A Modest Construct

The Left’s love/hate relationship with Christopher Hitchens (and Christopher Hitchens’ love/hate relationship with the Left) lives on in me. I must say, however, that I not only love his words, but how fiercely dedicated he is to fundamental ideas like free speech. I agree—censorship is bad news, just about any way you slice it.

The following videos are footage taken from a speech that Hitchens gave at Hart House, University of Toronto. The debate, which included members from Canada’s government, was a bill, then in discussions, regarding the decriminalization of hatespeech, insofar as it is protected speech irrespective of its reprehensibility.

I think this is important, because the European Union seems to be considering legislation that would criminalize a variety of forms of speech—anything from Holocaust denial to criticism of religion—and I think this would represent a net loss for the EU. Watch the videos: they’re great.

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