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Shakedown: How Our Government Is Undermining Democracy In The Name Of Human Rights (2009)

by Ezra Levant(Favorite Author)

3.92 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0771046189 (ISBN13: 9780771046186)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

McClelland & Stewart

review 1: In Shakedown: How our Government is Undermining Democracy in the Name of Human Rights Ezra Levant writes that, “human rights commissions were a beautiful idea – that failed.” The Human Rights Commissions (HRCs) in Canada were created with the purpose of protecting victims of discrimination with, “a quick, low-cost means to fight back against bigoted landlords, employers and storeowners.” Levant counters this by arguing that the decreases in bigotry in society caused the HRCs in Canada to shift focus away from protecting human rights to becoming an ideologically driven, politically correct, thought police. Furthermore, Levant argues that the roles of HRCs have become so redundant in a society of acceptance, that in an attempt to justify their jobs and governmen... moret expenditures HRCs accept increasingly ridiculous human rights cases or ‘nuisance cases’ to prosecute. Nuisance cases such as the one against Ezra Levant and The Western Standard for publishing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in accompaniment with a news piece on the controversy faced by the original publishers of the cartoons the Danish paper Jyllands-Posten. Because of his action, Levant and The Western Standard was charged by Alberta’s HRC under the hate speech provision Section 13. Section 13 is a problematic provision within the Canadian Human Rights Act which makes it illegal to say or publish anything, “that is likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt by reasons of the fact that that person or those persons are identifiable on the basis of [his group status].” Levant is quick to point out that one need not actually provoke hatred or discrimination but rather merely cause the possibility of hatred or discrimination. As a result, Section 13 has a 100 per cent conviction rate. The wording of Section 13 means that the intent of the individual speaker need not be taken into account, only whether their actions can be misconstrued into inciting violence. Additionally, those faced with Section 13 charges often plead guilty to avoid the lengthy court proceedings and large expense incurred through fighting. Unlike other lawsuits which demand you pay part if not all of the fees for the opposing side the HRC has no such caveat. Moreover, unlike the criminal court where one can expect a speedy trial the HRCs can drag out proceedings for months if not years. Quite simply, to go through the HRC tribunal process is punishment enough. A legal nightmare that can financially ruin an individual as “Fewer than 10 per cent of all Section 13 targets were able to afford the five- or six-figure price tag to engage a lawyer for the lengthy HRC process.” Despite his completely valid point on the problematic Section 13 Levant’s message of corrupt bureaucratic actions within Canadian HRCs is lost through his abrasive rhetoric. As a white upper class, educated male Levant comes from a privileged position. As such, it is easy to claim that discrimination is on the decline when the odds of encountering such discrimination are slim. In a society of increasing acceptance, Levant questions the validity of HRCs. Although he is more than willing to provide ludicrous examples of HRC mismanagement and bureaucratic red tape, he neglects to mention any positive cases of true discrimination that HRCs have dealt with. Perhaps valid cases worthy of the HRCs attention are on the decline but does that mean they have ceased to exist? By cherry picking examples of misconduct, Levant provides a skewed representation of HRCs in Canada. The narrative of Canada’s HRCs would be better served by profiling a single province’s human rights complaints in the span of a year and single out the number of nuisance cases versus valid ones. This would provide a much clearer representation of the state of human rights in Canada. Another issue is Levant’s depiction of the individuals who bring complaints to HRCs which borders on character assassination. His bias against Syed Soharwardy is unashamedly obvious as he piles accusation after accusation of Soharwardy’s ties to radical Islam. Levant’s blatant fear mongering stating Soharwardy’s desire to replace the Canadian constitution with the Koran displays his anti-Islamic sentiment. Furthermore, Levant’s clear distaste for Muslims brings into question the validity of the Alberta’s HRC inquiry. At his trial Levant was asked by human rights officer Shirlene McGovern what his intent and purpose was in publishing his article. He argues that what his thoughts where at the time of publishing was irreverent and that the article itself displayed its reasoning behind publication however Levant’s virulent anti-Islamic sentiment portrayed throughout his book brings into serious question his intent. Despite the inherent problems with Levant’s rhetoric, he highlights some very real issues present with the HRCs namely Section 13 which has come under considerable scrutiny in the past years. The presence of nuisance cases and their acceptance into HRCs legal proceedings is indeed troubling. The absence of ‘loser pays’ caveats make nuisance claims more appealing to habitual complainers and perhaps accounts for their prevalence. Additionally, the patently unfair legal advantage given to complainants means only the largest corporation or individual with considerable means can fight their accusations. The purpose of HRCs was to assist individuals from discrimination and the legal process faced by small business owners and other individuals can only be described as a discrimination of its own sort.
review 2: Ezra Levant has sounded the alarm on the most serious and potentially disastrous issue in Canadian politics today - the regression and repression of the basic and natural freedom to think and say what we jolly-well please. Ezra blows the whistle on the Canadian thought police, arguing the federal and provincial/territorial "human rights" commissions have grossly overstepped their well-intentioned original purpose.Along with telling his own horror story of being dragged through Alberta's opinion-inquisition for 3+ years, Levant documents numerous cases where radical leftist or Islamic zealots as well as opportunists looking for an easy buck, have used these "kangaroo courts" to punish law-abiding Canadian citizens for their political or religious views and corporations for their business decisions. Levant makes a convincing and water-tight argument that these unelected, unaccountable, secretive, underhanded, unscrupulous, grossly-powerful, usually untrained, and tax-payer funded bureaucratic thought police have become the vehicle of choice of radical groups or individuals looking to advance their own pet agendas and take out anyone whose thoughts or opinions might stand against them. If we don't believe in the freedom of thought, speech and conviction for people that offend us or that we disagree with, then we don't really believe in those fundamental freedoms at all.This book is the most important book Canadians can read right now about their government. If what Levant says about the "human rights commissions" in Canada doesn't make you mad enough to demand of your provincial and federal representatives that the HRCs be abolished or, at minimum, severely reformed, you're probably one of the few freedom-hating Canadians currently milking the system for personal fame and fortune. Canadians need to stand up with Ezra Levant and demand that we let people's opinions fend for themselves in the market place of ideas rather than let a small and sordid group of social engineers with a messiah complex try to save their fellow Canadians from themselves.Well researched, lively and engaging, I'd buy the book for the introduction by Mark Steyn alone (and don't neglect reading the appendices). You may disagree with Levant's political opinions but if you don't agree with his defense of our freedom to think and opine as we please, there may come a day in the not-to-distant future when you no longer have the freedom to disagree. less

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