Category: Conservative politics

Today marks the 50th anniversary of when the Berlin wall, started construction and subsequently became a symbol of Communist oppression.

“Fifty years ago, the world saw Germany divided in two, with Berlin severed by the construction of the Berlin Wall, with the West retaining its rights and freedoms and the East succumbing to Communist oppression.

“The Berlin Wall became symbolic of division in the 20th Century – an imposing cement slab that became an integral part of the Iron Curtain between Western Europe and the Eastern Bloc. It also became a symbol of tyranny and evil as many innocent people fleeing communism were gunned down in their attempt to find freedom on the other side of the Wall in West Berlin.

“During the Cold War, many apologists for the Communist regime tried to convince the world that their ideology was superior. Fortunately, talented and courageous artists, writers and ordinary citizens were able to expose that what went on behind the Wall ran counter to all the ideals the West had fought for and the truth began to trickle out.

“Canada is proud to have stood with those who opposed all that the Berlin Wall came to represent. We are also proud to have welcomed, over the years, people who escaped Communist oppression, including those who fled the Soviet Union’s brutal crackdowns in central Europe in the 1950s and 1960s.

Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper

I’m glad our Prime Minister mentioned,  the apologists for communism who try to paint a sympathetic portrait of a tyrannical regime.

Tonight Ezra Levant is exploring the impact of a little-known quasi judicial body. The Canadian broadcast standards Council. Its job is to self regulate television and radio broadcasts throughout Canada. Now, I’ve always been a bit weary of a group of appointed.  literati telling Canadians what constitutes  acceptable and unacceptable speech in Canada.

Of course no one would dispute that any community needs a general outline of best practices.  However, when good intentions are cloaked in the supple hand of agenda driven politics, That’s when Canadians should start asking  question’s . For example, one of the clauses in the code of conduct for the CBSC, subtly slips in  the concept of a fairness doctrine.

Clause 6 – Full, Fair and Proper Presentation

It is recognized that the full, fair and proper presentation of news, opinion, comment and editorial is the prime and fundamental responsibility of each broadcaster. This principle shall apply to all radio and television programming, whether it relates to news, public affairs, magazine, talk, call-in, interview or other broadcasting formats in which news, opinion, comment or editorial may be expressed by broadcaster employees, their invited guests or callers.

The idea that a distant Mandarin in Ottawa or Toronto can self regulate a entire industry when the way Canadians are consuming media is drastically changing almost seems quaint. Finally, I will leave the last words to Milton Friedman.