The Swift Justice of the Trash Can

The free speech crowd should like this result:

Canadian Press: A Saskatoon judge acquitted former aboriginal leader David Ahenakew Monday of wilfully promoting hatred against Jews.

The former head of the Assembly of First Nations was charged after a controversial speech and subsequent interview with a reporter more than six years ago. In the interview he called them a "disease" and appeared to justify the Holocaust.

Provincial court Judge Wilfred Tucker said the comments were disgusting but he didn't believe Ahenakew intended to promote hatred.

Fine by me, though this story's reporter is hedging: Ahenakew didn't "appear" to justify the Holocaust. He downright did, and in plain language, too. He said, "The Jews damn near owned all of Germany prior to the war. That's how Hitler came in. He was going to make damn sure that the Jews didn't take over Germany or Europe...That's why he fried six million of those guys, you know. Jews would have owned the God-damned world."

You know why I don't like hate speech laws? Because they send these clowns underground. I like to know what people are thinking, and the only way to know it is to hear them speak. Let them rant all the live long day. That lets me know who I should keep my eye on.

Actually, that last statement of mine is a little over the top. Do I know there's Holocaust denying bigots in Canada? Sure. Do I care? Not really. There's all kinds of goofballs walking around. Some hate Jews, some hate Christians, some hate Muslims, some wear tinfoil, some want to live on Andromeda 5 in the Doppleloopy Nebula.

I'm reminded of a story from PJ O'Rourke. He was visiting his old college campus and paid a visit to the student newspaper office. He was amused to see the editors going back and forth over whether or not to publish a piece written by a student denying the Holocaust.

Some of the editors were disturbed by the content and said it shouldn't run. It was racist and vile. Others said it had to be published because it was free speech and the student had a right to his opinion. The First Amendment was at stake. Earnest handwringing followed. They didn't know what to do with it. O'Rourke wondered why they just didn't throw it in the garbage because it was a "piece of shit."