Censorship and satire

George Jonas, NP:

The Roman poet Juvenal remarked that it’s hard not to write satire. Things have gone downhill since then. By now it’s hard not to write slapstick comedy.

Take this week, which began with a Canadian academic haughtily reminding a visiting American firebrand of the respect and civility that’s the hallmark of public discourse in this country,

“There is a strong tradition in Canada … of restraint, respect and consideration,” wrote University of Ottawa provost François Houle to enfant terrible Ann Coulter, urging her “to respect that Canadian tradition while on our campus.”

This was on Monday. On Tuesday, a howling mob demonstrated Canada’s commitment to restraint and respect by blocking Coulter (and those who came to hear her) from entering a lecture hall on campus.

The only group exhibiting Canadian-style restraint was the police.

[...]

I don’t think that remark about the police is fair at all. Why if the speaker had been Henry Morgentaler and the crowd a group of pro-lifers peacefully protesting his speech then I ‘allege’ [for legal reasons] the cops ‘may’ [for legal reasons] have beaten the crowd senseless and carted them off in paddy wagons.  Just … kidding.

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