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Canadian Hate-Speech Law Violates Charter of Rights

MrKevvy writes "The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has found that federal hate-speech legislation violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the equivalent of the US Constitution's Bill of Rights. This decision exonerates Marc Lemire, webmaster of FreedomSite.org, but may have farther-reaching consequences and serve as precedent for future complaints of hate-speech."

18 of 651 comments (clear)

  1. aha by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Blame Canada!

    1. Re:aha by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Future Canadian Ubuntu release names:

      Busty Beaner
      Crackhead Coon
      Drunk Darkie
      Flaming Faggot
      Grumpy Gringo
      Humping Homosexual
      Jackin' Jiggabgoo
      Klepto Kike
      Limey Lobersterback
      Morose Moonie
      Nappy Nigger
      Queefing Queer
      Sleazy Spic
      Transsexual Twinky
      Weebly Wetback
      Zany Zebra

  2. Pffft! by Foobar+of+Borg · · Score: 2, Funny

    You hear that sound? It's the sound of Richard Warman shitting himself. Maybe he and Jack Thompson can start some kind of international law firm so they can get international ridicule now.

  3. Pft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Canadians don't have rights! :P

    (I am Canadian, feel my ironic powers!)

  4. In honour of this event by Atrox666 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I hate you all...legally.

  5. Re:free speech includes bad speech :-( by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yelling "Candy!" at a crowded Weight Watchers meeting is also forbidden.

  6. Re:In a perfect world, this happens: by Foobar+of+Borg · · Score: 2, Funny

    Deine Mutter ist eine Schlampe und du bist ein schwein.

  7. Re:Let's hope... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Via maternal grandfather, possibly. Paternal line (Atreides) claims to be greek.

  8. Re:Finally! by sunderland56 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Quebecois, vous pouvez aller les porcs sucer!

    You do know that Google Translate doesn't work all that well, right?

    Mange-toi du pain blanc, maudit bloke.

  9. Re:Let's hope... by tomhudson · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just got a year suspension for using the word mentally retarded in class and then arguing with a couple of ignorant classmates who said I could not say the words mentally retarded. In a Human Services class dealing with case management, and the 4th chapter of our textbook is titled, "The Mentally Retarded". Go figure that one out, because I sure fucking can't.

    That's because you're mentally retarded! Everyone knows that the PC term is now Republican, and in (4) (8) years it will be Democrat! Don't be such a 'tard.

    Here, let me connect the dots for you:

    "Free Speech" == "Speech you agree with."
    "Hate Speech" == "Speech you disagree with."

    Taking out the common elements leaves:

    "Free" == "agree"
    "Hate" == "disagree"

    See, it's really that simple.

  10. Re:"Hate" speech is Free Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Democrat, Socialist, Communist

    Oops, you repeated yourself again.

    Fascist, Warmonger, Hatemonger, Criminal, Deviant, Brain-Dead, Republican

    You mean, like that?

  11. Re:You Cannot Give Offense by pjt33 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Or mock them. (Chasers' War, for those who've seen it before).

  12. Re:Let's hope... by houstonbofh · · Score: 4, Funny

    You're a fool if you think putting up a noose isn't a threat. It's the 1920's Southern Man's pirate flag. It means "You will be hung".

    Wait a minute... I thought all those e-mails I got were saying "You will be hung..." I think I am misunderstanding something somewhere.

  13. Re:Let's hope... by FCAdcock · · Score: 2, Funny

    "You'r wife's tits felt so good last night in my bed."

    --
    --Forest C. Adcock--
  14. Re:Hate speech serves no purpose by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 3, Funny

    That shouldn't mean you get to outlaw it though.

    Yes it does!! Hate speech is spoken by racists, and sexists, and homophobes, and bigots, and all those other people I don't like.

    They are nasty people. Everybody knows it. They say such mean things and hurt people's feelings and make people upset, and they just want to make more people nasty like them! People are vulnerable to what they say; they could be brainwashed!! People need protection from these kinds of bad influences!

    It's just like child molesters. You wouldn't let them speak freely would you?! Nobody would! These people are wrong, just so wrong. No one has the right to be so wrong! So they shouldn't be allowed to speak or enjoy the freedoms the rest of us do.

    It's only fair.

    --
    May the Maths Be with you!
  15. Re:"Hate" speech is Free Speech by db32 · · Score: 2, Funny
    I'm confused. You said...

    Politician, Politician, Politician, Politician, Politician, Politician, Republican

    Why did you add a Republican? You are aware that they are Politicians too right?

    --
    The only change I can believe in is what I find in my couch cushions.
  16. Re:"Hate" speech is Free Speech by OeLeWaPpErKe · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yes, but what does "republican" do in the list ? There is, ironically and unfortunately, nothing that causes quite so many wars as pacifism does. But hey, it doesn't take much to make a democrat, socialist, communist, fascist, warmonger, hatemonger, criminal, deviant, brain-dead happy.

  17. Re:Let's hope... by geminidomino · · Score: 2, Funny

    Pictures are hung...
    People are hanged....

    Speak for yourself, tiny.