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Endangered Free Speech
Eroded by 9-11 fears and anal retentive pussyfooters.
We're censored, and self-censoring
I'm inspired this week by an article by Timothy Garton Ash in The Guardian Weekly: "The struggle to defend free expression is defining our age." If you don't subscribe to this paper, I recommend that you do.
As Ash points out, free speech is under attack all over the world, including, sadly, the birthplaces and repositories of the notion, Britain and America. If we were important enough to be noticed, he could have added Canada as well.
Before I go further, while I was shut down by the mainstream media, gradually but permanently (much including the national press), I make these remarks without any personal bitterness.
I had about 25 years of uncontested free speech mostly at CKNW when it was owned by the WIC Corporation, which, from top to bottom, defended broadcasters no matter how inconvenient their free speech might be. Very few people have been so lucky.
When the new bean counter in charge fired large numbers of loyal, decent men and women, and I commented, in Wilde's words, that CKNW now knew "the cost of everything and the value of nothing," I knew that I would soon be toast. I didn't but should have seen the shabby way they went about it.
I have now embarked on career number five and am having the time of my life helping the chiropractic profession get a faculty at a degree granting university, writing for this paper and the Metro Valley Group, bastions of free speech, doing political stuff for the CBC and regular, three-a-week editorial for Omni TV, Channel 10 whose management (so far) is like that of the CKNW of old.
Three realms of free speech
I think the issue of restriction of free speech can be divided into three areas that often slop into one another.
First there is that which incites violence. I know of no one who would argue that "kill the Jews," "let's go burn a synagogue" or "destroy a Sikh temple" qualifies as free speech. Troubling, of course, are those who use free speech tendentiously by cloaking themselves in words of liberty while any reasonable inference to be drawn from what they say or write cries out for violence. The sort of speech that, like the old saying, urges "for God's sake don't throw him in the duck pond." This area demands much more space than I have today but even here I would err on the side of free speech if only because the late Doug Collins, James Keegstra and Ernst Zundel couldn't have survived without the publicity given them by the media by reason of well-meaning howls of anguish from groups like the Canadian Jewish Congress.
Second, there is criticism of authority. In the United States, under the rule of the Solomon v. New York Times case, damages will not lie against a critic unless the words were wrong, harmful and malicious. This rule doesn't apply in the U.K. and Canada, meaning that people in power do very well indeed in defamation suits.
Thirdly there is the insult, an almost a dead art because of political correctness spawned by an unrestricted zeal to curtail that which might encourage violence. Here we find ourselves being censured by the "proper" sort of people -- in Denny Boyd's wonderful phrase "higher purpose persons" -- and censored by a media that is afraid to offend. Far too often that fear of offending isn't so much because the average Canadian is afraid to go outside the bounds of political correctness as it is media's kow-towing to politicians (about which, more in a moment).
Art of the insult
The insult, once an art form, was perfected, of course, by Churchill. Speaking in the Commons one day, he looked at Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald and said, "I was as a child, one day taken to P. T. Barnum's celebrated circus, (and) the exhibit on the programme which I most desired to see was the one described as 'The Boneless Wonder.' My parents judged that that spectacle would be too revolting and demoralizing for my youthful eyes, and I have waited 50 years to see the boneless wonder sitting on the Treasury Bench."
He also said of Macdonald that he had, more than any other man, the gift of "compressing the largest amount of words into the smallest amount of thought."
One night at dinner he was seated next to the formidable Labour MP Bessie Braddock with whom he was having a heated exchange. Exasperated, she said, "Mr. Churchill, you are drunk."
"And you, madam, are ugly," Churchill replied. "But I shall be sober tomorrow."
He once said of Clement Attlee that he was a "modest little man with a great deal to be modest about" and though he denied saying it, it's a hell of a good insult, which is Churchillian to the core.
John Montagu, Earl of Sandwich, once said to the great beacon of free speech, John Wilkes, "Egad sir, I do not know whether you will die on the gallows or of the pox."
Wilkes replied, "That will depend, my Lord, on whether I embrace your principles or your mistress."
You get the point.
The last half-decent insult (and it was no more than that) was the irrepressible John Crosbie saying to that monstrous pain in the ass Sheila Copps, "Pass the tequila, Sheila, lay down and love me again." All Hell broke loose, Crosbie was forced to apologize and Copps ran her grievances into a book.
9-11 fallout
So where is this all going? you might ask.
Our liberties, especially since 9-11, are being systematically eroded by a government bent on protecting us by banishing nail clippers and a small tube of crazy glue from airplanes. (Yes that happened to me, making me wonder if I was seen as someone running through the cabin brandishing a one-inch nail file while shouting "death to the infidels," then crazy-gluing the pilot to his chair.)
But the bigger threat by far is the media. Ownership of many radio stations and all TV networks by the same people who own newspaper chains means that newspapers, for the first time in this country, must be nice to the government or risk losing licenses to telecast, or not having them granted or renewed. This means that virtually all media outlets in Canada pull their punches when dealing with government. Thus freedom of the press is circumscribed by rules that don't need to be stated but which result in criticism of the government being blunted by the practical need for government largesse.
Anal retentive
I once was asked to contribute an article for the Ryerson School of Journalism so I wrote it on "free speech." I closed by warning students that when they graduated and went into the media they would self-censor or be censored. I was advised that the article was "unsuitable" and was asked to do a different one! If you wonder how an article on free speech can be unsuitable, marvel as well at how much money outfits like CanWest pour into journalism schools. And then ask yourself: how is it that perhaps the number-one journalism school in the country censors an article on free speech?
We have wound up with an anally retentive country that gets only censored news and, to make matters infinitely worse, censors itself for fear of being seen as politically correct. We are a nation of pussyfooters and, sad to say, we may like it that way. Where we once had people like Marjorie Nichols, Allan Fotheringham, Jack Webster and Pat Burns, Ed Murphy, Jack Wasserman, a full time Jim Hume and Allan Garr on the provincial scene and, dare I say it, Rafe Mair, truly holding Victoria's feet to the fire, we now have "on the one hand, on the other hand" radio and a print media that is but a shadow of its former self.
Canada has "free speech" provided that it falls within the boundaries of what the establishment considers reasonable dissent.
In that world, there is little room for courageous journalism and we should all understand that.
Related Tyee stories:
- Child Porn 101 At Cap College
- When Preachers Spew Hate
- Inside Afghanistan's Struggle for a Free Press
![[Tyee]](http://thetyee.cachefly.net/ui/img/ico_fishie.png){kind=small}
- The Gem of Canadian Science that Harper Killed
- Who Mowed Down the Premier?
- Canada's Economy, Deconstructed (by a 12 year-old)
- Death in Remand: a Tyee Inquiry
- Now Is the Time to Talk up Big Ideas
- Sexism Tinges Criticism of Teachers' Job Action
- Bill C-38: the Environmental Destruction Act
- Death In Remand: 'A Gut Feeling'
- Bias in BC's Pesticide Decision? Follow the Bouncing Verbs
- The Ethics of Addiction Studies
- The Gem of Canadian Science that Harper Killed
- Sexism Tinges Criticism of Teachers' Job Action
- Now Is the Time to Talk up Big Ideas
- The Ethics of Addiction Studies
- Bill C-38: the Environmental Destruction Act
- Alberta Fills Pipes with Corrosive Denial
- Bias in BC's Pesticide Decision? Follow the Bouncing Verbs
- How Our Immune Systems Exaggerate Fear
- BC biotech company seeks approval for GM apple
- What's Behind BC's Doors?
- Does Simon Fraser University Need a Men's Centre?
- Now Is the Time to Talk up Big Ideas
- Why Blackberry's Embrace of HTML5 Is Good Karma
- Bias in BC's Pesticide Decision? Follow the Bouncing Verbs
- Death in Remand: A Jail Crammed with Risk
- The Ethics of Addiction Studies
- What's Behind BC's Doors?
- The Gem of Canadian Science that Harper Killed
- Sexism Tinges Criticism of Teachers' Job Action
- Should You Run from that Medical Test?
70
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Grumpy
5 years ago
Comments on "Endangered Free Speech"
Free speach is a myth, we are only allowed to say, what the government allows us to say.
The poor have little or know free speach, as they feel the evil chill of Libel chill, where wealthy people use attack lawyers to keep people quiet and the truth from coming out.
Free speach - not on your life!
Grumpy
5 years ago
Too early in the morning and two blogs at the same time, of course no is no and not know! I'm not that illiterate, though others may beg to differ!
Capitalism
5 years ago
Rafe might be a little bitter. He operates in a business of ratings - and the masses did not wish to listen to his tirades!
The MSM has an agenda - though it isn't necessarily to see one party elected - that is the ends - not the means. Rather, it is to gain market share and struggle to retain profits in light of the changing media landscape. Providing information is no longer enough - you must entertain too!
You have the internet, satellite radio, podcasts, blackberries and more. It is fierce - and Can West - make no mistake - is a corporation.
They provide the readers with what they want to read. A great example is the USA - 75% of Rebublicans watched the previous Republican Convention of Fox News - and 75% of Democrats watched it on CNN - and why?
Because each provides the insight they choose to hear. Is this a problem? Yes! It is actually - objective news has been replaced by profiteering. Though, in today's world - there are new forms of alternative journalism. Take the Tyee - for example.
I find most this stuff to be crap - but I find it provides me with a different perspective - as hog-wash as most of it is....
In fact, I don't read any other paper or visit any other site - outside of the financial post and yahoo finance!
So - in this new world - there are new forums. There are local papers, radio programs and websites like this. There are plenty of opportunities too! The sky is not falling - though the season is changing. Where there is change - there is opportunity!
siamdave
5 years ago
- and you can find some more here - http://www.rudemacedon.ca/lgi/lgi-home.html
skeptikool
5 years ago
We wax sanctimonious over censorship, or attempted censorship, in other parts of the world but the medium is very much under attack here also.
An article, today, refers to returning computers, removed three years ago, to prison inmates. I doubt the concerns of the prison authorities were solely inmates access to Web porn and/or illicit materials.
G West
5 years ago
Too bad, Rafe, you don't have an editor here at Tyee.
Capitalism
5 years ago
Wow - Gavin actually reads these articles from time to time!
Too bad, Rafe, you don't have an editor here at Tyee
Alcibiades
5 years ago
Who is Gavin?
maestro
5 years ago
Nice photo of G West aka "TYEE cyber space god" at the top right hand corner of this article.
Technology may have changed the aforementioned photos details to in fact give us the "impression" that they are younger...but then again the often overwhelming albeit incoherent Leftie Ltd. ramblings perhaps indicate evidence of a student in a combined Library Science/Liberals Arts/ Poli Sci program...then in the near future morph via brick -wall epiphany into a neo -con wannabee .
Unfortunately, we can't read the T-shirt slogan, but we can probably extrapolate its contents. (Perhaps " Proof Read or Dye tyring!!! " )
Duly noted was the neural orb/ cranial crystal ball above the neck undeniably tilted to the RIGHT .
PS I just don't see how they chose who got the honour of putting on the duct tape.
Clawman
5 years ago
Okay, Rafe, I agree with most of what you say about our equivocation over free speech in Canada . . . BUT when you equate the rejection of your Ryerson article with censorship, you're over-reaching. Every writer who ever put pen to paper has had something "brilliant" rejected--to call it censorship devalues the meaning of the word. The editor didn't like it, and asked for a rewrite. When you refused, you got spiked. Suck it up! It's a cruel world.
haraldkann
5 years ago
What a piece of crap article.Small wonder you got canned.
I had to listen frequently to your show because many in my shop liked it .And when some of my employees called in and proffered their views to your call screeners the never got on...HMMMMNNNNNNN!
You did not last long on the employees list of favorites.
And for some reason,they seem to love Bill Boring...who took your spot.Seems he is just a little more in tune as to how to keep the masses stunned and stupid.
And as to FREE SPEECH...WHAT A CONCEPT!
Something you did not allow a lot of your listeners who called in.
Again the kettle calling the pot...black!
Inclined
5 years ago
Few Canadians would argue against free speech, but how many of us use it?
How many out there vote in municipal elections, attend Council meetings or even know the names of their elected officials?
When's the last time you wrote a letter to the editor of your local paper about a local issue?
Change starts at the bottom, right where you live. Stop bellyaching about the big issues and speak out about the ones which can be addressed right on home turf.
Wake up and look around. Get involved in your community! There are plenty of challenges for anyone.
rkewen
5 years ago
Gavin is correct (I won't use the term right, out of courtesy Gav) about seen.
I also think Rafe's need for a proofreader shows here as well:
Unless I'm really even more confused than Cappy and maestro think, you meant to say incorrect.
But hey, Tyee blew this month's budget paying Glavin for his Dissent (I won't laugh, I won't gag, I won't barf), there I'm okay.
rkewen
5 years ago
Actually I think the problem with free speech in Canada and the US, not being familiar with the UK, is that it just gets buried in the blizzard of meaningless InfoTaintedment. Of course that's the whole point.
There's enough documented information out there to arrest, charge and convict most members of the Bu$h/Cheney cabal, the Campbell cabal and to at the very least prove that Pee Wee Rambo is either an idiot or doesn't have the best interests of Canada at heart. But hey, can't bother with that, there goes another runaway bride, ooops wait a minute Glen Clark is building another deck and Jimmy Pattison is sitting on it - oh my gawd!
Capitalism
5 years ago
Bill Good is da man - though I am unable to listen to him much. He is a journalist, tries to remain independent and is more than anything - a fact finder. He presents the news and accepts people from both sides to engage in debate. He himself rarely takes bold stances like Rafe and his fish farms.
The problem is that people don't want to hear whining about fish farms and other topics that do not resonate with the silent majority. They want to hear news and meaningful debate - Bill's show accomplishes this.
While he may be "boring" - he has evolved into BC's premier journalist, widely popular and well respected. Bill has tried to be little more than a journalist and talk show host. Rafe - on the other hand - felt he was a visionary and wanted to be a difference maker.
Fair or unfair - censored or not - Rafe lost. You gotta play the game sometimes.
rkewen
5 years ago
Bill Good is da man......is a journalist....is more than anything - a fact finder.
Did somebody just taser me?
I'm stunned!
freebear
5 years ago
Capitalism said:
"the problem is that people don't want to hear whining about fish farms and other topics that do not resonate with the silent majority."
The article is about free speach and someone references the silent majority!
Locally, a good number of concerned citizens would like the city of Campbell River to keep 3.5 acres of waterfront public. A number of people, inlcuding the Mayor, have said that those wanting the parcel of land to stay public do not represent the silent majority. How can anyone infer what the silent majority wants?
Does the silent majority bother to vote in an election, or do they assume that elected representatives intuitively know what they (the silent majority) want?
Fitting then (though not my position), that when the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) ignored a petition of some 7000 individuals, and decided to build a regional hospital for the most part no where near any city/town, that VIHA suggested that the pitition did not represent the silent majority!
So now, facing some or significant opposition, the elected representatives can just easily defer to the silent majority who are assumed to oppose the opposers!
Fighting for democracy and freedom!
Right!
Maybe freedom to apply democratic principles only when convenient or sreves your position or stance.!!!!
freebear
5 years ago
Apologies for my typos! Passion outweighs key strokes and editing sometimes!
G West
5 years ago
Trouble with you, Capitalism/Mabellbc, you never do 'anything but' play games.
It's not Gavin, dummy!
Capitalism
5 years ago
freebear - the silent majority are the people that drive ratings at radio stations - and attract the advertising dollars.
clearly, the majority of people are not really all that concerned about fish farms - they may be in Campbell River - but the majority of BCers live in the GVRD.
look to my first point - this is not about serving anybody's position or stance. Journalism is based on ratings - ratings bring advertising dollars - advertising dollars pay journalists salaries and shareholders. Shareholders get paid and keep employing journalists. It is really simple.
While you see fish farms discussed on this forum and by the far left - how often do you hear about this discussed in daily conversation? Conversely, how often do you hear real estate, city planning, the economy, transportation, etc. discussed? Those are things you can reach out an touch.
Fish farms - simply is not something that resonates with most people. People form an uneducated opinion and generally say no - because it makes them feel a sense of consciousness. Heck, they sound pretty bad to me - and I know nothing about them other than the fish doesn't taste as good!!
Fish farms is an example - I am trying to provide some business insight here.
rkewen
5 years ago
Freebear,
Wasn't it Spiro Agnew that fine upstanding Republican (well, he was compared to today's model) who came up with that term - silent majority? Thanks
for pointing out the built in absurdity of the term. I hadn't really thought of it quite that way.
Today's silent majority is hiding inside the Diebold voting machines. How long before Pee Wee starts agitating for those here?
kispiox
5 years ago
The fact is that is exactly what I want to hear. I want to hear someone keeping our politicians toes to the coals and making them squirm when they do something as boneheaded as propose fishfarms at the mouth of the Skeena.
Rafe has always tackled issues with a passion seldom seen in the mainstream media and I always find that refreshing.
Capitalism
5 years ago
It isn't Gavin? I would have sworn I saw you referred to as Gavin...
You seem like a Gavin - i'll continue to call you that!
rkewen
5 years ago
Cappy, cappy, cappy, bear with me, I think I'm starting to see the light:
So you're sayin' since the people of the GVRD (and I'll admit there's a lot of 'em, and I'm glad they are there, at least they ain't here) are happy to cover all their land with asphalt, concrete and houses made of ticky tacky, fill their waterways with industrial and agricultural waste materials and their air with pollution one can't even see through much less breath without chewing - everybody else in BC better just shut the F up and get with the program. After all, it's all working out so well! I beginning to see just how truly enlightened you are.
ubiquitous
5 years ago
Since shareholders are the top of the journalistic foodchain cappy, is it not possible that the views of the shareholders play a more important role in what makes the headlines that what the so called "silent majority" wants to hear about? Is not one of the aspects of journalism to bring to the public news or stories that are not otherwise heard. Fish farms being the prime example. If the news shareholders believe, like you do, that the public does not what to hear about fish farms, then it should not appear in the news? Who really decides that fish farms, for example, are not newsworthy? Is there a market test for that? Or could it be possible that some of these news shareholders' portfolios would be damaged if real news about fish farms were made a little more public?
Sorry if I'm not making sense but for someone who claims to have an open mind really doesn't seem to look at all the angles. But then again, you've already admitted that you don't like specifics, just generalization; therefore, your opinions really aren't worth the keyboard they are typed on.
BTW, GWest seems like a Gavin? Is that supposed to be witty?
Alcibiades
5 years ago
Capitalism/Mabellbc:
COMMERCE is based on ratings.
Good journalism is something quite different - not that you'd know cappy - and not that you see much of it around here either.
The media has been making far too much money for far too long: If you actually think about it, the return on fish wrap shouldn't really be any more that the 1-2% on gross sales that a big grocery concern generates. The key is turnover. These guys, Asper, Black, Bell, Torstar, Quebecor and the rest are all completely spoiled…they need a lesson from Garfield Weston.
And they've forgotten what the news media is all about.
Period.
You might want to look at the Toronto Star as example of the phenomenon - there's a story on the sideboard here if you're interested. And it illustrates that the salad days for big media may well be over.
Why do you think, for example, the founding editor of this rag is trying so hard to stir up controversy? It's not because he's concerned about the TRUTH!
He’s trying to make the cash register ring. And that’s not JOURNALISM.
Anyway. You are, as always, just here to play - so have fun and the rest of us will ignore you.
Capitalism
5 years ago
No - not saying that at all. I can't stand the fact the Ontario elects our federal government every year and that every Leafs game is on HNIC - whereas we've only had one so far. Why is this? Leafs bring the ratings. It is not that we are less passionate hockey fans, but that there are more of them.
Journalism is a business - it is up to alternative media to provide a different perspective - which is why I come here!
Not trying to play with anybody.
rkewen
5 years ago
G West cappy treats names just like facts, he can take or leave 'em.
I guess we could just call him something that seems appropriate. However since there is no reason to use such terms outside the realm of medicine or sewage engineering we would probably be kicked off of here. Come to think of it, that might not be a bad idea.
There are better places to go for games, style pieces and relevant issues, especially the latter.
BTW, I guess Beers has them advertisers convinced anyone actually ever notices there is any advertising. I just went to check and guess what, there is, coulda fooled me!
Capitalism
5 years ago
Well the Board of Directors are at the top of the food-chain - who represent that shareholders. They certainly influence the course of the news. However, I think they care less about the message than the profits. They'd sell ice to a snow-man - if he'd buy it. They are not in the business of getting parties elected (globally - though there may be instances in which they are) - rather, they are in the business of making money. Making money means fetching ratings - ratings brings ad bucks - bad bucks pays shareholders...
Capitalism
5 years ago
I never said it was good - much like Bill Good - I am a fact finder. You sound like you agree with me - that the business is about profits and not sound journalism....
I don't know why everybody is so mad.
ubiquitous
5 years ago
I thought that you didn't care about facts? Did you not say that you prefer the general view of things? That is, you prefer to make generalizations, meaning, you're not concerned with facts?
As Yoda would say: "That is why you fail!"
Alcibiades
5 years ago
Speaking of free speech, and non-breaking stories, there was a tiny mention of a certain notorious pair in the Sunday Times Colonist. Not that anyone would notice I mean - compared with the feeding frenzy that Glen Clark's deck occasioned - this story about possible government corruption and alleged payola isn't getting much 'journalistic' attention at all. Is it?
The story – buried in the Capital News section of the Sunday paper (which is even more pathetic than the other 6 days of the week) wasn’t even signed.
For anyone who's actually interested and has already consigned the Times Colonist to its proper place at the bottom of the garbage pail, you can find the story - and some very interesting commentary - here:
http://bctrialofbasi-virk.blogspot.com/
Alcibiades
5 years ago
And not a paid ad in sight. Funny that.
rkewen
5 years ago
Referring to the financial heavies in the media foodchain Cappy produced this gem just above:
I have no shame in admitting that I'm not really sure what cappy is trying to say, because he most likely has no idea either. But Cappy here's the drill.
The Corporate elite be they in the oil business, the fast food business or the "journalism" business are in the business of making money....period!
However insofar as certain candidates or parties are inimical or helpful to their business goal (remember - maximizing profit) helping or impeding certain political parties candidates etc. is a very important part of doing business.
The corporate media business has very entrenched interests in getting along with government regarding regulation of themselves (or lack of same) and then we jump into the interlocking nature of the media mogols in bed with say oil mogols, defense manufacturing mogols and so on. They being the sociopathic organisms they are with all the rights of the individual and none of the reposnsibilities and only as many ethics as needed to stay out of jail, are obviously going to promote "journalism" that supports their interests and well what about that Raid on the Legislature, ummmm. Nothing here, move along, but wow, yuou do remember that deck don't you?
You are either of limited intelligence or speaking from your own vested interests. Then again, like Mr. G suggests maybe you're just bored and trying to irritate people.
rkewen
5 years ago
I meant to ask you what you meant by "globally?" No they aren't super concerned with who is secretary general of the UN. Though I'm sure they will like the new guy from South Korea better than Kofi Annan. Kofi wasn't quite so corporate in his outlook and occasionally called it like it was, like when Israel was killing Canadians in a measured manner. Kofi was actually more concerned about the criminal targeting of Canadian civilians and un-armed peace-keepers than Pee Wee Rambo the Pudge.
BTW, what do you think of the French warning the Israeli Air Force that they might have to shoot down some of their planes if they don't stop violating the ceasefire with overflights that they've continued to do no matter what? Would you like the ADF to buzz your house regularly with fighter jets?
Nana
5 years ago
It is thought that the new SG of the UN is a Moonie and there was a very odd happening in '04 when there was some sort of coronation of the Rev Moon in a Senate office bldg.
http://www.hillnews.com/news/062204/moon.aspx
http://kurtnimmo.com/?p=596
Ki-moon: Moonie or Neocon Toady?
Capitalism
5 years ago
rkewen - by globally i meant - from a big picture perspective, mass media is not a tool to have political parties elected......
though you do have individual editorials which might be. i was trying to say that there is no big conspiracy to get one party elected......
i'm sorry for the confusion...had nothing to do with Israel or the middle east..
rkewen
5 years ago
I know the Rev (cough) Moon is the owner of the Washington Times which is a rag. Not that the once proud Washington Post is much better! I also know Reverend Moon has an undue amount of influence in Washington, though not as much as AIPAC and Israel in general. The United States pretty much exists to carry out Israeli foreign policy anymore, whether or not it is in the interests of the United States.
I will now brace for the accusations of Anti-Semitism, which are totally false - but if it works why quit?
kurt
5 years ago
I prefer the self-effacing humour of the late (and greatly misunderstood) Enoch Powell: "All political lives end in failure." So true.
Richard Warnica
5 years ago
Hi G West - Thanks for the typo catch. It has been corrected.
Umslopogaas
5 years ago
Bill Good?
In the Kootnays we call him "Dial-a-Dope."
Grumpy
5 years ago
Cappy, why the hate against Rafe? His ratings, without question were the highest in the region, but I guess the CORUS brass were bought of by commercial interests.
Fish farms are important and we will soon rue the day we let Campbell & Co. descrate our waters with these disease ridden fish farms. The demise of the the West Coast Salmon stocks will have reprecussions for decades to come!
Rafe was not afraid to tackle the issue, where is former cohort Bill Bland (ever waiting for an Order of Canada or a Senate seat) blathers on and on, with issues straight from the Martini sect.
We wiil recognise Rafe's contribution to BC, I'm afraid, long after his demise and more is the pity for that! We need more Rafe Mair's in the media, not the current crop of Casper Milquetoasts!
rkewen
5 years ago
Cappy probably called one time and Rafe couldn't understand what the H cappy was talking about - and Rafe's a lawyer!
doggone
5 years ago
Funny you should ask but:
Yeah, Lately Google News, BBC online, CBC and CNN have become indistinguishable. Sports and entertainment are featured which do not actually qualify as "News".
We eventually hear some casualty figures or the latest Gaffe from a senior diplomat or military officer which would certainly have been "News" if the story had not been "stepped on".
Oh, by the way, the sky IS falling - those monitoring mainstream media will be the last to know.
DNA
5 years ago
Ah, yes, free speech. I think Stronach missed a great opportunity to a repost. E.g., "MacKay may say that but at least I'm not the Prime Minister's lap dog..." or something better - rather than going on about how shameful his remark was... Don't get on your high horse - attack!
RickW
5 years ago
Cappy:
Sounds like you support, though perhaps not encourage, the Lowest Common Denominator. That is called entropy, or total uniformity.
http://www.answers.com/entropy
How dull, how unappetizing!
anarcho
5 years ago
Rafe is a conservative. Cappy (and I suppose Clueless too, if he had woken from his drunken stupor, doesn't like him, because Rafe is well, too left wing for him. Where does that place the Capster on the political spectrum?
Grumpy
5 years ago
About free speach - where was it on RAV? Global/CanWest/CORUS media censored just about everything about RAV. They out and out lied about LRT! No free speach there at all!
RickW
5 years ago
Y'all got to remember that "free" speech is like "free" healthcare -- it's all just plain too socialist......!! No siree bob! You wants to talk, you gots to pay for it, by gum!! And pay bigtime! Otherwise, y'all keeps yer mouf shet!
TANSTAAFL!
SharingIsGood
5 years ago
Rafe, I culdn't agree more: Canada is a nation of pussyfooters. I believe it has been the result of "soma" (TV and antidepressants/anti-anxiety medications) and having to have 2 income households. Nobody is left at home to organize, cook and clean things up. That means there is no time to do more than run your own show. Even though men are not doing as much at home, they are still doing more than they ever used to. That time has to come from somewhere.
Doggone said:
I just made that observation to my wife yesterday - it's all the same. Except for some little bits of local news, global is the same too.
It's quite boring and sad to think that the billions of people in the world can only generate 20-30 headlines a day.
G West
5 years ago
Sometimes I think that Google is where all these agencies 'get' their news in the first place these days. The media has become one vast Mobius strip.
SharingIsGood
5 years ago
Excellent analogy/imagery, GW. Reuters is no different. I have noticed the odd article that makes it into Yahoo News headlines that doesn't seem to be anywhere else. But that seems to be the exception more than the rule. I generally go to the professional and science-based journals/news outlets to find new info of great concern. Even when I go to news outlets of specific countries (in Africa and Europe, for instance) the news often seems so sanitized. Capitalism/neofascism at work.
freebear
5 years ago
Free speech in some political circles (e.g. City of Campbell River) doesn't matter as they appear to be beholdern to the 'silent majority' !!!!!!!!
Except of course at election time when politicians want the silent majority to speak up by voting for them!
gasworks
5 years ago
In China You may speak your mind - BUT ONLY ONCE!
Message for Rafe: The salmon are spawning off the end of my wharf (20 odd miles short of their destination).
Although their fins are sticking out of the luke-warm foot of water available to them, I can't see any sea lice on them.
rkewen
5 years ago
gasworks, you are obviously one of the people not interested in the fish farm/sea lice issue as you clearly pay no attention. I'll type real slow here, just for you - the lice are a threat (a real actually demonstrable threat, documented by ACTUAL scientists) to the fingerlings coming down from where they were born to go to sea to grow up. Lice are merely a minor annoyance to mature full grown salmon to my knowledge.
rkewen
5 years ago
And in the natural order of things there aren't mature (not to mention over medicated etc.) large salmon hanging out at the river mouth (to harbor lice) when the fingerlings hit the salt chuck!
rkewen
5 years ago
Perhaps the answer is to have the fish farm pens way offshore, like half way to Hawaii! It could be like a camp job or oil rig gig for the workers.
gasworks
5 years ago
Lucky for me that I don't care what you think rkewen. (whatever)
G West
5 years ago
gasworks
unlucky for you that you don't actually 'think'!
gasworks
5 years ago
I think your reponse was lame.
gasworks
5 years ago
Er response
G West
5 years ago
If it were possible, gasworks, to post a comment of just 3 letters, I'd type
Q E D
doggone
5 years ago
Still loosing posts- is it just me?
Maybe I forget to "post Comment" before "logging out" but I have been watching lately. Maybe my (generally short) posts are deleted as nonsense - I imagine I'm careful not to post obscene or offensive content but who knows exactly what those are nowadays.
Sea lice and gags: I'm not sure which one is more important (or the topic of this thread) but selected "experts" and I have noticed an uptick in the frequency of both.
haraldkann
5 years ago
Still loosing posts- is it just me?
I use Firefox and sometimes lose posts and as you can see from the QUOTE,there are other problems.
On Explorer the popup control will have an effect on Posting.Of course you should always chech your security settings.
gasworks
5 years ago
Qed..................
Percy
5 years ago
http://www3.telus.net/chriskempling/pages/UNSpeech.html
Yikes! No free speech for Canadians!
Alcibiades
5 years ago
Pretty old stuff percy - I think most of these cases have either gone to court or to a human rights commission and been decided.
I think the guy with the sign was violating a legally-established bumper zone and was therefore a lawbreaker for another reason.
The others, I'm not so sure and I think the one about the church hall was also 'settled' and a better solution proposed which did not violate the 'right' of a religious group to rent/or not to the people it wanted to.
Nor the rights of gay people to get married either.
You should check it out!
Percy
5 years ago
That's right, Alcibiades, most of them have resulted in prosecution and fines being levied against individual for religious beliefs and behaviours. It shows a distressing legal trend to silenced speech. That's Rafe's point, too.
Alcibiades
5 years ago
The law is the law Percy.
There are a variety of issues involved. No one should be pushing their religious values in others' faces.
Buy a billboard but stay away from women who are trying to deal with a problem in the best way they can. What these people were doing (relative to abortion providers) was an attempt to harass and intimidate.
In my view, it's not a free speech issue.
Percy
5 years ago
Thanks, Alcibiades, since none of the cases cited dealth with abortion, I'm assuming you didn't bother to read the post you were criticizing.