Nova Scotia Scott

Dr Sanity outlines the evolution of leftist strategy. Read the whole thing.

The headline at Discover Magazine’s Discoblog says “Growing Numbers of People Marrying Inanimate Objects”, but only two such people are named in the post. I’m not sure that qualifies as “growing”, but it definitely qualifies as barmy. Eija-Riitta Berliner-Mauer is married to the Berlin Wall. […] Berliner-Mauer (the German name for the Berlin Wall, which [...]

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. [...]

A clear victory for free speech in Canada. The BC Supreme Court has ruled that the City of Powell River was wrong to threaten charges of defamation against three residents who dared to criticise the mayor and council over their handling of a controversial harbour development. As reported by The Vancouver Sun’s Daphne Bramham, the [...]

The Tyranny of Nice in the UK. Renowned political philosopher Kenneth Minogue remarks on a paradox at the heart of contemporary British society. For many years, government policies and public institutions have been based on compassion, empathy, and concern; yet, increasingly, the result is a society manifesting the opposite qualities—indifference, lawlessness, and violence. Young offenders [...]

Dennis Prager’s latest column, “Brilliance Is Overrated”, is spot on: Most Americans upon hearing that someone has attended Harvard University assumes that this person is not only smarter than most other people but is actually a more impressive person. That is why, for example, people assume that a Nobel laureate in physics has something particularly [...]

Speaking at a meeting in the British House of Lords on Tuesday, renowned comedian Rowan Atkinson strongly opposed a scheme to remove free speech protection from the offence of “homophobic hatred”. Mr Atkinson, famous for his roles in Blackadder and Mr Bean, told Peers in the House of Lords: “Do I think that I would [...]

Saint Mary’s University demonstrated how not to protect free expression last month when it allowed a small group of noisy fanatics to shout down a presentation by pro-life speaker Jojo Ruba.  Two weeks ago in the SMU Journal, “pro-choice advocate” Holly Taylor proudly defended the fascistic display by showing utter contempt for the concept of [...]

Pro-life students are suing Spokane Falls Community College over conditions administration officials imposed on an anti-abortion display. In a transparent effort to shut down pro-life opinion, the students were ordered to publicise views contradicting their convictions. So much for freedom of conscience (never mind freedom of speech) at Spokane Falls. They wanted to post information [...]

Where have we seen this before recently? A speech by conservative writer Don Feder was disrupted by loud-mouthed “anti-hate” activists at the University of Massachusetts. His scheduled topic was hate crime legislation (he’s against it); but when obstreperous protestors entered the room, he took ‘em on. Feder sternly redressed the crowd in his opening statement. [...]

In this week’s Cranky Professor column, Saint Mary’s University philosophy professor Mark Mercer argues that the protestors who disrupted Jose Ruba’s pro-life presentation last month showed contempt, not only for Mr Ruba and his would-be audience, but for democracy itself. One thing to value about democracy is its fairness. When a decision is made democratically, [...]

Mark Mercer has alerted me to “an ugly article/interview” in the new issue of The Journal, student newspaper at Saint Mary’s University. Holly Taylor offers a breathless defence of the small group of anti-free speech hooligans who shouted down pro-life speaker Jojo Ruba last month. Ms Taylor’s “defence” is full of faulty assumptions, erroneous arguments, [...]

Free speech champions Harvey Silverglate and Robert Freedman are seeking election to Harvard University’s Board of Overseers. They want to Harvard to re-dedicate itself to cultivating a culture of free speech and free inquiry on campus. Mr Silverglate says the university has adopted an agenda of narrow-minded political correctness to the detriment of academic freedom. [...]

Many Australians are angrily accusing government of contributing to deadly wildfires through policies that impede removing trees and clearing away brush. During question time at a packed community meeting in Arthurs Creek on Melbourne’s northern fringe, Warwick Spooner — whose mother Marilyn and brother Damien perished along with their home in the Strathewen blaze — [...]

You can tell that Edward Keenan is a leftist because he lists Noam Chomsky as a “great thinker”, but he nevertheless agrees with Mark Steyn that the right of free speech is essential for democracy. [T]he point of Steyn’s testimony to the hearing — echoing the sentiments of great thinkers throughout history including Voltaire, George [...]