In a case similar to the lawsuit filed against Microsoft for indirect support of the Family Research Council, Canada’s National Post has recently apologized for running an ad bought by the Institute for Canadian Values that questions Canada’s curriculum requiring young children from kindergarten to 3rd grade to learn about transsexual, transgender, “intersexed,” and “two-spirited” issues. The preamble:
“The National Post believes strongly in the principle of free speech and open, unhindered debate. We believe unpopular points of view should not be censored simply because some readers may find them disturbing, or even offensive. Free speech does not apply only to views that will not offend anyone.”
The Post makes it’s case:
“Where the ad exceeded the bounds of civil discourse was in its tone and manipulative use of a picture of young girl; in the suggestion that such teaching “corrupts” children, with everything that such a charge implies; and in its singling out of groups of people with whose sexuality the group disagrees.”
How this violates the first statement is not obvious. And instead of working with the Institute for Canadian Values to produce ads in closer conformity to their criteria, the Post will be donating the proceeds from the Institute’s advertisement to an organization that promotes the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people.
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