Ashamed of Canada

Speaking of free speech, here's something that makes me ashamed of Canada: the saga of Ernst Zündel. Sure he's a rotten little racist. A holocaust-denier, neo-Nazi, you-name-it. Exactly the sort of person we should hold our noses and defend in the name of free speech. Because the principle of free speech is a mutual covenant between the people of a free society, promising that I'll defend your right to speak your mind, as long as you defend mine -- even if we don't agree.

Here's what my country did. Before any Canadian criticizes the U.S. for things like the Guantanamo bay detention facility, take a look in the mirror:

Here we have a man with some nasty little opinions, who was imprisoned in solitary confinement for two years without charges as a "national security risk" because of purported connections to American white supremacists. He had lived in Canada for some 45 years, and was apparently denied Canadian citizenship due to his undesirable beliefs. In 2005 Canada "deported" him back to Germany to face charges of holocaust denial, because, of course, holocaust denial is illegal in Germany. Is it illegal in Canada? No. But, you see, some of his writing was available on the Internet to German residents, thereby violating German law. He didn't do anything in Germany, he did it in Canada. Not against the law in Canada. Yet, this man is now facing trial in Germany.

Germany and Canada are complicit in this sordid little affair. All I can say is that I hope some international court is able to intervene.

If you think that what happened here is okay, consider your position if you write anything pro-democracy online; What you're doing might be illegal in China. Don't post anything critical of Islam or Mohammad, for that might get you the death penalty in Saudi Arabia or Iran.

That is, unless your country stands up for your free speech rights -- but I wouldn't bet your life on it if you're Canadian.