In recent years there has been a strong shift by most forms of mass media to be "politically correct" to the point that commentary and discussion are suppressed because someone might be "offended". We see many examples of this these days with the most obvious one being Global Warming, or as it has now morphed - Climate Change. But I digress as that really is not my primary focus with this post.
This past week there have been two news items that have caught my interest: the CBC issuing an apology for posting on their news website (cbcnews.ca) an editorial piece by Heather Mallick, and Lesley Hughes being dropped as a Liberal candidate for Kildonan-St. Paul riding in the upcoming federal election.
In the former Ms. Mallick had few kind words to say about Sarah Palin and many republicans. And in the latter Ms. Hughes is a 9-11 conspiracy theorist. Did either try to incite hate against someone else? No, they expressed their opinion in a public forum; an opinion that others did not agree with. But that is what free speech is all about - the ability to state an opinion that goes against the norm. It is these "rebels" that allow us to be exposed to another view of "the facts" so that we are better prepared to make informed decisions.
This suppression of free-speech, whether you agree with the statements made or not, is the leading edge of censorship! It is the beginning of the destruction of what is considered a fundamental human right with serious potential of leading to a totalitarian state where many more human rights will be sacrificed.
