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SMU students attack Mark Mercer
by Scott Gilbreath ~ April 9th, 2009
Two more Saint Mary’s University students chime in to defend last February’s shameful and cowardly shout-down of pro-life speaker Jojo Ruba. Their letters, which appear in the latest issue of the SMU Journal, take a ugly turn with personal attacks on philosophy professor Mark Mercer, an outspoken and tireless defender of free speech on campus.
The shorter letter, signed “Anonymous”, misunderstands the role of free speech in Canadian society.
[T]he right to free expression is necessary to address the struggles of marginalized populations by allowing for dissidence and challenges to the often oppressive norm.
Anonymous needs to read Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which says nothing about that. Moreover, given that Canada has no law restricting abortion, and that prime ministers for the past quarter-century have adamantly opposed introducing any such law, it’s clear that the “marginalised” group subjected to an “oppressive norm” is the pro-life movement.
[T]he Canadian Association of University Teachers concedes in their policy statement on Civil Liberties that “Today, we recognize that academic freedom can only be exercised when basic civil liberties are protected and respected”. Their Anti-harassment Statement indicates that “Harassment is any behaviour that demeans, humiliates or embarrasses a person, and that a reasonable person should have known would be unwelcome. It includes actions, comments or displays”.
It was made explicitly clear to the organizers of the event, the university administration and the presenter himself that a number of students felt demeaned and humiliated by the presentation, and that such harassing behaviour was unwelcome.
The CAUT statement provides an objective definition of harassment, but then Anonymous appeals to feelings. Not very conclusive, to say the least. Moreover, by that same definition, the actions of the anti-free speech hooligans certainly constituted harassment against Mr Ruba, his supporters, and everyone else who wanted to hear what he had to say.
So, by Anonymous’s logic, it’s OK to fight harassment with harassment.
In any case, I doubt the CAUT envisioned small groups with hurt feelings acting as judge, jury, and executioner in interpreting and applying its anti-harassment statement. I suspect the CAUT has more respect for democracy and due process than the Anonymous letter-writer.
The other, much-longer letter, attributed to Melannie Burke, is one of the worst cases of verbal diarrhoea I have seen since I was a university student eons ago. She rambles hither and yon in a barely coherent fashion, taking bizarre pot shots at Mark Mercer, more than once calling him a “totalitarian” who wants to subvert our freedom of speech. Clearly, Ms Burke has no idea what she’s talking about.
Burke thinks interrupting people who are speaking is quite acceptable because, well, “most people do interrupt if they feel it is necessary”. I kid you not.
Let me remind Professor Mercer of the most famous example in London, Speaker’s Corner. Yes, anyone can stand on the soapbox and speak on any topic; however the audience can also heckle and protest all of those who they do not agree with or whom they feel are promoting views that have no place there. This model is at the cornerstone of our democracy and shows aptly how all people have the right to speak, at the same time, whether you agree with them or not.
If this represents the considered knowledge and wisdom of one of Canada’s future leaders, God help my country.
Earth to Melannie Burke: Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park is most certainly not the “model … at the cornerstone of our democracy”. Try the House of Commons. Heckling, laughter, and cross-talk happen in the House all the time, but the Speaker maintains the level of order necessary to ensure that the rules of the chamber are followed. The person who has the floor is allowed to finish what he or she has to say. No one else may take the floor until and unless the Speaker says so.
Speakers’ Corner is anarchy. You’re welcome to it. As a civilised person, I prefer the House of Commons—the real model at the cornerstone of our democracy.
The complete current issue of the SMU Journal can be downloaded here (pdf).
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April 9th, 2009 at 10:06 PM
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