As I wrote yesterday: a lie repeated often enough eventually becomes perceived as the truth (because of the mechanisms our brain uses to process its input), I had no idea one frequently repeated – and widely accepted as true – statement would be proven to be a big, fat lie!!!
Perhaps only Canadians are following the circus happening in the Star Chambers of the British Columbia HRC . (The commission sometimes has tribunals – but as they are the same people, the names get confusing…officially, they call themselves tribunal in BC- usually they say commission/tribunal. I think they are just trying to confuse us.)
What is happening there?
The BC HRC(/T) is dragging a mainstream news magazine, Macleans, and a writer, Mark Steyn, ‘onto the carpet’ for having the audacity to quote a Norwegian Imam. Apparently, his words could cause prejudice or hate against Muslims in BC, and so they should not be allowed to print them. The fact that the statement was quoted truly and accurately – and in context – is no defence. It is the fact that the statement could be perceived as ‘hateful’ or ‘demeaning’ . Not was, just could be. So, no need to go through that pesky business of proving any actual damages….
What is perhaps most frightening is that TRUTH IS NO DEFENSE!!!
The complainants live in Ontario. The magazine is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The writer lives in the USA. Yet, the complaint is brought forward in BC….among other places (yes, double or tripple jeopardy do not apply).
One of the key pillars of their position, the thing that demonstrated how ‘unreasonable’ the magazine’s behaviour was, was the complainant’s insistence that MacLeans refused their suggestion that they publish an impartial article on that topic, written by a mutually acceptable writer.
Today, the truth comes out! This was NEVER part of their demands!
They never asked for a ‘more neutral’ article to be published, to be written by a mutually acceptable – or agreed upon (one variation wording of the LIE) writer. Never. One of the complainants admitted this, today, under oath, while questioned by a lawyed for Macleans who was actually present at that meeting where this alleged request took place.
Liar, liar, pants on fire!
Thanks for Blazing Catfur for the tip!
Xanthippa's Chamberpot 