Western Standar is being Sued

[scribblet]

Note that Muslims are also suing Denmark. This is nothing but a blatant attempt to stop free speech, if they win this and other suits, the funamentalists an proponants of a theocratic Islamic society will win.

http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2...rn_standar.html

Earlier this month, the Western Standard was sued in human rights court for publishing the Danish cartoons. It's been ten years since I've graduated from law school, and I've never seen a more frivolous, vexatious, infantile suit than this.

But that's the point -- this complaint is not about beating us in the law. Freedom of speech is still in our constitution; we'll win in the end. It's a nuisance suit, designed to grind us down, cost us money, and serve as a warning to other, more timid media.

The hand-written scrawl and the spelling errors were what first disgusted me with the suit; but the arguments were what really got me. The complainant, Imam Syed Soharwardy, a former professor at an anti-Semitic university in Saudi Arabia, doesn't just argue that we shouldn't have published the cartoons. He argues that we shouldn't be able to defend our right to publish the cartoons. The bulk of his complaint was that we dared to try to justify it.

He argues that advocating a free press should be a thought crime.

[Newfie Canadian]

While I agree that the Western Standard has the right to publish the cartoons, I equally believe that they (and by they I mean Ezra Levant) failed in their responsibilty to perform responsible journalism. There was no need to publish the cartoon, and I have to wonder if it was just an attempt to draw to themselves some publicity.

[gerryhatrick]

Poor Ezra. How he suffers.

[Leader Circle]

I think the Western Standard did the right thing by publishing those cartoons, but after seeing them, I saw nothing worth rioting over, let alone getting mad over. I have seen depictions of Jesus much worse than this, yet do you see any Christians burning other country's flags or threatening to kill the artist?

The lawsuit is so fruitless, if any court recognizes it they are bigger idiots than the muslims throwing a fit over these cartoons.

The Western Standard & Ezra Levant are definitely looking for recognition, but why not? They are delivering the news and as a upstart magazine, they are obviously going to go for the bigger news stories to get more subscriptions. If people boycott their magazine, it just gives them a bigger headline.

I for one support the magazine and will renew my subscription when it runs out. I did not subscribe for this, I started subscribing when the Libranos story hit. That was their first big hit and they'll continue to grow if the play a little on the edge!

[scribblet]

I think the Western Standard did the right thing by publishing those cartoons, but after seeing them, I saw nothing worth rioting over, let alone getting mad over. I have seen depictions of Jesus much worse than this, yet do you see any Christians burning other country's flags or threatening to kill the artist?

The lawsuit is so fruitless, if any court recognizes it they are bigger idiots than the muslims throwing a fit over these cartoons.

The Western Standard & Ezra Levant are definitely looking for recognition, but why not? They are delivering the news and as a upstart magazine, they are obviously going to go for the bigger news stories to get more subscriptions. If people boycott their magazine, it just gives them a bigger headline.

I for one support the magazine and will renew my subscription when it runs out. I did not subscribe for this, I started subscribing when the Libranos story hit. That was their first big hit and they'll continue to grow if the play a little on the edge!

Ezra has my $$ on this one !!!

[Wilber]

As far as I am concerned the Standard was the only responsible media outlet in the country when it comes to this issue. Instead of telling us that we should take their word as to what we should be allowed to see like the rest of the country's media, they let us judge for ourselves.

The rest of the the media in this country is big on talking about their freedoms but as soon as they think they may have to bear some kind of cost in order to stick up for those freedoms, they turn yellow and their principles vanish.

This is typical of what radical Islam is doing throughout the world. If something is said that reflects on them in any sort of negative manner, have a few riots, kill, or threaten to kill anyone who says anything negative about you and people start running scared, including our so called guardians of free speech. All except one anyway.

[Hicksey]

I was insulted at work last night ... I think I'll wait to see what happens here to decide whether I should sue.

[Guest Warwick Green]

What a price we are paying for promoting "multi-culturalism". Every time some group gets offended it yells "hate speech".

[geoffrey]

It's not this story but most stories in the news.

Journalism has become mostly opinion and not a lot of fact, in most stories. When they label things as 'offensive cartoons' or 'horrific violence' that is their opinion. I don't neccessarily share that opinion.

Journalists in general treat the public like babies, or under their level of education. Well, most journalists I've spoken with aren't that bright, so I'd really hope most people have the sense to ignore their forcefeeding of opinion to the Canadian public.

Good for Ezra to show the cartoons and let people MAKE UP THEIR OWN MIND. That is not allowed in Canadian journalism, and now he's going to pay for it, through the costs of his legal defense.

The only paper I subscribe to now is the National Post, and thats only to read the Financial Post, which is normally on subjects that don't illict much opinion.

[JerrySeinfeld]

Note that Muslims are also suing Denmark. This is nothing but a blatant attempt to stop free speech, if they win this and other suits, the funamentalists an proponants of a theocratic Islamic society will win.

http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2...rn_standar.html

Earlier this month, the Western Standard was sued in human rights court for publishing the Danish cartoons. It's been ten years since I've graduated from law school, and I've never seen a more frivolous, vexatious, infantile suit than this.

But that's the point -- this complaint is not about beating us in the law. Freedom of speech is still in our constitution; we'll win in the end. It's a nuisance suit, designed to grind us down, cost us money, and serve as a warning to other, more timid media.

The hand-written scrawl and the spelling errors were what first disgusted me with the suit; but the arguments were what really got me. The complainant, Imam Syed Soharwardy, a former professor at an anti-Semitic university in Saudi Arabia, doesn't just argue that we shouldn't have published the cartoons. He argues that we shouldn't be able to defend our right to publish the cartoons. The bulk of his complaint was that we dared to try to justify it.

He argues that advocating a free press should be a thought crime.

I'm throwing a few bucks to them in support.

But the real tragedy here is that this Muslim imam (very hard to remember Islamic names off the cuff - but I have a feeling we'll all get better at it. I can say "abu-musab-al-zarqawi" without a stutter now!)

anyway - thet tragedy is that this imam truly in his heart believes that he should have the right to shut Ezra up. That's what's truly scary, is that some imams in this country believe they have the right to curtain free speech in the name of their religion - which all of a sudden begins to sound very much like the muslim countries in the middle east. And the even SCARIER part is that there are plenty of lefty Canadians who can't wait to stand beside him on this.

Canada is NOT the middle east. We are a free society with freedom of the press.

[justcrowing]

Note that Muslims are also suing Denmark. This is nothing but a blatant attempt to stop free speech, if they win this and other suits, the funamentalists an proponants of a theocratic Islamic society will win.

http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2...rn_standar.html

Earlier this month, the Western Standard was sued in human rights court for publishing the Danish cartoons. It's been ten years since I've graduated from law school, and I've never seen a more frivolous, vexatious, infantile suit than this.

But that's the point -- this complaint is not about beating us in the law. Freedom of speech is still in our constitution; we'll win in the end. It's a nuisance suit, designed to grind us down, cost us money, and serve as a warning to other, more timid media.

The hand-written scrawl and the spelling errors were what first disgusted me with the suit; but the arguments were what really got me. The complainant, Imam Syed Soharwardy, a former professor at an anti-Semitic university in Saudi Arabia, doesn't just argue that we shouldn't have published the cartoons. He argues that we shouldn't be able to defend our right to publish the cartoons. The bulk of his complaint was that we dared to try to justify it.

He argues that advocating a free press should be a thought crime.

I'm throwing a few bucks to them in support.

But the real tragedy here is that this Muslim imam (very hard to remember Islamic names off the cuff - but I have a feeling we'll all get better at it. I can say "abu-musab-al-zarqawi" without a stutter now!)

anyway - thet tragedy is that this imam truly in his heart believes that he should have the right to shut Ezra up. That's what's truly scary, is that some imams in this country believe they have the right to curtain free speech in the name of their religion - which all of a sudden begins to sound very much like the muslim countries in the middle east. And the even SCARIER part is that there are plenty of lefty Canadians who can't wait to stand beside him on this.

Canada is NOT the middle east. We are a free society with freedom of the press.

It probably won't be long before Canada is the Middle East only will be called Middle West and we will no longer have freedom of speach nor freedoms we think we currently have - wanna bet the next thing that these people will go after is our Charter because in some way it will inferfere with the Koran. Enjoy what is left of this country while you can. Bye.

[Black Dog]

Hee hee. Ezra's playing you. First, he ran the cartoons as a publicity stunt and now he's trying to get the gullible right to foot the legal bill from the predictable results. Me, I'm gonna donate a million bucks. Thing is I need a bank, so if any of you could send me your bank account number, I promise you'll get a cut.

[JerrySeinfeld]

Hee hee. Ezra's playing you. First, he ran the cartoons as a publicity stunt and now he's trying to get the gullible right to foot the legal bill from the predictable results. Me, I'm gonna donate a million bucks. Thing is I need a bank, so if any of you could send me your bank account number, I promise you'll get a cut.

Right wingers put their money where there mouth is, i'll give you that. Notice all the people on this post willing to support the right of free speech with their pocketbooks - something lefties only dream of doing.

[Black Dog]

Right wingers put their money where there mouth is, i'll give you that. Notice all the people on this post willing to support the right of free speech with their pocketbooks - something lefties only dream of doing.

I'm sure Ezra will enjoy a big fat steak thanks to your convictions. Sucker.

[JerrySeinfeld]

Right wingers put their money where there mouth is, i'll give you that. Notice all the people on this post willing to support the right of free speech with their pocketbooks - something lefties only dream of doing.

I'm sure Ezra will enjoy a big fat steak thanks to your convictions. Sucker.

I hope so. I hope his magazine is wildly successful. A fitting reward for a brave soul.

[Black Dog]

I hope so. I hope his magazine is wildly successful. A fitting reward for a brave soul.

Again, the coffee comes out. "Brave soul". Bwah ha ha.

[Wilber]

Hee hee. Ezra's playing you. First, he ran the cartoons as a publicity stunt and now he's trying to get the gullible right to foot the legal bill from the predictable results. Me, I'm gonna donate a million bucks. Thing is I need a bank, so if any of you could send me your bank account number, I promise you'll get a cut.

His magazine was the only media outlet in North America with the balls to run them. The only other place a North American could see them and judge for themselves was in some foreign media outlets where they are still willing to practice what they preach even if it means risking some religious nut case shooting them down in the street.

The gutless wonders in our part of the world have to put Ezra down because he has shown them up for what they are. Spineless.

[Riverwind]

His magazine was the only media outlet in North America with the balls to run them.

Does not change the fact that his primary motivation was to get free advertizing for his rag.

The only other place a North American could see them and judge for themselves

Anyone who wanted to could access an internet station and see the cartoons. In fact, most people would find it easier to see them on the internet than to find a copy of the western standard.

The gutless wonders in our part of the world have to put Ezra down because he has shown them up for what they are.

I think the law suit is bogus. Erza is guilty of being a jerk - not hate crimes.

[Black Dog]

His magazine was the only media outlet in North America with the balls to run them. The only other place a North American could see them and judge for themselves was in some foreign media outlets where they are still willing to practice what they preach even if it means risking some religious nut case shooting them down in the street.

The gutless wonders in our part of the world have to put Ezra down because he has shown them up for what they are. Spineless.

And how many media people have been "shot down in the street" here in the west as a result? Zero. Face it: the chance of Ezra being any any physical danger here is astonishingly low. So, I'm not really sure how performing an action that presents no risk to you in any way can possibly be construed as brave. Shit: my daily Starbucks trek is more hazard filled: I guess that makes me a big hero too.

Ezra is, overall, a worthless little snotball, but I gotta hand it to him: he knows how to play the rubes.

Anyone who wanted to could access an internet station and see the cartoons. In fact, most people would find it easier to see them on the internet than to find a copy of the western standard.

It's funny 'cause it's true.

[Wilber]

His magazine was the only media outlet in North America with the balls to run them. The only other place a North American could see them and judge for themselves was in some foreign media outlets where they are still willing to practice what they preach even if it means risking some religious nut case shooting them down in the street.

The gutless wonders in our part of the world have to put Ezra down because he has shown them up for what they are. Spineless.

And how many media people have been "shot down in the street" here in the west as a result? Zero. Face it: the chance of Ezra being any any physical danger here is astonishingly low. So, I'm not really sure how performing an action that presents no risk to you in any way can possibly be construed as brave. Shit: my daily Starbucks trek is more hazard filled: I guess that makes me a big hero too.

Ezra is, overall, a worthless little snotball, but I gotta hand it to him: he knows how to play the rubes.

Anyone who wanted to could access an internet station and see the cartoons. In fact, most people would find it easier to see them on the internet than to find a copy of the western standard.

It's funny 'cause it's true.

Here is one

How many others such as Salman Rushdie have fatwa's hanging over their head making them fair game for any screwball who wants to make a name for himself for Islam?

Yes, anyone could go on to the internet to see the cartoons as long as it wasn't a Canadian site. Our betters (I guess you must be one of them) consider it too dangerous for Canadians to decide for themselves.

If someone goes out of their way to keep me informed, I appreciate it even if his motives are somewhat self serving. If he has to go against the grain to do it, I appreciate it even more. You seem to come from the "shoot the messenger" school.

[Wilber]

Try this

[Argus]

While I agree that the Western Standard has the right to publish the cartoons, I equally believe that they (and by they I mean Ezra Levant) failed in their responsibilty to perform responsible journalism. There was no need to publish the cartoon, and I have to wonder if it was just an attempt to draw to themselves some publicity.

I disagree entirely. The failure of responsible journalism came from the rest of the mainstream media in Canada who were either too frightened of physical attacks, or more likely, too frightened of being thought to be offensive to a minority group, to print cartoons which formed the entire basis for an international story which gripped headlines for weeks.

If responsible journalism means caving into shrill, radical religious groups then the mainstream press is certainly responsible.

I just define the word differently.

[geoffrey]

Newspapers should have all shown the cartoons. How can you make a judgement about something you've never seen? So many people are willing to just bend to the suggestions that any journalist makes on a topic. Because they say they are offensive, thats good enough.

You all have way too much faith in journalists.

[Montgomery Burns]

Ezra Levant, publisher of the Western Standard. speaks out.

I think you will find his response interesting. Syed Soharwardy, the Calgary Muslim imam, was turned down flat by the police but the Alberta Human Rights Commission accepted his complaint. Alberta tax dollars will pay for the prosecution of his complaint, while the Western Standard will get stuck with a $75,000 legal bill.

That's grossly unfair. :angry:

[Riverwind]

Alberta tax dollars will pay for the prosecution of his complaint, while the Western Standard will get stuck with a $75,000 legal bill.

Monty, that is a first - I actually agree with you completely on something. The human rights tribuals should fund both sides or neither - preferably neither.