June 4, 2008
THUS, THE STATE BORDER RULE:
The show trial begins (David Warren, 6/04/08, The Ottawa Citizen)
The writings of Canada's most talented journalist, Mark Steyn, went on trial in Vancouver on Monday, in a case designed to challenge freedom of the press. It is a show trial, under the arbitrary powers given to Canada's obscene "human rights" commissions, by Section 13 of our Human Rights Act.I wrote "obscene" advisedly. A respondent who comes before Canada's "human rights" tribunals has none of the defences formerly guaranteed in common law. The truth is no defence, reasonable intention is no defence, nor material harmlessness, there are no rules of evidence, no precedents, nor case law of any kind. The commissars running the tribunals need have no legal training, exhibit none, and owe their appointments to networking among leftwing activists.
I wrote "show trial" advisedly, for there has been a 100 per cent conviction rate in cases brought to "human rights" tribunals under Section 13. [...]
While media attention to Mark Steyn's show trial is inadequate, it is nevertheless the best publicized case ever to come before our "human rights" bureaucracies. Most of the victims of these neo-Maoist tribunals have been "little people," with nothing like the resources Maclean's magazine has put in play to defend itself and Steyn, and no media reporting whatever. They have been persecuted, stripped of their livelihoods and savings, demonized among their neighbours, made to endure humiliating "re-education" programs - without lawyers, without assistance of any kind -- all for exercising rights that any Canadian would have taken for granted a mere generation ago.
I want justice for Mark Steyn. But I also want justice for all these little people, who have been crushed under the jackboot of "political correction."
That should read "New Hamphire's most talented journalist, but homey has to have sense enough not to visit that hellhole to the North. Posted by Orrin Judd at June 4, 2008 6:42 PM
New Hampshire's not a part of Canukistan? Who knew.
Only a matter of time though. We'll trade all of New England for Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
I think I speak for all true Americans when I say that we'll welcome the day when Boston is capital of the New England province of Canukistan, while Moosejaw is one of America's leading cities.
Posted by: Jim in Chicago at June 4, 2008 7:42 PMIt'll be a World Series again.
Posted by: oj at June 4, 2008 11:06 PMJust think what would happen if the Canuckistanis won the 1812 Bicentenniel matchup. They would look up all our IP address locations, and we would all have to take to the woods dodging the pink helicopters.
Posted by: Lou Gots at June 5, 2008 2:27 AMIt'll be a World Series again.
What? When did Toronto become part of the US? (At least they had the smarts to shed the "York" name.)
I think I speak for all true Americans when I say that we'll welcome the day when Boston is capital of the New England province of Canukistan, while Moosejaw is one of America's leading cities.
I'll take Moose Jaw, but there is no way we're giving up Maine. The vital Strategic Lobster Reserve must never be permitted to fall into hostile Canuckosocialist hands.
Posted by: Mike Morley at June 5, 2008 12:14 PMExcellent point Mike. Perhaps we'll have to establish some sort of "Maine corridor" then so that we Americans can reach Maine without having to set foot on the New England Province of Canukistan.
Posted by: Jim in Chicago at June 5, 2008 12:19 PMSteamships, Jim, steamships. It's an easy overnight run for the fast lobster steamers bringing their vital cargoes from Portland and Bar Harbor to the massive lobster processing plants on the tip of Long Island, next to the rail yards and the air freight terminal. We'll have to retain and fortify Nantucket to protect the trade routes, of course; condemn and seize the Kennedy compound so we can build the coast defense forts, SAM batteries, fighter strip, naval base, and the wind-driven turbines to power it all.
Posted by: Mike Morley at June 5, 2008 12:34 PMClearly you've thought this through much more than I, Mike.
I don't know whether to bow before your mighty intellect, or to be afraid, very afraid.
The wind-driven turnbines was a nice touch.
Posted by: Jim in Chicago at June 5, 2008 2:18 PM