Freedom of speech

Mark Steyn is on trial for "hate crimes" – because of what he's written in his columns and book.

The only other invitation I’ve had from Vancouver is from the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal which begins its case against my “hate speech” next Monday. I confess until this case came about I’d always assumed Canada had freedom of speech.

....

...the British Columbia Human Rights Code is so broadly drawn that, if someone takes offence, you as the offence-giver are almost by definition guilty. And once that happens under Section 37 (2) the Tribunal issues a statutory cease-and-desist order which will prevent Maclean’s from publishing any similar material by me or anybody else on Islam and the west, demography and terrorism and a whole host of other issues.

A joke, modified a little from the time it was circulating in the Soviet Union:

"The difference between Canada and the USA? In Canada, we have freedom of speech. In the USA, you have freedom after speech!"

Also liveblogging here and here.