Why I Prefer America - Amongst Other Reasons

Remember 2004 when many wer talking about moving to Canada? Been to Toronto, think it is a great city and have a friend who tempts me with moving. Problem is that I noticed that I kept singing God Save Teh Queen with the wrong words.

American Exception - Unlike Others, U.S. Defends Freedom to Offend in Speech from The New York Times gives us another reason to prefer - or for me to prefer - the United States:

In his opening statement in the Canadian magazine case, a lawyer representing the Muslim plaintiffs aggrieved by the Maclean’s article pleaded with a three-member panel of the tribunal to declare that the article subjected his clients to “hatred and ridicule” and to force the magazine to publish a response.

“You are the only thing between racist, hateful, contemptuous Islamophobic and irresponsible journalism, and law-abiding Canadian citizens,” the lawyer, Faisal Joseph, told the tribunal.

In response, the lawyer for Maclean’s, Roger D. McConchie, all but called the proceeding a sham.

“Innocent intent is not a defense,” Mr. McConchie said in a bitter criticism of the British Columbia law on hate speech. “Nor is truth. Nor is fair comment on true facts. Publication in the public interest and for the public benefit is not a defense. Opinion expressed in good faith is not a defense. Responsible journalism is not a defense.”"

Can we explain all this to President Bush and Vice President Cheney that free speech applies to their bosses, the citizens of this country?