I did not realize Canada had such interesting hate crime laws. Apparently, if you open your mouth in public and out pours hate, even biblically inspired hate, then off you go to a Human Rights Tribunal for a session of community shaming.
A city councillor in British Columbia, Canada, has agreed to pay a $1,000 fine and apologize for his remarks about homosexuality, uttered at a public meeting last summer, rather than face a Human Rights Tribunal. Americans for Truth's Peter LaBarbera is warning U.S. Christians to pay heed, as they may be in danger of facing the same kind of censorship.
Source: Canadian official fined for stating biblical stance on homosexuality (OneNewsNow.com)
American Christians are concerned that this could spread to threaten their hate filled rhetoric.
Americans for Truth president Peter LaBarbera says his group is warning Christians in the United States that they may face a choice similar to the one DeCicco faced if they allow hate crimes legislation to supplant the First Amendment. "We're saying to American pastors and American politicians, 'What would you do if you were fined a thousand dollars for saying that homosexual behavior is not normal and is not natural?'" LaBarbera notes.
Note to LaBarbera - if you were fined each time you engaged in hate speech, you would soon stop.
It does not seem likely that America will adopt this kind of Law. Laws that limit our First Amendment rights are exceedingly hard to pass.
I love the way I can feel your raging anti-fundamentalist bias in tension against your libertarian philosophy in this post. Over time though it becomes apparent which you value more.
ReplyDeleteit is funny - no?
ReplyDeleteActually, I am glad that it is so hard.
ReplyDeleteIf one can be fined for anti-homosexual comments, one could be fined for anti-Christian comments as well.
Think about it...