Yesterday I promised you I would fill you in on the Michaud Affair in Canadian French Quebec who dared to suggest that "the Jews weren't the only ones who suffered during World War II" or something similarly innocuous. You wouldn't believe the political firestorm such a harmless comment can evoke. Here is a follow-up from the CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR FREE EXPRESSION's Director, Paul Fromm:
FIGHTING CENSORSHIP: LESSONS FROM THE MICHAUD AFFAIR
Dear Free Speech Supporter:
The courage of shareholders' rights advocate and separatist iconoclast Yves Michaud may well have led to the resignation of Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard -- or "prime minister", as he liked to call himself.
When Michaud made comments critical of almost unanimous Jewish opposition to Quebec independence (a fact), criticized the censorship proclivities of B'nai Brith (a fact), and mused on the fact that we hear endlessly of Jewish sufferings in World War II, while other groups' woes are ignored or downplayed, all hell broke loose. B'nai Brith called on Bouchard to destroy Michaud's political career and deny him the nomination in an upcoming by-election in Mercier. A dutiful Bouchard moved a resolution in the National Assembly condemning Michaud, who is merely a private citizen.
Then, a funny thing happened. Michaud did not apologize, he did not fold. On the contrary, he demanded an apology from Bouchard. Even more remarkably, many leading Quebecers, including the old lion of the P.Q., Jacques Parizeau, rallied to the cause of free speech and supported Michaud. And at least one MLA who had voted for the resolution denouncing Michaud publicly recanted.
The result: a moody and angry Bouchard, still mumbling about fighting racism and anti-semitism, quit.
Bouchard, not Michaud, was out.
The crucial lesson here is the importance of free speechers rallying to the support of the victim. Had the usual happened -- all his friends or acquaintances went silent, all the media denoounced him -- Michaud would have been isolated and his political demise certain.
The forces of censorship are bullies and thugs. They thrive, like hyenas, on taking down a wounded, isolated victim. If the herd closes ranks to protect their wounded fellow, the cowardly hyena slinks away.
We who support free speech must make certain that targetted victims -- whether it's a Doug Collins or an Yves Michaud -- are not left to fight alone.
Paul Fromm Director
CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR FREE EXPRESSION
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Thought for the Day:
"Nobody should ever discount Adrien Arcand's or Ernst Zündel's residual influence on the political thinking of "Quebecers".
(Letter to the Zundelsite)
Back to Table of Contents of the Jan. 2001 ZGrams