Last year parliamentary page Brigette DePape walked
down the aisle of Parliament and held a sign bearing those very words. She was
fired from the position, but in turn was offered a job by Michael Moore’s
organization. Clearly, she knows how to get a message out.
This past weekend, on the eve of Quebec’s provincial
elections, a small airplane towed a banner advertising a website, Stephen Harper Nous Deteste [Stephen Harper Hates Us]. The RCMP are reported to have
had the plane grounded.
The story doesn’t mention who exactly gave the order, or where it might have originated. It does appear though that the RCMP’s claim of
the plane being in violation of Ottawa air space was likely false. But regardless
of where the order originated, the action taken is one that doesn’t bode well
for freedom of expression in Canada.
Earlier this week, I read an item that spoke to the
dangers of having a leader with too much control. Best I can do is offer my own
paraphrase: When leaders ensure that people cannot speak out against them, the
fabric of that society is threatened, especially when that society is one that
proclaims itself to be free and democratic.
I’m left wondering who might next have their voice muffled
for daring to point out our emperor’s nakedness?
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