Although I consider myself some kind of Marxist, on issues such as free speech I have always defended what I consider to be the classic liberal position of authors such as John Stuart Mill. It has astounded me that people who call themselves liberals have helped pass anti-hate speech laws. These laws do nothing to prevent hatreds of groups and races but simply drive it underground. These laws along with a general climate of political correctness allow people as far apart as Zionists and Islamists to set rather strict parameters on free speech.
Of course no one will charge anyone for hate speech against Iran or Nazis or the Taliban or terrorists. Anything goes.
In this case we have a member of a very weak marginal group being harassed and now charged using all the power of the state and the legal system for expressing views that are rejected by the vast majority of people everywhere and are no immediate danger to anyone distasteful as they may be. This is a sad reflection on the state of our rights ot free speech.
Police charge Regina man with promoting hatred online
Last Updated: Thursday, January 24, 2008 2:46 PM CT
CBC News
A 59-year-old former University of Saskatchewan instructor has been charged with promoting hatred using the internet.
Terrence Cecil Tremaine was arrested Wednesday by Regina police.
Terrence Tremaine, charged with promoting hate over the internet, is scheduled to be in court next on Feb. 25.
Police allege web postings dating back to 2004 violate a section of the Criminal Code dealing with promotion of hatred.
Last February, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal found that Tremaine had for years posted "numerous hate messages" on websites.
Some of the postings referred to Jews as "parasites" and "vermin," and called for the expulsion of Jews and non-white people from Canada, the tribunal ruled.
Tremaine calls himself a "white nationalist." In June, he told CBC he should be free to share his views without being prosecuted.
His first court appearance is Feb. 25. Regina police spokeswoman Elizabeth Popowich said the investigation began in July 2006.
"It also included execution of a search warrant in June of 2007," she said.
Tremaine, who taught a math course in Melfort in 2005 but no longer works for the university, was released after being charged.
Police allege that between Feb. 1, 2004, and last Nov. 1, Tremaine promoted hatred against an identifiable group via internet postings.
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