A Laboratory for Bad Ideas

Ezra Levant is the Canadian who, while he was publisher of the Western Standard , printed some of the Danish cartoons that depicted Muhammad—and then got hauled before the Canadian human-rights commissions, accused of crimes of insensitivity. (Levant’s case, along with that of the America Alone author Mark Steyn, is chronicled in “Kangaroo Canada,” an article by Douglas Farrow in the new issue of First Things ).

On Friday, Levant spoke to members of the U.S. Congress , warning that the Canadian human-rights commissions were a dangerous and destructive force. “So why should Americans care? I can think of three reasons.” Levant explained:

1. Americans should care because Americans have always cared about liberty around the world, especially political and religious liberty. It is one of America’s greatest characteristics: a love for the well-being of other countries. Being a Good Samaritan is in your nature, and the world is freer because of it.

2. America should care because what happens in Europe and Canada soon comes—or tries to come—to the U.S. When it comes to censorship, we’re a laboratory for bad ideas. And the coalition between foreign trouble-makers and domestic busy-bodies is an idea that is spreading here, too.

3. Despite your First Amendment, human rights commissions are popping up all over the U.S. The city of Philadelphia’ s “human relations” commission has a staff of 33, and a multi-million dollar budget. Last year, they prosecuted Geno’s Steak House because they put up a sign asking customers to order their Philly Cheese Steaks in English. We might agree with Geno’s sign or disagree. But to have a government agency prosecute them is a threat to the First Amendment. And, if it’s a steak house today, it could be a news magazine tomorrow. And if it’s do-gooders today, I can assure you it won’t be for long.