexist and racist editorials should have to go without news gathered by perfectly good reporters who have to work for Canwest because it owns such a huge chunk of the Canadian news market.
