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In Defence of Lesley Hughes
“I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Evelyn Beatrice Hall
Liberal politicians and journalists would have done well to remember these weighty words of enlightenment philosophy when they dismissed and attacked Lesley Hughes. Instead, political pillars of free speech and debate have been replaced by narrow electioneering and name-calling.
Lesley Hughes is a brave and honest woman. She is a thoughtful and respected journalist and someone who has spent the better part of her life writing and standing up for the rights of the downtrodden. Here we have a journalist and activist who has vehemently defended freedom of speech for others and now finds it is lacking to defend herself.
If we have any hope that our country and society are to become more participatory, more democratic and more inclusive, then we need to be unafraid to practice something that seems to be sorely lacking—particularly during this election period—critical thought. But in order for this thought to be meaningful and constructive in changing our society we need to foster it, not be afraid of it. Indeed, some of the most controversial political decisions made during our lifetimes have been made behind closed doors with almost no public debate. In these cases the onus lies with both politicians and journalists to be courageous, confront issues and bring them to the public. Whether it is the imprisonment of Omar Khadr, Canada’s role in Afghanistan and Haiti, or our domestic policies related to immigration and indigenous rights, debate and action on these issues is part and parcel with democracy.
This is why we should all defend Lesley Hughes. Not because we agree with her opinions or politics, but because we shouldn’t be afraid to speak to the issues that matter and holding those in power to account. “The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting,” said Milan Kundera, and I’m certain Lesley would agree. No one should feel afraid to hold those accountable who make decisions affecting the lives of millions.
I’d like to be clear that I don’t want to waste a line discussing 9/11 because I believe that many of these theories are damaging to popular mobilization around issues that matter—not unsubstantiated claims—and actually detract from an empirical understanding of how governments enter and benefit from war and imperialism.
I will touch on the charges of anti-Semitism that have been leveled against her because I believe these are very worrying. B’Nai Brith Canada called on the Liberal party to dismiss Hughes because of “her antisemitic 9/11 conspiracy theories,” which they said “are not reflective of the Liberal Party’s tradition of tolerance and respect.” According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum anti-Semitism means “prejudice against or hatred of Jews.” Hughes does not mention Jewish people in her column. She never claimed that Israeli companies had knowledge of the attacks. She merely reported information that had already been published in three mainstream newspapers, including the Jerusalem Post and Haaretz. Whether these companies acted or not does not constitute anti-Semitism. For a woman with a long history of anti-racist involvement this was surely not her intent.
Unfortunately we now live in a world so polarized by war-on-terror rhetoric and an ideology that demands patriotic obedience that we have been afraid to ask questions and demand answers. This is also true of journalism. If the New York Times had taken the time and ink to show that the attack on Iraq was based on entirely false pretenses and that there were no WMDs millions of lives could have been saved. But under the auspices of neutrality and objectivity these questions apparently could not be asked. The same is true of Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan.
This fear has translated in the way debate about Israel is framed both in civil society and the media. Any criticisms of Israel’s policies are seen as anti-Semitic. A greater absurdity is without precedent, except perhaps the charges of anti-Americanism laid against those who question US policy. The arrests of hundreds of demonstrators at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis last month shows that voices of dissent are no longer welcomed even in the street, let alone on the printed page.
This excommunication of Lesley Hughes from the Liberal party and her condemnation in many editorial pages is about more than her ill-fated blog. It is about demonstrating that there is no room for dissenting opinions within mainstream political parties. Why? Because if freedom of speech means lost votes then debate can be put on hold.
Canadians face increasing economic uncertainty, the fact that we are still at war in Afghanistan and have taken little action to prevent climate change. Stifling debate, especially within political parties, cannot help in developing solutions to these problems.
I agree that there is no place for “conspiracy theories” in this time because we face challenges that are far more real and urgent. We should be unafraid to discuss these issues, particularly those of race, religion and ethnicity in a country of such diversity as ours.
Indeed it is because we accepted the choices of our leaders after September 11th that we now live in a world that is more unstable, more unsafe and more unequal than before. Secret torture sites, illegal prisons, war crimes, private mercenary armies, suspending habeas corpus, destroying civil liberties, war-lord governments. These are the true conspiracies of our time.
I wish that we had more politicians like Lesley Hughes, and in defending not only freedom of speech but critical and dissenting voices I will defend her.
Chris Webb is a journalist and activist living in Toronto. He is currently the Publishing Assistant at Canadian Dimension magazine and a Communications Officer with SEIU-Local 1 Canada. Read more by Chris Webb.
http://WWW.AARONJAMESSTORY.COM IN DEFENSE OF LESLEY HUGHES AND IN EXPOSURE OF FALSE WAR ON TERROR MACHINE OF FASCISTIC SOCIETAL PERSECUTION: To media and government who have attacked Lesley Hughes- your insipid wickedness and unwarranted attacks upon Lesley- an individual of utmost integrity and strong moral conviction is detestable and is exposed as politically motivated occlusion of truth herein. http://www.aaronjamesstory.com
In a time of censorship and false mainstream media propaganda accompanied with police state crack down on the freedom of expression and free speech in the U.S. in particular through the use of force and brutality,the establishment has shown its true virility and intent-the opportunistic exploitation of a false War on Terror agenda to suit monetary ends towards the profits from oil, drugs and War via the military industrial complex. The recent 700 Billion dollar bailout is the epitome of the establishment robbing from the people to suit its own ends.
Your attacks upon Ms. Hughes are heinous opportunistic character assassination and are the epitome of a corrupted establishment’s attack upon the bearers of truth and decency.
Amidst a torrent of initial false media propaganda meant to character assassinate my mother and I after the attack, Lesley sought out the truth rather than jumping on the stone throwing media defamation false government serving propaganda band wagon, and diligently documented our ordeal.
To YOU -Mainstream Media and oppressors of Ms. Hughes-the same media who cast stones upon us -and now continue censorship of our ordeal WHILE MY FAMILY’S SUFFERING AND MY MOTHER’S RESULTANT DETERIORATING HEALTH YOU DUTIFULLY IGNORE AND CENSOR on behalf of government: I see that YOU-the opportunistic vultures and detestable vermin that you are-now cast stones upon Lesley for her objectivity and insights in a time of moral economic and political decadence where truth is punished and the freedom of thought ideas and expression suppressed under a fascistic oligarchy of Media/Government/Corporate driven corrupted self serving initiatives.
She has been a defender and advocate of morality truth and integrity amidst a sea of insipid corruptions censorship and lies and we are deeply appreciative of her efforts towards breaking through the shroud of media/government aligned censorship of our ordeal, now being used to allow government a veil of occlusion while effecting attempts upon our lives.
There is a consistency with truth.
First it will be ignored, then viciously attacked, then finally accepted as truth.
Lesley has been a refreshing beacon of truth and decency.
Shame on all those who have cast stones.
http://www.aaronjamesstory.com
#1. Posted by A. James on October 3rd 2008 at 11:56am
I completely agree with you in terms of Lesley Hughes’ right to free speech - and with the fact that free speech and journalistic freedom have been under increased attack since 9/11.
My bigger concern is why a Canadian Dimension collective member was running for the Liberal Party in the first place…
#2. Posted by Adrie on October 4th 2008 at 5:46am
I agree with Adrie, it is truly a sign of the decline of the Liberal Party of Canada that they have to scrape Canadian Dimension for candidates. Perhaps Mr. Webb will run next time?
#3. Posted by Brent on October 8th 2008 at 1:14pm
Comrades, I do not wish to kick Lesley Hughes while she is down & I do agree we need to defend her pursuit of and/or holding of unpopular views, for OUR sake, as much as hers. She does seem to be have been unfairly smeared as holding anti-Semitic views in a knee jerk reaction.
My comment is really one of surprise at her Liberal candidacy in the first place. When the story first surfaced & I heard the name & riding, I thought surely this was coincidental & it must be another Lesley Hughes. But, the grainy picture I saw DID resemble that on her CD column, so I decided to check it out.
I don’t believe she should be ‘purged’ from CD anymore than from her (apparent) party of choice. But, as a CD reader since high school—30 some years ago—I’m surprised that anyone on the CD Collective (even opting for extreme ‘strategic’ or even ‘tactical’ politics) could think the Liberal Party is “For people who want to change the world.” That position is tough enough to hold with a straight face even with the NDP or Greens! And CD has long been in a ‘critical-support’ stance there, at best, since the Waffle was purged.
Although I believe Stephane Dion has much more honour and integrity than most of the past COOs of Canada’s “Natural Governing Party” (perhaps being ‘too good for this world’ of electoral politics) the natural stance of the Libs is campaign ‘progressive’ (remember the ‘Just Society’ we have enjoyed since Trudeau days?) & govern from the right. PET’s ridiculing of Stanfield’s Price & Wage Controls & then stealing the idea, ring a bell? Does anyone at CD recall the other events of Oct 14th (1974, 1975)? Alexa McDonough’s depiction (not used nearly enough in her last campaign as NDP leader), describes the Party not just Jean Chretien: “30 days of Dr Jekyll does not make up for 4 (or 2) years of Mr Hyde!”
Still, I respect anyone (even a Liberal!) who stands for public office. But I’d like to see Lesley engage us in a healthy dialogue on her political ‘alternative lifestyle choice’ as a supposed Lefty. Seems, at first blush, to be kind of like recommending hybrid Hummers to save the planet. Oh, well, Let a hundred flowers bloom!
#4. Posted by G. Laskey on October 18th 2008 at 8:35pm