Words
"...The Public Policy Forum (PPF) is holding a symposium entitled: “Revisiting Canada’s Human Rights Commissions: A Public Symposium.” This half-day event will take place in Ottawa on the morning of Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008. I am writing to determine if you are available and interesting in being a speaker in a panel discussion. If you are available, an official invitation will follow. In the meantime, a draft copy of the agenda and proposal is attached...
As you know, there has recently been a great deal of public discussion concerning the mandate and effectiveness of human rights commissions (HRCs) in Canada. The PPF believes that the current public focus offers an excellent opportunity to examine the public policy role HRCs play in upholding human rights and reducing discrimination in Canadian society.
The Public Policy Forum has gained a reputation as a trusted, neutral facilitator capable of bringing together a wide range of stakeholders to discuss and develop policy. This symposium will feature a spirited and timely discussion about freedom of speech and the role of the state. As important as the free speech debate is, the PPF would also like to address the effectiveness of HRCs in helping to push Canadian society in the direction of greater respect for individual and group human rights. Doing so will require frank and honest debate about their mandates, resources, and relationships to legislative bodies. It will also require consideration of the views from both rights groups and the private sector.
We welcome feedback on our attached proposal, including ideas about speakers and any other topics that need to be examined. Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have regarding this symposium. Thank you for considering this invitation. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience..."
...
That's the letter the Public Policy Forum sent to Mark Steyn, inviting him to debate Yours Truly.
Twice.
Two other respected free speech types have declined, politely. Impolitely, I think, Mark Steyn hasn't responded at all. However, Steyn is - by all accounts - still alive. My readers tell me the great man is still out there in ether, doing what he does best - you know, cheerfully defaming Muslims (whom he calls rapists), Chinese people (whom he calls Chinks), Japanese people (who he calls Japs), Indian people (whom he calls Wogs), and so on.
John Daly heard him on the radio this morning, on the Breakingridge Islamophobic Hour. Here's what John wrote in the comments section, herein: "...I listened, this morning, to His Steyness interviewed on the Brekenridge (sic) show. I was almost shocked at his response when the host informed him you were willing to debate him...the very mention of your name reduced him to a pissed of seven year old. He basically said you are a dirty bum and he sees no point in spending one more moment in your company. He's SCARED Warren! Not sure, exactly, what the basis for the fear, but damn sure he is scared. So do not let him off the hook."
I won't. Neither will the Public Policy Forum, I am told, until they get an answer.
Stay tuned. In the meantime, we can safely regard Mark Steyn as a chickenshit.
Because he is.
UPDATE: Ezra wants in on the fun. He's got a big post up about me. In it, he goes on and on about how I was named by my good pal Judge Gomery in his report, which Stephen Harper and others have disowned. True, dat. Not mentioned: the time Ezra came to my office at McMillan Binch and offered me House of Commons property in exchange for a political donation (for him). Ez desperately wants to debate, which is understandable - the poor fella has been unemployed for months. I'll debate you right after that little Alberta Law Society matter is cleared up, okay? You know the one. Promise.
As you know, there has recently been a great deal of public discussion concerning the mandate and effectiveness of human rights commissions (HRCs) in Canada. The PPF believes that the current public focus offers an excellent opportunity to examine the public policy role HRCs play in upholding human rights and reducing discrimination in Canadian society.
The Public Policy Forum has gained a reputation as a trusted, neutral facilitator capable of bringing together a wide range of stakeholders to discuss and develop policy. This symposium will feature a spirited and timely discussion about freedom of speech and the role of the state. As important as the free speech debate is, the PPF would also like to address the effectiveness of HRCs in helping to push Canadian society in the direction of greater respect for individual and group human rights. Doing so will require frank and honest debate about their mandates, resources, and relationships to legislative bodies. It will also require consideration of the views from both rights groups and the private sector.
We welcome feedback on our attached proposal, including ideas about speakers and any other topics that need to be examined. Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have regarding this symposium. Thank you for considering this invitation. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience..."
That's the letter the Public Policy Forum sent to Mark Steyn, inviting him to debate Yours Truly.
Twice.
Two other respected free speech types have declined, politely. Impolitely, I think, Mark Steyn hasn't responded at all. However, Steyn is - by all accounts - still alive. My readers tell me the great man is still out there in ether, doing what he does best - you know, cheerfully defaming Muslims (whom he calls rapists), Chinese people (whom he calls Chinks), Japanese people (who he calls Japs), Indian people (whom he calls Wogs), and so on.
John Daly heard him on the radio this morning, on the Breakingridge Islamophobic Hour. Here's what John wrote in the comments section, herein: "...I listened, this morning, to His Steyness interviewed on the Brekenridge (sic) show. I was almost shocked at his response when the host informed him you were willing to debate him...the very mention of your name reduced him to a pissed of seven year old. He basically said you are a dirty bum and he sees no point in spending one more moment in your company. He's SCARED Warren! Not sure, exactly, what the basis for the fear, but damn sure he is scared. So do not let him off the hook."
I won't. Neither will the Public Policy Forum, I am told, until they get an answer.
Stay tuned. In the meantime, we can safely regard Mark Steyn as a chickenshit.
Because he is.
UPDATE: Ezra wants in on the fun. He's got a big post up about me. In it, he goes on and on about how I was named by my good pal Judge Gomery in his report, which Stephen Harper and others have disowned. True, dat. Not mentioned: the time Ezra came to my office at McMillan Binch and offered me House of Commons property in exchange for a political donation (for him). Ez desperately wants to debate, which is understandable - the poor fella has been unemployed for months. I'll debate you right after that little Alberta Law Society matter is cleared up, okay? You know the one. Promise.