Silencing the Debate

I returned last week from a trip to Calgary where I did a debate on "Do Objective Moral Truths Exist?" with Dr. John Baker at UC, and also did a talk on pluralism at Mount Royal University entitled, "Is it Intolerant to Say Jesus Is the Only Way?"  It was a sanctioned event sponsored by an authorized campus group and held at a university lecture hall.  However, posters for the event were removed and subsequently forbidden to be posted for the event, so there was virtually no publicity and, consequently, a small turnout.

The university's rationale was two-fold.  First, the title was considered "divisive and negative."  However, since the title was taken from the accusation leveled by students themselves against Christians, one wonders if the University was equally offended by the students who made such "divisive and negative" comments.  The second reason had to do with the wording underneath the title: "Is choosing a religion merely a matter of preference, like chocolate vs. vanilla?  Or is it about something much more serious?"  They objected because they said the statement had "racial overtones."

Here's the kicker:  It was the campus "human rights" watchdog commission that silenced the publicity.

No such difficulty with the debate at UC, though, co-sponsored by the Free-Thinkers club.  That was standing room only.

Comments

[scott klusendorf]

Wow. I debated John Baker in 2001 on abortion and campus pro-aborts did the same thing to me. Still had a great debate with good attendance.

[john]

how tolerant of them

[Gabriel]

My friend put up posters to support adoption at the University of Winnipeg. They were torn down also, and then forbidden to be put up again, because it was a "pro-choice" university.

The posters said something like "Adoption is an option."

They didn't even mention abortion, never mind saying abortion is wrong or murder.

What is offensive about Adoption's an Option?

[Sam]

I agree with Greg. I mean how can somebody claim to be pro-choice if they're so bent on eliminating one of the options?

It's scary what's going on in Canada, and I'm afraid the US is going to become like that.

[Sam]

I mean I agree with Gabriel.

[David Hawkins]

Disgusting...

Students actually enroll at these "schools" to learn something.

Q: What do they learn?

A: Lockstep.

Welcome to anti-education.

[Mike Westfall]

We all take it as a joke when someone talks of Canada invading from the north.

I'm not so sure...

[Adam]

You should read about the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC). Since it's inception, correct me if I'm wrong, it has only successfully prosecuted Christians. The last public figure to be unsuccessfully prosecuted was Ezra Levant, an outspoken Jew who ended up fighting them and most likely winning because of the publicity he received. It's about time Christians started being more outspoken about this. They wouldn't even dream of prosecuting a Muslim for fear of reprisals. We can't even say anything against homosexuality up here without being sued and prosecuted by the CHRC. It's a kangaroo court. If you want more information about the loss of freedoms that is occurring up here check out Ezra's blog: http://www.ezralevant.com/. Another guy who got burned by the CHRC is Mark Steyn, who speaks out against Islamisation.

[Adam]

oh, forgot to mention, you can see a few videos of Ezra Levant (He's a lawyer) lambasting the CHRC in court on YouTube. Just do a search. Man, they picked the wrong guy to mess with.

[David Vanden Enden]

Just watched the Ben Stein film, "Expelled"...scary. It's growingly apparent that "free thinking" or "debate" is a complete and utter farce. What I find most difficult to grasp is how the people that claim certain people are "intolerant bigots", are themselves...incredibly intolerant and completely fail to recognize it in themselves. Truly scary.

[Joe]

Expelled? Scary? Really?

[Tom Taylor]

Although it's sad that the powers that be attempted to silence the officially sanctioned event, it's encouraging that the Free-Thinkers group had a packed house.

Our church has a monthly "Socrates Cafe." Of about three dozen who attend, three-quarters are atheists and agnostics. It's exciting to see that they will engage in thoughtful argument, they will allow the other side to be heard.

Progress has been slow with this group of unbelievers. One former atheist now calls herself a "skeptic." Another former agnostic now refers to herself as simply "confused." One month a newcomer said "When I came today, I was an atheist. Now I don't know what I am."

People are willing to engage in discussion, willing to hear ideas new to them. It's a shame that politically correct university organizations seem bent on pursuing peace rather than truth, and as a result will probably end up with neither.

[John]

Greg,

I was at the debate in Calgary and want to say "Thank You" for the excellent job that you did. I was pleased with the turn out, and pleased that relativism was shown to be as empty of an option that it is.

I was not really surprised that Prof. Baker used moral language, but I was surprised that he didn't get it. He said at one point in the debate, "You have a moral duty to pay taxes" and "You should get rid of moral confidence," both of which are moral statements that he wants to impose on others. He was very morally confident in the moral obligations he wanted to impose on everyone else, but he didn't get it. The fact that he showed up for the debate proved your point.

At any rate, thanks for your time and service to us.

[Chris]

John, just to be nit-picky, it seems as though when Prof. Baker said "you should get rid of moral confidence" he was speaking to a rational should, rather than a moral one.

[Bob Beach]

Chocolate vs. vanilla racist? It seems as though the tolerance is stifling up North..

[Tom]

Any audio from either the debate or lecture?

[anair]

or a video?

[toryninja]

I thought Mount Royal college was suppose to be a Christian college??????

[Leonard]

People, if you think that Canada is scary, then dont come to europe. You can get here into jail if you profess your opinions publicly.

[Denis]

Getting the audio of the debate available online is in the works ... I'm not sure about the video though. I plan on announcing when it becomes available over at our blog (just click on my name).

I believe we will be hosting it on our main website (or at least linking to it there).

[MijkV]

A bit of culture shock, eh Greg?
To make matters worse, Calgary is considered to be in our Bible-belt. You should try doing a debate in Montreal, it's like the difference between Dallas and Boston.