The demise of freedom of speech through social and political correctness in Canada:
I have been following the events of an American pro-family activist named Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality. Recently LaBarbera was denied entrance into Canada on the possibility of committing a hate crime in Canada. Did you note the word “possibility”? This translates for us here in Canada as “guilty until you can prove yourself innocent.” Later, Mr. LaBarbera was allowed to enter into Canada so that he might attend some upcoming speaking engagements scheduled in Regina, Saskatchewan. You can read about it here: LINK
This morning I came across these head lines – “BREAKING: American pro-family activist LaBarbera arrested in Canada”. Links:
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-american-pro-family-activist-labarbera-arrested-in-canada
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/u-s-anti-gay-activist-peter-labarbera-arrested-in-regina-1.2610123.
It is note worthy that in the CBC article it is stated that Mr. LaBarbera and Mr. Bill Whatcott had permission to be on the University of Regina campus. Didn’t the University officials know what these men were going to speak about? Why would they be allowed to speak on this campus? Well, every Canadian knows why, because of the Charter of Rights given to every Canadian, i.e., freedom of speech.
As the news source goes on to explain, University officials decided to deny these two men their rights to free speech. Since these men were not going to leave the campus, they were arrested for mischief. Yes, the University determined what speech was acceptable on a public campus in Canada. It was not the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that determined this, nor even the Supreme Court of Canada, but a public entity. One that receives tax payers’ money. Mr LaBarbera is later quoted by the CBC as saying,
“The idea that you can’t have an open debate on homosexuality on a college campus and some speech code is brought in, to kick people off … seems to me to be pretty undemocratic…”
Dear Canadian citizen, you might wonder what this event that happened way out at the University of Regina has to do with us, here in Cornwall? On July 27, 2012, while in Lamoureux Park during Rib Fest, while doing open air evangelism for our church, I was arrested and removed from our public park for trespassing. Yes, I was placed in handcuffs, and physically removed from the park. How could I be trespassing in a public park? But the Rib Fest organizers (the Seaway Lions Club) did not want me to be in the park while exercising my Charter Rights! So they pressured the police to arrest me and remove me by force. To make a long story short, my lawyer pressed the County to drop the charges on the basis that I was denied my Charter Rights and Freedoms, and informed them that we were going to fight it all the way. On March 27, 2013, charges were withdrawn. Notice I was guilty until I could prove my innocence, or that I actually had some rights as a Canadian citizen.
I conclude with what Mr. Whatcott is recorded as saying: “Students, this is wrong. Even those of you who might disagree with me, we are all less free because of this; everybody loses. There are not any winners.” Whatcott concluded, saying, “Shame on this university for suppressing speech.” Just because one’s topic of free speech is not socially or politically correct according to the degenerate moral climate of our day, does not give the University of Regina, nor The Seaway Lions Club, the right to determine what is acceptable free speech and what is not. It is a sad day in Canada when our law enforcement is put in a place where they must cater to the so-called “power groups” that are in authority in one’s community. The Seaway Lions Club denied me my rights as a Canadian citizen, as did the Cornwall police department.
When will it stop? Or better yet, who will be next to be denied their freedom of speech by the god of social political correctness? “…everybody loses. There are not any winners.” Mr. Whatcott is absolutely right! The Holy Scriptures sum up what is happening in Canada today in Exodus 23:2: “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to turn aside after a multitude to wrest justice.”
Pastor Tom Newton
Calvary Baptist Church, Cornwall, Ont.
(Comments and opinions of Editorials, Letters to the Editor, and comments from readers are purely their own and don’t necessarily reflect those of the owners of this site, their staff, or sponsors.)
Comment policy reminder
CFN suggests you post comments using your real name. If you wish to post with a pseudonym you can register that user id by emailing info@cornwallfreenews.com with your name, address, phone number and user id you wish to register.
Heads up everybody! If you come across a talking snake in your garden, head for the hills! Forget about the venomous snakes… It’s the talking that will lead you straight to hell!
You have been warned, and as Mr. Newton says, “Turn Or Burn!”
Comments critical of Vatican II seem to come up regularly on postings like this and I have to wonder why. Vatican II helped to bring the Catholic Church into the 20th century, at least in part, and made it more relevant to ordinary people. Latin was replaced as the language of praying the mass to the languages of local people everywhere which made much more sense, as all people could then actually understand what they were praying. I know of no negative changes that were made by Vatican II. It got rid of outdated and ridiculous church law. One good example. From the days of St Augustine, and based on his preaching, the Church taught that it was a sin for a married woman to experience an orgasm during intercourse with her husband. I think the idiocy of such a law is obvious, especially when you consider that Augustine was a sex addict before his conversion. How anyone can criticize such changes is beyond me.
Roger – very relevant to the topic at hand?
No, but see Jules comment on April 16, and on every other letter you’ve written.
I during my lifetime have witnessed a slow erosion of the principles of common sense in favour of political correctness. The majority will not care until it affects them personally. This is our society.