CKNW Editorial
for October 15, 1999

The easiest thing in the world is to be in favour of free speech when you agree with what is being said. It’s also pretty easy when what is being said doesn’t really go to the root of your life philosophy. Free speech becomes tougher to bear when it is not only contrary to what you believe but you are afraid it might convert people to the despised view point. This sort of fear, of course, comes from a well placed fear of your own that your philosophy doesn’t stand up to rational examination.

If the pollsters are right, the majority listening now favour abortion on demand. A minority, which I support, does not. For the purposes of what I’m about to say it matters not what any of us think about the abortion issue for the issue is free speech.

The facts, briefly, are these. A small group of pro-life students at the University of British Columbia wanted to invite a group called Genocide Awareness Project to campus for a project which included displaying two meter high (that’s a bit more than 6 feet) photos of aborted fetuses alongside holocaust victims to make, obviously, their point that killing fetuses is akin to a holocaust. Nowhere is it suggested that these photos are not genuine or that they are in any way tampered with. They are stark, and highly unpleasant, but accurate.

The authorities at UBC, through the mouth of vice-president Brian Sullivan, threatened to obtain an injunction against the students and then advised that they would have to post $10,000 per day as against whatever it cost to put down violence and a $5,000 deposit against any damage that the university property might suffer. In other words, they banned the project.

Then the Alma Mater Society, which is the student body, banned the demonstration from The Student Union Building.

The reasons for these decisions?

Ostensibly that this project would cause unrest and that violence might ensue.

And all this at a university – this province’s senior one … at an institution which is supposed to be the bastion of free speech … the place where, traditionally, students are expected to have opinions that are unorthodox in the extreme to say the least.

I am ashamed of the University … which happens to be my Alma Mater. So should we all be irrespective of our views. I would be ashamed of the Alma Mater Society too except I never thought much of them when I was there and have learned nothing since that would change my mind.

What the University is saying is this … even though we respect the right of free speech in the abstract we do not agree with it in practice if it upsets anyone. Moreover, instead of us protecting you, the person who wishes to speak freely, we will punish you for any damage others might cause while interrupting your right to speak. The University, according to material it files in court seeking an injunction to prevent this free speech, said that "UBC had received information that counter protesters planned to overturn cars, throw paint on the fetus photos and burn an American flag." While the sensibilities of this august body for Old Glory are no doubt commendable, the message they are sending is a simple one – any demonstration that is politically incorrect and thus will have the politically correct people all hot and bothered will be banned, or, if not banned, forced to pay enormous sums in advance for damages done by politically correct hoodlums. In short, the University of British Columbia will not protect free speakers but will reward the hooligans by having their damages prepaid by the innocent.

The Alma mater Society is at least more honest in that they state their reasons for their ban. As far as they’re concerned, people who oppose abortion should not be heard. That simple. Why they’re like the Ku Klux Klan … they promote hatred. In the minds of these future pillars of democracy, standing up for the rights of the unborn must be stamped out. You can demonstrate for abortion on demand but not against it. What terrific defenders of what’s left of our fragile democracy they’ll be.

The University of British Columbia needs a thorough shaking up. It has forgotten what universities are all about. What with affirmative action, suppressing of opinion and banning free speech they have about as much respect for democracy as does former President Suharto.

I can only think of one way to get the message out and it is this – all you out there who will defend free speech, even when you hate what is being said or what the speakers stand for … and if you are contemplating a gift, either while you’re alive or by will … pause for a moment … consider the track record of UBC with this inane performance and consider the Apec Conference of 1997 … and having considered these matters I suggest you might wish to give or bequeath your money to Simon Fraser, the University of Victoria, Trinity Western College, the University of the North or to BCIT or a similar college … to an institution of higher learning that understands that political incorrectness at a university is supposed to be a sacrament, not a sin.