"A closer view"

The true test of freedom of expression is not found in the voicing of the concurring viewpoint, it is however clearly and expressly found or displayed in the protection of the dissenting one. Freedom of Expression, (there is no freedom of speech per se in the Charter) subsection two of the Fundamental Freedoms of the Charter of Rights along with Freedom of Assembly and Association cannot withstand an “A la carte” mentality, not for “THE PEOPLE”. Governments however love it, as it eats away at the very fabric of the statements, neuters the strength of peoples resolve, divides and renders mute the very voice of freedom and its meaning. One cannot as a society say “these topics” may be discussed yet “those topics” may not and still cling to any notion of the principles enshrined in these charter freedoms without the acceptance of censorship, hypocrisy and the eventual death of the very freedoms themselves.

Critical thinking and self filtering are skills greatly needed in today’s society. They are critical skills and must be ever more a part of the educational lexicon if the very foundation of freedom that we embrace as Canadians is to continue. “Hate” as defined by the Supreme Court, as the “lone caveat” to freedom of expression becomes a dangerous quagmire when it drives dissenting view underground to hidden rooms without the clarity of discussion or alternatives. Throwing that Caveat ruling around like stones, to edit expression, should be a principal of great concern.

Society should not be concerned with a few thousand who believe in and openly express another viewpoint regardless of how personally repugnant it might be to you. Remember, homosexuality was viewed this way for decades, but we must embrace it and defend it. Society must be afraid of the voices they drive into darkness, unable to express, unable to vent, be questioned, challenged or taught. This abyss of non-expression breeds extremism and fundamentalism, and we see the actions of this non-expression every day, all over the world as well as the violence caused by it and the lives lost.

The dissenting view has taught society far more than the “acceptable” one throughout history. From the dissenting view, usually at the cost of freedom or lives, we have learned: the earth is round not flat, racism is unacceptable, women are equal, the earth revolves around the sun and many other ground breaking principals in virtually every discipline of society. New theory as a principal is found on the edges of the unexplored, on the brinks and extremes to become the Martin Luther Kings, the Mandellas, the Thomas Jeffersons, the Beatles, the Platos, the Magellans, and Einsteins whom have spoken against convention and enriched our societies.

I have listened to many a diatribe from religious to political to racial and socio-sexual. Each have their extremes, yet still I have been able to retain a centre; to attain sense of right and acceptance without legislative borders or crutches to protect me. My parents were strong enough to allow me to explore and challenge, question and discuss, (often at the price of their sanity) to decide for myself my truths and accept that others might disagree without making me, or my viewpoint less. I have often learned the most from those I disagreed with or passionately expressed the opposite view, setting my teeth to edge.

These dissenting views, regardless of your opinions, must be protected and should be so. Or do we begin again to burn books, build barriers, squash dissidents or incarcerate those who do not believe as we do?

Freedom is a tough game and not one easily engaged in for the weak. It will challenge your personal sensibilities and beliefs with its words, its actions and their associations as it should.

In a “Free and Just Society”.

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Tags: charter of rights and freedoms, freedom of expression, freedom of speech

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 9:13 pm and is filed under Our Country. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.