Re: 鈥淕ender-issues talk in Oak Bay cut short as protests break out amid packed crowd,鈥� May 3.
The cancellation of Jenn Smith鈥檚 talk regarding the sexual-orientation, gender-identity curriculum provides an illustration of the evolving nature of freedom of speech in Canada and the Western world.
Not so long ago, our society firmly supported the principles of robust and open debate, rational argument and the refuting of bad ideas with better ones. Today, unless your ideas align with those of the progressive left, you simply have no right to speak. Smith鈥檚 critics were able to exercise their freedom of speech; not so for him 鈥� 鈥渇ree speech for me, but not for thee.鈥�
鈥淏ut wait,鈥� the drummers and chanters might say: 鈥淗ate speech is not free speech!鈥� But what agency has the wisdom to determine the definition of hate speech? Apparently we now have our answer 鈥� the mob.
The outrage mob that was out in force in Oak Bay collectively decided that Smith was guilty of hate speech before he was even allowed to open his mouth, and exultantly shut him down. As the mob is doing elsewhere in Canada, the United States and Europe, more and more and with growing confidence every day. No debate required.
Mobs, however, aren鈥檛 guided by reason but by emotion, that most capricious of motivators.
The mob that champions you today can just as easily tear you to pieces tomorrow should you transgress in any way, and it never forgets or forgives. Is that what we want arbitrating our public discourse?
Richard Lambert
Victoria
