Canada has free speech. By the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, one has the right to the " freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication". Everyone, except for harmless Republican author Ann Coulter. Coulter was on a a tour of some of the universities in Canada when she was barred from giving one of her speeches by the student council of the University of Ottawa because a speech she made earlier in the week. Students took offense after she told a Muslim to "take a camel" to the U.S, as opposed to a plane. Coulter was warned by the University of Ottawa to tone down her speech, and when she didn't, was subsequently banned for her supposed safety.
Despite the fact that Canadian are so proud of the fact that they are a tolerant nation, one who accepts everyone they fail to realize that Coulter was just expressing her own opinions. It would almost seem that Canadians have the same amount of of free speech that China does, banning or shying away from subjects deemed to be taboo. Let Coulter speak her mind. Let Coulter have the same free speech rights as the rest of the world. Let Coulter go one-on-one with the people who oppose her. If she truly believes that Muslims don't deserve to be on that plane because they're terrorist risks, then she should be able to defend her points with a group of students breathing down her neck. Coulter has claimed that "even at the stupidest American university" has she been boycotted and told she couldn't speak.
While Canada does have laws prohibiting people from saying statements that are clearly offensive to cultural groups, claiming Coulter's statements as discriminatory would be the social equivalent to Gilles Duceppe comparing the French Canadien sovereignty cause to the Nazi resistance movement of World War Two. Both were vastly over analyzed and overblown. Clearly, Ann was just making a point, intended to be a joke, to create effect, to help illuminate her opinions. To say that she was breaking the Constitution would just be overkill, and help garner herself more attention, exactly what she wants.
Even though Canadians are held on a tighter leash, that there are laws against hate-mongering, Ann Coulter is protected by law under the United States Bill of Rights, where people are not "[abridged] of free speech". As an American citizen, Coulter has the right to say what she wants without being censored. Free speech is a right. Whenever Ann Coulter is saying something deemed controversial, that is her own opinion and she has the choice to speak her thoughts in any way she chooses.
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I thought it was a very well spoken acticle and you made your point very clear. I liked the part when you said how Ann is an American citizen and that the American Law is different than the Canadian Law. All of your ideas are well writen and well researched.
ReplyDeleteI liked your beginning statement how you just flat out said "Canada has free speech". That is very powerful. Great article. Nicely done.
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ReplyDeleteI thought you put a lot of effort into your article. It was very well-spoken. I agree with your statement, that Ann Coulter as an American citizen should have that right to say what she want. But she should tone it down.
ReplyDeletethough i dont completely agree it was a very powerfull arguement, lots of good points :D
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