Hot Air » Blog Archive » Audio: Ezra Levant’s Star Chamber interrogator resigns over backlash?

Audio: Ezra Levant’s Star Chamber interrogator resigns over backlash?

posted at 10:38 am on February 18, 2008 by Allahpundit
Send to a Friend | Share on Facebook | printer-friendly

That’s the word from the man himself, tucked into a 15-minute interview with Shire Network News on smiley-face fascism that’s smiling less than it used to these days. Take advantage of the slow news morn that’s upon us and listen to him describe just how astonishingly broad the human rights commission’s powers of discovery are. Thoughtcrime offenses aren’t the only Orwellian aspect of the system. Skip ahead to about 13:30 and take it from there, paying special attention to what he says about denormalizing the calculated, chummy “how are ya” posture of the proceedings.

The main barrier to getting rid of the commissions: The perception that to do so would be to oppose “human rights.” A final, fitting Orwellian flourish.

Blowback

Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.

Trackbacks/Pings

Trackback URL

Ed Driscoll.com

Comments

I certainly hope she is not allowed to resign, but rather be forced to stay and absorb all the abuse she is due. There’s nothing like having your rock turned over and going spaz in the sunlight.

drjohn on February 18, 2008 at 10:51 AM

Thanx for that. Very eye opening. Unfortunately, it’s likely coming to a “free” country near you, because we CAIR.

Smiley-Face Fascism. I gotta read that book!

Ordinary1 on February 18, 2008 at 11:14 AM

She’s only resigning from the case, not the HRC. She’ll still be around to torment employers and others that don’t have Levant’s resources in cash, his media contacts or his media savvy. As an employer I’ve had dealings with my state’s HRC and it is no joke. They come in with the assumption that you’re guilty of some form of lefty discrimination and come at you from every angle to try to prove it.

Patrick H on February 18, 2008 at 11:16 AM

Ezra Levant is freedom’s warrior. Thank you, sir!

petefrt on February 18, 2008 at 11:22 AM

Levant has done a fine service in this. It isn’t just about his case, but the whole HRC concept as it is presently employed. If he can keep pushing that sharp edge of the wedge using his own case, perhaps the Canucks will realize what they are doing to themselves. I have great hope that Steyn can do additional damage.

a capella on February 18, 2008 at 11:26 AM

Free speech -like sunlight- is the perfect disinfectant.

Slugs hate it.

Keep shining, Ezra!

profitsbeard on February 18, 2008 at 11:32 AM

Can someone explain the phrase “Star Chamber.” I do not know what that means. Is it a cultural reference or a literal name?

dentalque on February 18, 2008 at 11:37 AM

“She’s only resigning from the case, not the HRC.”

Her name shall live on on the internet.

Mark E. on February 18, 2008 at 11:43 AM

Star Chamber

Mark E. on February 18, 2008 at 11:45 AM

My favourite and most telling line of the whole deal:

“well, you’re entitled to your opinion”

“No, I’m not” [that's why I'm here: paraphrasing]

WitchDoctor on February 18, 2008 at 11:58 AM

Ezra Levant is one smart, well-spoken dude.

mikeyboss on February 18, 2008 at 11:59 AM

Can someone explain the phrase “Star Chamber.” I do not know what that means. Is it a cultural reference or a literal name?

A reference to a super duper secret court that really existed in England from some time in the 1400s to 1641… The court was capricious and often arbitrary; a tool for oppression.

See Wikipedia

darkpixel on February 18, 2008 at 12:08 PM

Insanity in the form of bureaucrats interrogating thought crime with the power to walk into a place of business with impunity and take anything and everything they so choose and then in effect prosecuting you for your opinions.
Welcome to a nearly free country.
Liberals in the country would gladly destroy the rest of our free speech and institute the same thought crime prosecution bureaucracy.

Shire: Iowahawk: re: Rowan Williams and the tail of the ahs haut.

Speakup on February 18, 2008 at 12:20 PM

Mark E. on February 18, 2008 at 11:45 AM

darkpixel on February 18, 2008 at 12:08 PM

Thanks. I have been meaning to ask that as I had not seen the metaphor until Mr. Levant’s case.

dentalque on February 18, 2008 at 12:24 PM

Can someone explain the phrase “Star Chamber.” I do not know what that means. Is it a cultural reference or a literal name?

dentalque on

I was thinking of the movie with Michael Douglas and Hal Holbrook. A group of judges put hits on violent criminals that have been let off by insufficient evidence or mistrials. Not nearly as cool a movie as it sounded.

MechEng5by5 on February 18, 2008 at 1:17 PM

I have to wonder who told her to use the word “odium”. From watching the videos, it is patently obvious that she’s really not that smart.

frothmouth on February 18, 2008 at 2:06 PM

Free speech -like sunlight- is the perfect disinfectant.

Slugs hate it.

Keep shining, Ezra!

profitsbeard on February 18, 2008 at 11:32 AM

Jackals favor nocturnal activities too…

Sad that this is Canada, so close to here, if we’re not careful. And, the moment for being guarded is NOW.

Entelechy on February 18, 2008 at 2:24 PM

Star Chamber:

In modern usage, legal or administrative bodies with strict, arbitrary rulings and secretive proceedings are sometimes called, metaphorically or poetically, star chambers. This is a pejorative term and intended to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the proceedings. The inherent lack of objectivity of any politically motivated charges has led to substantial reforms in English law in most jurisdictions since that time.

see-dubya on February 18, 2008 at 2:52 PM

Mark Steyn should hire Ezra as his lawyer. I think Ezra might strip varnish better than Mark. Only HRC tools with big egos will go against Ezra and Mark now.

BL@KBIRD on February 18, 2008 at 3:56 PM

Listen to the whole thing: the Chaucer bit is brilliant.

Tzetzes on February 18, 2008 at 5:23 PM

The ordinary business of the people in these little courts is to destroy people’s lives.
It’s great justice when their lives or careers are ruined.

Tzetzes on February 18, 2008 at 5:38 PM

From the Ezra Levant link of the hearing coverage

We may marvel at Levant’s eloquence as he denies the Kourt’s right to put him through this inquisition, which has so far cost him some $100,000. We may marvel at his courage, his pluck, and the unassailable logic of his arguments.

But what is more marvelous still is the bovine indifference of the hearing officer. Levant would have done little worse, talking to a bottle of carpet cleaner.

What we see here is a petty bureaucratic tyrant who knows that the accusation alone is enough to find the defendant guilty, and that the whole procedure, as she understands it, is a waste of breath. She knows she’s not obligated to listen to a word the defendant says. It’s all she can do to restrain herself from cutting out paper dolls while Levant speaks.

She also knows that she and her Kourt are accountable to no one; that they, and they alone, decide what is permissible speech in the Province of Alberta; and finally, she knows that the Kourts have a 100% conviction rate. It’s Stalin’s show trials all over again, without the firing squads.

Tune in to You Tube, Americans, and watch these proceedings. Take a good, long look—

Because there are uncounted hordes of politicians, academic pinheads, media mullahs, gay activists, and other “leaders” who just can’t wait to hammer these fetters onto this country. They want it so badly, they can taste it; and they think each election will bring them closer to their goal.

I found all quotes significant enough to capture here, in the hopes that more will read…even one more reader will be better…

Entelechy on February 18, 2008 at 6:40 PM

She also knows that she and her Kourt are accountable to no one….

Copyright by Lee Duigon
…
Entelechy on February 18, 2008 at 6:40 PM

But she knows this falsely, Entelechy; when no judge is available on earth, it’s available to everyone to appeal to heaven when he thinks fit. The concluding sections of Locke’s Second Treatise, including section 242, leave Locke’s intention obscure.

Kralizec on February 18, 2008 at 8:07 PM

You must be logged in to post a comment.