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We must not allow the freedom of speech … to be used as a cover for assaulting the sensibilities, and exalted moral and religious values which are respected by all of humanity.

If I got a nickel every time I was offended I’d be rich. This is plain and simple intolerance. We are talking about group of people who riot over a cartoon. Threaten to kill an author over a fiction book. Who brought Canadian journalist Mark Steyn up on Human Right charges for a quote he published in a book.

Here’s where it gets kind of scary. The law, it would seem, is on the side of these people. The following is one of the passages from the Steyn complaint, the reason why they are going after him. Keep in mind that Steyn didn’t come up with it, he’s actually quoting an imam named Mullah Krekar:

We’re the ones who will change you. Just look at the development within Europe, where the number of Muslims is expanding like mosquitoes. Every Western woman in the EU is producing an average of 1.4 children. Every Muslim woman in the same countries is producing 3.5 children.

So using metaphors is now a hate-crime? And since when do we go after journalists for quoting other people?

But it gets worse. Here’s the kind of person who will prosecute him. The following is an excerpt from the Warman vs Lemire hearing before the Canadian Human Rights Commission (p. 4793). Dean Steacy is their main “anti-hate” investigator:

MS KULASZKA: Mr. Steacy, you were talking before about context and how important it is when you do your investigation. What value do you give freedom of speech when you investigate one of these complaints?

MR. STEACY: Freedom of speech is an American concept, so I don’t give it any value.

MS KULASZKA: Okay. That was a clear answer.

MR. STEACY: It’s not my job to give value to an American concept.

What this Steacy guy is saying is also wrong. Legally wrong. Free speech is fundamental right in Canada. Last time I checked section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms said:

2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:

a) freedom of conscience and religion;
b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
d) freedom of association.

I really don’t know what to say. Is section 2 is not applicable these days? Or just not applicable when minorities are involved…

And yes it can get even worse. Pray that you never find yourself in Steyn’s shoes. You see, he is about to get convicted by the Canadian Human Rights Commission. I can say this with a fair bit of certainty because as near as I can tell, in all of its years of operation, no defendant has ever been found innocent by the HRC. They have a 100% conviction rate. They aren’t having hearings, they’re having show trials. It’s a disgrace and an insult to the legal system.

I’m not the one to take up the charge of wacky libertarian politics, as I’m sure some will think, but I know injustice when I see it. The very laws intended to protect our citizens from intolerance are now being used to promulgate it. The purpose of the Human Rights Commission is to stop the spread of hate and discrimination, not to stop minority groups from being offended and most definitely not for suppressing the press. What is happening to this country?