Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Unfortunately, I have not been able to attend the interesting, highly pertinent lectures provided by the INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OF MONTREAL. This lecture by Prof. March at St. Mary's University in Halifax was given last week at Concordia University. My thanks to the dauntless and eloquent Mr. Beryl Wajsman for sending me the following link:

On Islam and Democracy:

"George Bernard Shaw wrote that “Liberty demands responsibility. That’s why so many dread it.” Peter March doesn’t dread it. He embraces it. When political, media and academic leaders were falling over themselves pandering to radical Islamists over the Mohammed cartoon affair, Peter March stood firm, acted boldly and spoke truth to power. He made clear that freedom of expression is indivisible. That it is the shield of the free and the staff of the just. And that no attempt at compromising this most sacred of our public trusts for the sake of appeasing the violent enemies of liberty can ever be justified.

A Professor of logic at St. Mary’s University in Halifax, March posted copies of the Mohammed cartoons on his office door as both a statement of academic freedom and a protest against those seeking to stifle even any debate on campuses on the egregiously violent Islamist reactions to their original publication. Though told by administrative officials to take them down, March persisted and all complaints against him have been dropped. March said at the time "I feel threatened by the crowds around the world shaking fists, shaking sticks, burning things down," he says. "I wish to make my stand, that here in Canada that won't wash." And just as he took a stand then, we should stand with him now. "

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home