On Shake Down by Ezra Levant

Doing this on our behalf, in the name of Canadians, is the first reason to be outraged by the facts on which Ezra Levant sheds light in his book. The hijacking of the HRCs by social vandals is to be frowned upon, but their limits on our dearly held rights and freedoms (speech, property, religion), in the name of human rights no less, and to the benefit of profiting and manipulative individuals who have no fear of breaking laws themselves to reach their goals and line their pockets, is shocking to the highest degree. Creating work for themselves by spreading hate speech or having insiders file the majority of their complaints (while sitting as expert witnesses on these same cases) testifies to the corruption level of these organizations.

The "enforcers" of these creative and oppressive new "human rights" (i.e. the right not to be offended, the right to be socially validated, or the right to speak critically of Christianity but not Islam) are a frightening bread, whose flagrant lack of ethic evokes powerful feelings of fear. Their hyperextensive reach should indeed scare you... I am scared myself as I write these words. However, I stand united with the likes of Levant, Steyn, Maclean's, the Red Deer Advocate and the league of bloggers who have or are currently facing the bureaucratic torture these kangaroo courts inflict.

The HRCs attempts (and successes) in limiting free speech are particularly rotten. Fighting to gag views that are controversial and that some find offensive goes against this hard-earned freedom. As many have said before me, it is my freedom to speak as it is yours not to listen, tune out, turn the page - that's how a free society works. However, these taxpayer-funded ideological witch hunters persist to defy all legal logic, precedents and even their own procedures, in order to fight "the Man", hurt feelings and controversial opinions. But a free and democratic society is not a twisted utopia and you shouldn't be allowed to hide behind a human rights complaint (or appointment, for that matter) to seek revenge on those ideas. Again, all this takes place in the name of "human rights", a frightening abuse of process left startlingly unchecked.

Efforts to remove the courts, starting with a thorough investigation - pulling the blanket off completely - must be undertaken. Taxpayers and Canadians who value their freedom are entitled to know just what crimes have been committed in their name, and at what cost. Trial for treason comes to mind... But in addition to the proposed Parliamentary review (and I ask all Parliamentarians to engage in this process as soon as possible), and the RCMP and the Privacy Commissioner investigations into the hacking of a private citizen's Internet connection in relation to hate-speech "investigations", I call upon the Auditor General to investigate on behalf of the Government and Canadians.

This $25 million a year boondoggle deserves to be uncovered for what it truly is, a manipulative civil rights abuser lottery. And that's on the federal side only. Millions more are wasted in provinces and territories on ridiculous and abusive claims. In Ontario, I am encouraged by the stand newly-minted PC leader Tim Hudak has taken on the issue and trust he will contribute to denormalizing the HRCs.

In the meantime, I urge all of you to make your voices heard on this issue. The HRCs DO NOT and should no longer be allowed to speak on behalf of Canadians in protecting human rights. Period.

Ignatieff's World - A very confusing place...

I have just finished reading the first edition of Denis Smith’s book, Ignatieff’s World: A Liberal Leader for the 21st Century?, which overviews and attempts to untangle Michael Ignatieff’s chameleonic perspective on human rights, American power, the “war on terror” and international interventionism, through his abundant writings.

Though a more recent edition, released in March 2009, devotes a few chapters to Ignatieff’s “new role” in Parliament as elected Member of Parliament and leader of the Liberal party, the original version is still very informative. It offers level-headed insight into Ignatieff’s supposed intellectualism, which I feel is highly overrated, especially in light of his inability to clearly state his position on any issue. A man who cannot firmly stand for what he believes, leaving his views ambiguously open to interpretation, perhaps to more easily weasel out of unpopular stands, does not inspire confidence. Additionally, his lack of perspective on certain issues and oversimplification of the world forces at work are at times frightening.

One Ignatieff quote particularly struck me with its foreshadowing strength and apparent hypocrisy. Regarding the war in Iraq and despite his flip-flopping criticism of the American invasion, Ignatieff makes this simple statement: “I don’t have a clever way out. (…) My business, since I’m not running for office, is to present problems, not solutions.”

Apparently, even in office and regardless of the issue, solutions from Ignatieff remain scarce and as intellectually murky as ever. I’d love to sit and chat with Mr. Smith about what he thinks of the Liberal leader today.

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PS - After an extended absense, I am happy to return to the world of Blogging Tories. Thanks for reading...