Trudeau and free speech

Re: Trudeau just doesn't get liberalism, Kaveh Shahrooz, Nov. 3

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's comments on the terrorist attacks in France are consistent with the belief of so-called “progressives” that Canada should remain neutral to retain its role as an honest broker in international affairs, a line of thought that's been consistently advocated by various Canadian governments.

While outlining many good ideas, your recent series of articles under “A Serious Canada” hasn't addressed the question: Is Canada either a serious country or does it desires to be one? Under the present government, the answer is no, but it runs deeper than that.

Over the past 50 years, the combined vote totals of progressive parties (Liberal, NDP, Green) has exceeded 50 per cent of the vote in 12 of the past 15 elections (it was 56 per cent last year), with the Liberals forming the government for 32 of those 50 years. Trudeau's remarks illuminate the self-defeating nature of the progressive mindset, but what does it say about this country, that a majority of its voters seem to share his world view?

Gary Krieger, North York, Ont.

Justin Trudeau's advice on free speech — that we need to act with respect and not arbitrarily and unnecessarily injure others — is not compatible with the concept of what free speech is.

Free speech is under attack everywhere, notably at our universities, where taking offence to what someone has said or written, has achieved the status of being a required university course. However it's not just universities, but in all aspects of our life, where taking offence to what is said or written is commonplace.

The fatherly lecture by Trudeau is understandable, as he has grown accustomed to delivering such lectures on a daily basis for many months now, concerning what we should be doing about the coronavirus pandemic.

However limits doesn't mean you can't criticize, make light of, disagree with or otherwise reject a religion, a belief, a position or a particular view. Trudeau's comments suggest that we exercise a form of censorship, which is the exact opposite of free speech.

Jeff Spooner, Kinburn, Ont.

Prime Minister Trudeau clearly affirmed: “Freedom of expression is not without limits. We owe it to ourselves to act with respect for others and to seek not to arbitrarily or unnecessarily injure those with whom we are sharing a society and a planet.” I look forward to Trudeau leading the Liberal party in the introduction of a nationwide ban on Twitter. Because, under the PM's logic, Twitter, with its inherent toxic tendencies, has gotta go.

John P. A. Budreski, Vancouver

You can shout “Fire!” in a crowded theatre if it is on fire.

Looks like France and other parts of Europe are on fire.

Stephen Burns, Toronto