Who Runs the Place, Anyway?

The squealers do, apparently:

The dangerous precedent here is obvious. Special-interest groups have figured out the formula: get loud, get angry, get abusive, and politicians will fold. It’s the worst kind of reinforcement. Instead of encouraging civil debate or peaceful protest, the hallmarks of a healthy democracy, we’re incentivizing mob tactics.

Take the ongoing pro-Palestine demonstrations. Many of these have crossed the line from peaceful assembly into intimidation, with Jewish families being heckled as they walk to synagogue. That is allowed to proceed under the banner of free expression. But heaven forbid you publicly admit you like Donald Trump. For the record, I don’t like Trump at all. But I’d never belittle someone who does. Respecting another person’s right to their view is the only way pluralism works.

Why does one group get tolerance while another gets silenced? When governments start deciding whose voice gets heard based on popularity or fear of backlash, fairness is dead. And when fairness dies, freedom follows quickly in its wake.

At the heart of this problem is a lack of leadership courage. Politicians at every level of government seem unwilling to stand firm when a loud minority throws a tantrum.

(Sidebar: um, votes.) 

Leadership means making decisions that are right, not just easy. Cancelling an event because protestors threaten trouble is the easy way out. Upholding the principle of free expression while ensuring law and order, that’s the hard path. But it’s the one leaders are elected to walk.

Canada used to pride itself on being a mosaic, a nation where differences weren’t just tolerated but celebrated. 

(Sidebar: I find it adorable that you believe that.) 

But somewhere along the way, we lost sight of that vision. Today, it feels like the new rule is you must agree with me or else. Disagreement isn’t just disagreement anymore: It’s treated as an attack.

 

Emotional retardation is encouraged.

We've seen where this will go.