I’m Wanted for ‘Hate Crimes’ in Canada
It seems I have some liberal knickers in a knot north of the border.
The left is anything if not predictable. It tickles me to no end when, by way of their utterly unhinged reaction to one of my columns, secular-“progressives” end up proving true the very point I was trying to make.
Last month I wrote an opinion piece headlined, “The Coming Christian Revolt.” It was featured in multiple publications, including the print edition of the Newfoundland Herald, a weekly news and entertainment magazine circulated throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Among other things, I noted this objective reality in the piece—a reality demonstrated with crystal clarity by liberals’ (to include the Canadian government’s) contemptible response to the column itself: “To fully advance the causes of radical feminism, abortion-on-demand, unfettered sexual license, ‘gay marriage’ and the like, the pagan left must do away with religious free exercise altogether [not to mention free speech].
“Under the guise of ‘anti-discrimination,’ Christians today face discrimination at unprecedented levels. …
“Christians,” I continued, “true Christians—regenerate, Bible-believing Christians who strive their level best to maintain fidelity to the word of God and honor His commands—will not, indeed cannot, participate in, approve of, facilitate or encourage certain behaviors deemed by the Holy Scriptures to be immoral or sinful.
“It is not done from hate. It is not done from bigotry. It is done neither from a position of superiority nor a desire to ‘impose our beliefs’ upon others.
“It is done from both obedience to Christ and compassion for our fellow fallen who yet wallow in folly. …
“In the ongoing culture war, it seems there are no rules of engagement. The secular left will accept nothing short of unconditional surrender. That is to say, the pagans demand that we Christians abandon the biblical worldview altogether, and adopt their own.
“This will never happen.”
You could have timed their response with a stopwatch. Want to see a collectivist conniption? Drop an unvarnished truth bomb in the middle of Canada, most of Europe or blue-state USA and sit back for the mouth-frothing. It’s quite a show. The bright light of salty truth both blinds and burns those given over to reprobation.
CBC News, the “largest news broadcaster in Canada,” reported on both my column and the ensuing response: “Members of a Newfoundland and Labrador Pride group were so outraged about a two-page anti-gay [read: Christian] letter to the editor published by an entertainment magazine in the province, they filed a human rights complaint.”
Several other “gay-rights” organizations have since picked up their pitchforks and joined the mob. The Canadian government was likewise quick to react. Remzi Cej of Canada’s “Human Rights Commission” (something between a Star Chamber and a kangaroo court, but without that level of credibility) said, “he’s disappointed that the Herald has cited ‘free speech’ as justification for publishing the opposing view” (because, of course, to the leftist, free speech is only “free” when it’s speech with which they agree).
CBC News continued: “In its Aug. 3-9 issue, The Newfoundland Herald published ‘The Coming Christian Revolt’ in its Letters to the Editor section.”
“The letter is a blog post from author and right-wing American blogger Matt Barber, who published the piece on his own website, barbwire.com, last month.
“In the letter, Barber took direct aim at a number of topics, including abortion and gay marriage.
“Western Pride NL member Kyle Curlew, who initiated filing the complaint, said his ‘jaw dropped’ when he first saw the two-page letter.
“‘I couldn’t even believe that it was published in the Herald. It was a rallying call for people to stand against LGBT rights. Essentially, hate propaganda,’ Curlew told CBC.
“Curlew said after reading the letter, he decided to take the matter to police.
“‘We filed a human-rights complaint under C-46, Section 19, which is ‘propaganda and the incitement of hate toward an identifiable group.’ So we are hoping to press charges.'”
The Telegram, another mainstream Canadian publication, further reported that both my column and the fact that the Newfoundland Herald published it each constitute “a hate crime under the Criminal Code of Canada.” (Ahh … don’t you love the smell of tyranny in the morning? Come and get me, you homo-fascist Canucks.)
While there are exceptions to the rule, generalizations typically become generalizations because they generally hold true. Saving perhaps orthodox Muslims, today’s secular—”progressives” are among the most closed-minded and self-deluded people on the planet.
Generally speaking.
Indeed, the self-styled champions of “tolerance” and “diversity” prove, over and again, to be the most intolerant and monolithic among us. Their version of “intolerance” (i.e., any philosophical position that runs afoul of the rigid dictates of “political correctness”) simply will not be tolerated.
The left is a walking paradox. It is irony personified. While liberals’ complete lack of self-awareness, self-righteous snobbery, aloof emotionalism and obtuse circular reasoning make them an easy target for ridicule, these things quickly move from curious to dangerous when they control the reins of government.
Back in April, my good friend and pro-family advocate Peter LaBarbera and his Canadian Christian host Bill Whatcott were arrested in Regina, Saskatchewan, for preaching the Gospel on a university campus. When they began calmly and peacefully sharing about biblical sexual morality and the abortion holocaust, police were called and LaBarbera spent two days in jail. He now faces potential prison time when he returns in October for his trial. (Stop the “tolerance!” It hurts! Canada, what have you let happen to your once free nation?)
As for the Newfoundland Herald‘s publication of my column, Managing Editor Pam Pardy-Ghent told CBC News, “We have received so much feedback on this letter, more than we have ever received before on any matter or topic. This is obviously something, and rightfully so, that has infuriated a number of people, and has inspired them to reach out to us.
“We will be responding to this issue-–and running many of the responses we have received–in the next, and in future editions of The Newfoundland Herald. While free speech is very important to us, being responsive and responsible to the people of this province is as well.”
Ms. Pardy-Ghent, free speech may well be important to you, but it’s now verboten in Canada (and is fast becoming that way here in the U.S.). Though we may or may not agree on the issues, I nonetheless admire and respect your courage, apparent appreciation for open discourse and clear disdain for censorship. You’re welcome to publish this column as well.
Better get your affairs in order first.
Matt Barber is founder and editor-in chief of BarbWire.com. He is an author, columnist, cultural analyst and an attorney concentrating in constitutional law. Having retired as an undefeated heavyweight professional boxer, Matt has taken his fight from the ring to the culture war. (Follow Matt on Twitter:@jmattbarber).
