What A Surprise

As if ten days abroad wasn’t sufficient foreign policy experience for our would be world leader, Senator Obama chose a running mate of self acclaimed authority and expertise in the affairs of nations, Senator Joseph Biden. The Senator’s first exercise in vice presidential candidacy didn’t disappoint . He relieved himself of a weeks worth of rhetorical bloat and bombast. Specifically it was loud, repetitive, hackneyed, vague and factually challenged. Its leit motif was that John McCain and George Bush share the same ideological bar code. Throw in a few snide remarks, expressions of gratitude and a quasi religious tone when describing Mr. Obama and there you have it . Boiler plate by Biden, for a change.

Alienable Rights

The journalist Mark Steyn is awaiting the judgment of a Human Rights Tribunal.

War crimes or white slaver was my first guess. My fall back position, in order of preference, was arms merchant, narco terrorist or black marketeer in human organs. I would have settled for multiple acts of public urination.

Imagine my disappointment to learn the charge (actually complaint) was for hate speech, a kind of verbal vandalism.

Steyn had the audacity to express an opinion supported by fact and logic. Offense was taken, or so claimed.

“Canada’s Human Rights Act defines hate speech as likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt”, (perhaps deservedly so). No weight is given to the truth (which is no defense against the charge) of what was said.

This “law” compels silence and sanctions coercion.

Free speech isn’t nearly as esteemed or enshrined by our neighbor to the north, or south for that matter. Something to consider the next time you hear arguments for globalization.