Havel and the HRC

Quotes from The Power of the Powerless by Vaclav Havel in blue.

The post-totalitarian system touches people at every step, but it does so with its ideological gloves on. This is why life in the system is so thoroughly permeated with hypocrisy and lies:

government by bureaucracy is called popular government;

The Ontario Human Rights Commission was established in 1961 to administer the Code. The Commission is an arm's length agency of government accountable to the people of Ontario through the legislature. OHRC

(Except when Commissioners won’t appear before Parliamentary committees.)

the working class is enslaved in the name of the working class;

And those are just the cases that go all the way to a ruling. 90% of Alberta's human rights targets fold without a fight -- they just can't afford the fight, either in terms of time (I'm well over 800 days in their prosecution of me for publishing the Danish cartoons) and money (I'm at the $100,000 mark -- thank you to my online donors for saving me from ruin Ezra Levant

(Small businesses are frequent targets of HRC. In the name of protecting vulnerable people the commissions have become an attack force against vulnerable people. After all few people are quite as vulnerable as a small entrepreneur.)

the complete degradation of the individual is presented as his or her ultimate liberation;

Freedom of expression is recognized as a cornerstone of a functioning democracy. It promotes many societal values and has a role in individual self-fulfillment, attaining the truth, securing participation by members of society in social and political decision-making, and maintaining a balance between stability and change in society.... Freedom of expression should be exercised through responsible reporting and not be used as a guise to target vulnerable groups and to further increase their marginalization or stigmatization in society. OHRC

(These freedoms are protected by the government publicly accusing people of racism, sexism, bigotry, hate, or some other degrading label)

depriving people of information is called making it available;

However, other hearings have been held in secret, as Ms. Lynch has admitted, supposedly for the “safety” of a witness but contrary to the ancient right of being able to face one’s accuser in court. Indeed, in the ongoing case of beachesboy@aol.com vs. drumsaremybeat@aol.com, the commission hasn’t even revealed the identity of the complainant. Russ Hiebert M.P.

We value an INFORMED PUBLIC
We are committed to:

• a strategic approach to public education, because we believe that an informed public contributes to the elimination of discrimination in society OHRC

(I always thought that government education was a rather euphemistic way of saying propaganda. Now I admit that such propaganda can be either good or bad, true or false, but it is definitely not truly free and open minded.)

the use of power to manipulate is called the public control of power,

First, there has been no suppression of speech. No complaint has been filed against Steyn, who is free to express his views and has being doing so with regularity in multiple venues. The complaints against Maclean's magazine ask for the right to more, not less, information by demanding publication of the "other side" of the story. Pearl Eliadis

(It is merely a public spirited desire to have both sides of the story told. Which I will believe the day that the HRC forces Xtra to publish an article condemning homosexuality on religious grounds.)

and the arbitrary abuse of power is called observing the legal code;

As is the case with all administrative law bodies, they ensure that all parties are protected by the rules of natural justice, and that frivolous complaints are efficiently disposed. Canadians expect fairness and efficiency from their human-rights system, and we must continue to offer both. Jennifer Lynch

And, so it is again: the CHRC has rejected Lebuis's complaint. The rejection states:

“ ...the majority of the references in “Islam or Fundamentalism” are to “infidels”, “miscreants” or “western women”. These are general, broad and diversified categories that do not constitute an “identifiable group” under Section 13 of the Act. As we have also mentioned, the extracts that identify groups on the basis of prohibited grounds of discrimination (homosexuals, lesbians, Christians, Jews) do not seem to promote “hatred” or “contempt” according to the criteria set forth in the Taylor case. Therefore, the document on which the complaint is based does not seem to meet the requirements of Section 13 of the Act for a complaint.”

Translation: when a radical Muslim says gays should be killed, Buddhists should be killed, women may be treated like slaves, etc., those victims are not legally considered to be "identifiable groups" -- they have no human rights.

Gays, women, Buddhists, Jews, etc., do have human rights that can be offended only when white supremacists do the offending. When radical Muslims are doing the offending, gays, women, Jews, etc., can just get a thicker skin. Ezra Levant

Human rights commissions have been set up as a kind of parallel police and legal system, yet without any of the procedural safeguards, rules of evidence, or simple professional expertise of the real thing. Human rights investigators can search homes and offices without warrants. Tribunals can accept hearsay evidence, or ignore disclosure requirements, at will. Common law defences such as fair comment do not apply. Complainants have their costs paid for, even if they lose, while their targets must fend for themselves. None of this is accidental. It’s deliberate—protecting “human rights” was considered too urgent a matter to be constrained by old-fashioned notions of due process. Andrew Coyne

the repression of culture is called its development;

"We do not negotiate with terrorists. We just accede to their anticipated demands.” That is effectively the new policy position at Yale University Press, which has eliminated all visual depictions of the Prophet Muhammad from Jytte Klausen’s new book The Cartoons That Shook the World. Yale made the unusual decision not only to suppress the twelve 2005 Danish cartoons that sparked organized protests in many countries but also historical depictions of Muhammed like a 19th-century print by Gustave Doré. They are not responding to protests against the book; they and a number of their consultants are anticipating them and making or recommending concessions beforehand. American Association of University Professors

(Okay so not exactly the fault of the HRC but part of the same issue)

the expansion of imperial influence is presented as support for the oppressed;

No person shall publish or display…any representation, including any notice, sign, symbol, emblem, article, statement or other representation that exposes or tends to expose to hatred, ridicules, belittles or otherwise affronts the dignity of any person or class of persons on the basis of a prohibited ground. Saskatchewan Human Rights Code

It is up to legislators and courts to find the appropriate balance that best protects the human rights and freedoms of all citizens. Canada has an enviable track record in this regard, and our Charter of Rights and Freedoms is viewed as a model for other free societies to emulate. Human-rights commissions and tribunals provide access to the justice system and remedies for those who believe they are the victims of discrimination. Jennifer Lynch

(Currently taking bets as to how long it will be until anti-discrimination produces a situation where the most officially discriminated against people are Christians. Oh wait... never mind, bit late there.)

the lack of free expression becomes the highest form of freedom;

Some who disagree with this notion would have Canada weaken its human-rights system, taking the view that freedom of expression is the paramount right in Canadian society, over and above the right of all citizens to be protected from the harm that can be caused by hate messages. In fact, there is no hierarchy of rights with some rights having greater importance than others. They work together toward a common purpose. Jennifer Lynch

(When do I get protection from being called an unsocialized "retard" for being a homeschooler?)

farcical elections become the highest form of democracy;

(At this point, the HRC do not see the need to have even farcical elections)

banning independent thought becomes the most scientific of world views;

Christian Horizons also faced sanctions for asking Heintz to consider Christian counselling to restore her to her previous faith.

The OHRT ruled "the attempt of 'restoration' for persons who are gay or lesbian is profoundly disrespectful and oppressive.' Canadian Christianity

(We aren't even mentioning the evolution word, just give the HRC time)

military occupation becomes fraternal assistance.

(The HRC only wishes... However attempts to occupy magazines in the name of freedom for all might be considered somewhat analogous)

Because the regime is captive to its own lies, it must falsify everything. It falsifies the past. It falsifies the present, and it falsifies the future. It falsifies statistics. It pretends not to possess an omnipotent and unprincipled police apparatus.

It pretends to respect human rights.

It pretends to persecute no one.

It pretends to fear nothing.

It pretends to pretend nothing.

Blue quotes from The Power of the Powerless by Vaclav Havel