I think you're missing the point. It's one thing to engage in free speech.It's another thing to block the golden gate bridge, the Bay Bridge, and all the other illegal shenanigans currently being carried out by these groups. A faction, no matter what they espouse have no right to impede the rights of the majority in carrying out their daily activities. It's criminal, period. Whether it's truckers in Ottawa or pro-Palestinian groups illegally camping on private property they should expect arrest and prosecution.
The protestors who took the Bay Bridge *are* being prosecuted. But even if they weren't, how do their illegal actions pertain to a bunch of protesters in Texas on their way to a sit-in? Are you prepared to argue that because some protesters do illegal things, it's ok to ban and suppress everyone who participates in constitutionally-protected activism for that cause?
I mean, I don't think they expect us not to notice. I don't think they themselves notice. To your average politician and their fellow traveler political hacks, the stand for the truckers was not motivated by free speech; it was motivated by values-in-common. Free speech was merely the *tool* used to help their friends. Now that they have values-in-common with a different group (or at least, enemies-in-common?), they don't notice free speech, because it's not a tool that helps them.
They don't *actually* have free speech principles.
100% agree on the stupidity of political tribalism. Effectively, it is OK for me to cancel you but not for you to cancel me.
As a Canadian who supported the Truck Convoy in 2022, the Fairy Creek Old Growth protests of 2020-2021 on Vancouver Island, and supports Indigenous land defenders in my province it is frustrating to see the hypocrisy from left to right. The left calls the Truck Convoy white supremacists, and the right calls Pro Palestine demonstrators Pro Hamas.
I just wish people would not fall for the obvious divisive tactics pushed by the establishment. As someone who worked in the electoral reform movement I came to see anarchists, conservatives, environmentalists, liberals, libertarians, Marxists and socialists as friends based on the content of their character and some shared interests.
I do have hope as see more and more Canadians not buying the divisive crap.
I applaud you for taking a strong stance. I vehemently disagree with the anti-Israel protestors but think they should be allowed to shout even blatantly anti-Semitic rhetoric. I do draw the line with the blockading of access and physical harassment of other students presenting a pro-Israeli point of view. Because those students are outnumbered, there's a physical intimidation factor. That should be addressed with criminal prosecution. Otherwise, Let everyone shout whatever they wish.
Several years ago I had the pleasure of visiting Germany. The person that I was seeing was a most gracious host and showed me several amazing places around her hometown.
At the time (hopefully still) Berlin had an powerful exhibit on the Holocaust, it spared no punches on the German (and then people) role in it. I distinctly remembering not a dry eye leaving the event.
It took a while before anyone in our group could collect themselves after, I had mentioned my grandfather's small role in the war and his recollection of the camps after liberating them.
It was after that moment that I'll never forget realizing I truly for better or worse would always be an American.
A German from our group in what I believe was a effort to lift our spirits up assured me that it couldn't happen again because the state did not allow Nazis.
I remember laughing at that idea and perhaps naively boasting that America you couldn't do that we even allow those scumbags to protest!
My group was horrified! Then we spent the rest day bickering about how I was stupid, dangerous and wrong.
You gotta let it play, it all goes or none of it. As the son of and married to immigrants, it's their favorite part of this country. They can say what they want. Fuck your king and his couch.
I agree that hatred is wrong regardless of whether hate speech is regarding ethnic or religious identities. One is protected speech, but aren't universities allowed to regulate both?
I think you're missing the point. It's one thing to engage in free speech.It's another thing to block the golden gate bridge, the Bay Bridge, and all the other illegal shenanigans currently being carried out by these groups. A faction, no matter what they espouse have no right to impede the rights of the majority in carrying out their daily activities. It's criminal, period. Whether it's truckers in Ottawa or pro-Palestinian groups illegally camping on private property they should expect arrest and prosecution.
The protestors who took the Bay Bridge *are* being prosecuted. But even if they weren't, how do their illegal actions pertain to a bunch of protesters in Texas on their way to a sit-in? Are you prepared to argue that because some protesters do illegal things, it's ok to ban and suppress everyone who participates in constitutionally-protected activism for that cause?
I mean, I don't think they expect us not to notice. I don't think they themselves notice. To your average politician and their fellow traveler political hacks, the stand for the truckers was not motivated by free speech; it was motivated by values-in-common. Free speech was merely the *tool* used to help their friends. Now that they have values-in-common with a different group (or at least, enemies-in-common?), they don't notice free speech, because it's not a tool that helps them.
They don't *actually* have free speech principles.
100% agree on the stupidity of political tribalism. Effectively, it is OK for me to cancel you but not for you to cancel me.
As a Canadian who supported the Truck Convoy in 2022, the Fairy Creek Old Growth protests of 2020-2021 on Vancouver Island, and supports Indigenous land defenders in my province it is frustrating to see the hypocrisy from left to right. The left calls the Truck Convoy white supremacists, and the right calls Pro Palestine demonstrators Pro Hamas.
I just wish people would not fall for the obvious divisive tactics pushed by the establishment. As someone who worked in the electoral reform movement I came to see anarchists, conservatives, environmentalists, liberals, libertarians, Marxists and socialists as friends based on the content of their character and some shared interests.
I do have hope as see more and more Canadians not buying the divisive crap.
I applaud you for taking a strong stance. I vehemently disagree with the anti-Israel protestors but think they should be allowed to shout even blatantly anti-Semitic rhetoric. I do draw the line with the blockading of access and physical harassment of other students presenting a pro-Israeli point of view. Because those students are outnumbered, there's a physical intimidation factor. That should be addressed with criminal prosecution. Otherwise, Let everyone shout whatever they wish.
Sorry, I didn’t finish. The protesters on the bay bridge were exultant at the end of their prosecution.
Several years ago I had the pleasure of visiting Germany. The person that I was seeing was a most gracious host and showed me several amazing places around her hometown.
At the time (hopefully still) Berlin had an powerful exhibit on the Holocaust, it spared no punches on the German (and then people) role in it. I distinctly remembering not a dry eye leaving the event.
It took a while before anyone in our group could collect themselves after, I had mentioned my grandfather's small role in the war and his recollection of the camps after liberating them.
It was after that moment that I'll never forget realizing I truly for better or worse would always be an American.
A German from our group in what I believe was a effort to lift our spirits up assured me that it couldn't happen again because the state did not allow Nazis.
I remember laughing at that idea and perhaps naively boasting that America you couldn't do that we even allow those scumbags to protest!
My group was horrified! Then we spent the rest day bickering about how I was stupid, dangerous and wrong.
You gotta let it play, it all goes or none of it. As the son of and married to immigrants, it's their favorite part of this country. They can say what they want. Fuck your king and his couch.
I agree that hatred is wrong regardless of whether hate speech is regarding ethnic or religious identities. One is protected speech, but aren't universities allowed to regulate both?