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July 09, 2005
David Ahenakew
David Ahenakew, found guilty of inciting hatred and fined a thousand dollars, blamed pressure from "the Jewish community" for his conviction. Being Jewish, to Ahenakew's mind they would also presumably have merited his description of them as "a disease". But then I expect everyone who condemned Bill C-250 to leap to defend Ahenakew's right to express his views (excepting Americans who for the most part actually do believe in freedom of speech).
"The Jews damn near owned all of Germany prior to the war. That's how Hitler came in," Ahenakew said in the taped interview. "That's why he fried six million of those guys, you know."
Ahenakew publicly apologized for his comments a few days later, but at his trial it seemed, at times, that he still believed what he said.
Posted by Ghost of a flea at July 9, 2005 09:21 AM
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Comments
I think Ahenakew is a contemptible swine, but I don't see the crime. Speech is not conduct. If he'd specifically advocated some particular actions against anyone now, that would perhaps be a different kettle of fish. The anti-defamation law is, I believe, a dangerous infringement on freedom of speech. And, to make it absolutely clear, I strongly disagree with what he said about Jews. I think advocation of the Nazi solution is pernicious and dangerous. But there has to be a line and I think C-250 crossed it.
Posted by: Dr_Funk ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.ghostofaflea.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at July 9, 2005 07:25 PM
Once again I find myself agreeing with Jay Currie. He is against hate-speech legislation but in favour of taking away the Order of Canada in that this is an honour and not a right.
That said, I do wonder at what point certain kinds of speech such as incitement to riot or sedition should become actionable. My main point about C-250 is that a lot of people a year ago were hyperventilating that the Bible was about to be banned and yet these same folks do not seem remotely troubled by Ahenakew's situation.
Posted by: Ghost of a flea at July 9, 2005 08:29 PM
Taking away the Order is perhaps in order, so to speak. And I wouldn't personally object to that. I would leave that one up to H.E. the Governor General.
Posted by: Dr_Funk at July 10, 2005 12:26 AM
