THE HATE SPEECH DEBATE

1. THE HATE SPEECH DEBATE CFI Vancouver, Café Inquiry Saturday, April 16th, 2011 Moderator: Ian Cromwell

2. TRIGGER WARNING: This presentation uses words and phrases that are racist, heterosexist, xenophobic, and genocidal. Although they are presented as quotations and examples of hate speech, you will likely find them offensive. It is not my intention to offend, nor do any of the phrases used reflect my opinion, nor the opinion of CFI or its affiliates.

3. GEERT WILDERS – Dutch Politician “I have nothing against the people. I don’t hate Muslims. But Islam is a totalitarian ideology. It rules every aspect of life — economics, family law, whatever. It has religious symbols, it has a God, it has a book — but it’s not a religion. It can be compared with totalitarian ideologies like Communism or fascism. There is no country where Islam is dominant where you have a real democracy, a real separation between church and state.” Take a walk down the street and see where this is going. You no longer feel like you are living in your own country. There is a battle going on and we have to defend ourselves. Before you know it there will be more mosques than churches!

4. FRED “GRAMPS” PHELPS – Holy Man, Patriot "Thank God for the tsunami, and thank God that two thousand dead Swedes are fertilizing the ground over there [in Asia]. How many of these two thousand, do you suppose, were fags and dykes? This is how the Lord deals with His enemies. And the Lord has got some enemies. And Sweden heads the list. You filthy Swedes. You filthy Swedes!" "Our church has had a lot of bad dealings with those demon-possessed Canadians! A big Canadian flag flies at our church upside-down, the international symbol of distress. We fly it day and night, to educate and warn people about the fagi-nazi regime just to the north of us. Canadians are afraid of their tyrannical fag-run government. You can determine for yourself about Canada, and keep as far away from them as you can."

5. HASSAN NGEZE – Rwandan Journalist “Hutu wherever they be must stand united, in solidarity, and concerned with the fate of their Hutu brothers. Hutu within and without Rwanda must constantly search for friends and allies to the Hutu Cause, beginning with their Bantu brothers.Hutu must constantly counter Tutsi propaganda.Hutu must stand firm and vigilant against their common enemy: the Tutsi.”  “Every Hutu must know that our Hutu daughters are more worthy and more conscientious as women, as wives and as mothers. Aren’t they lovely, excellent secretaries, and more honest!” Link:

6. THE CANADIAN CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS 1. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it …subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society. 2.Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: • (a) freedom of conscience and religion; • (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication; • (c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and • (d) freedom of association.

7. WHAT IS HATE SPEECH? • Criminal Code of Canada, Section 319: • (1) Every one who, by communicating statements in a public place, incites hatred against any identifiable group where such incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace… • (2) Every one who, by communicating statements, other than in private conversation, wilfully promotes hatred against and identifiable group… • Note: Although at some of this section infringes the right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed by section 2(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms , it has been ruled that it constitutes a reasonable limit on that right and is therefore valid legislation: R. v. Keegstra (1991), 63 C.C.C. (3d) 110, [1991] 4 W.W.R. 136, 79 Alta. L.R. (2d) 97 (C.A.).

8. WHAT ISN’T HATE SPEECH? • By ‘hate speech’, this discussion does not refer to: • Specific incitements of violence or retribution against a group or groups • Personal attacks against individuals that are clearly motivated by that individual’s membership in a group • Speech with the specific intent of stripping a group of human and/or civil rights

9. Should hate speech laws exist in Canada? • Do hate speech laws protect minorities, or simply drive controversial ideas into the underground? • As a minority group, are atheists/agnostics/humanists more likely to benefit from legal protection, or be prosecuted for speaking out against religion? • Is there a difference between anti-blasphemy laws and anti-hate laws? • Do skeptics have a particular responsibility to advocate or oppose restrictions on speech? • Is there a role that science can play in this discussion?

10. BEGIN THE MASS DEBATING!

11. Should hate speech laws exist in Canada? • Do hate speech laws protect minorities, or simply drive controversial ideas into the underground? • As a minority group, are atheists/agnostics/humanists more likely to benefit from legal protection, or be prosecuted for speaking out against religion? • Is there a difference between anti-blasphemy laws and anti-hate laws? • Do skeptics have a particular responsibility to advocate or oppose restrictions on speech? • Is there a role that science can play in this discussion?

12. (3) No person shall be convicted of an offence under subsection (2)(a) if he establishes that the statements communicated were true;(b) if, in good faith, he expressed or attempted to establish by argument an opinion on a religious subject;(c) if the statements were relevant to any subject of public interest, the discussion of which was for the public benefit, and if on reasonable grounds he believed them to be true; or(d) if, in good faith, he intended to point out, for the purpose of removal, matters producing or tending to produce feelings of hatred toward an identifiable group in Canada.