Here is an excellent example of how the Left operates to shut down free discourse and free inquiry.
It appears that a Canadian man, Brad Salzberg, sent around two of my articles, “Justine Damond: Killed by ‘Islamophobia,’” and “After Muslim cop kills unarmed woman, Minneapolis mayor reassures Muslims, warns against ‘Islamophobia,’” to a large number of Canadian officials and public figures. He did so without comment, although he did highlight several passages. I had no involvement in this and didn’t know he was doing it, not that I mind, but was copied on this reply email from Dr. Malinda S. Smith, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton:
Dear Edmonton Hate Bias Unit:
Note this common line of propaganda circulated in this unsolicited email, which promotes the view that ‘one Somali on a police force is too many and any Somali/Muslim must be unqualified’. Such stereotypes and implicit biases, and racism and xenophobia, are regularly circulated through this person/s alt-right listserv.
Note2: I did not solicit or voluntarily subscribe to this listserv administered by Brad Salzberg, and I do not wish to receive what has become weekly Hate emails against immigrants, Muslims and/or diverse visible minorities.
Brad unsubscribe me from all of your CAPs emails that you subscribed me to without my prior knowledge or consent.
Dr. Malinda S. Smith
Professor, Department of Political ScienceUniversity of Alberta, Edmonton
The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are situated on Treaty 6 territory, traditional lands of First Nations and Métis peoples.
Here is my reply to Dr. Smith:
Dear Dr. Smith:
I note with great interest that you have reported this email to the “Edmonton Hate Bias Unit.” Can you please specify where in this piece, of which I am the author, does the view that “one Somali on a police force is too many and any Somali/Muslim must be unqualified” appear?
In reality, I do not hold such views, and such views do not appear in the piece.
In light of that, I have several questions for you that I do most earnestly hope you will take a moment to answer.
1. In view of the manifest inaccuracy of your characterization of what I wrote, should the “Edmonton Hate Bias Unit” trust your judgment in considering taking action against Mr. Salzberg and/or me?
2. Who should be empowered, in general, with the authority to determine what is an incident of “hate bias” and what isn’t? What criteria should be used to determine what exactly constitutes “hate bias”? Is disagreement with the political perspective that is dominant today in itself a manifestation of “hate bias”?
3. What criteria do you use to distinguish between legitimate criticism of the “diversity” policies that led to Ms. Damond’s death, and “hate” directed against “immigrants, Muslims and/or diverse visible minorities”? Or do you have no such criteria, and consider any and all criticism of policies that led to the hiring and maintaining on the force of an incompetent police officer because of his ethnicity and religion to be “racism and xenophobia”?
4. You consider what I wrote, and Mr. Salzberg’s sending it to you, to be an offense worthy of being reported to the “Edmonton Hate Bias Unit.” Meanwhile, I consider your demonization of legitimate inquiry and honest questioning to be deeply offensive in its own right. If I were a citizen of Edmonton, would you support my reporting you to the “Edmonton Hate Bias Unit”? Or is some offense more offensive than others, such that some offense is worthy to be reported to the “Edmonton Hate Bias Unit,” and some isn’t? What are your criteria, if any, for distinguishing between speech that offends and is worthy of being reported, and speech that offends but is not worthy of being reported?
Thank you for your kind attention to these questions. I look forward to your answers.
Kindest regards
Robert Spencer
Director, Jihad Watch
www.jihadwatch.org
And Dr. Smith’s reply to that:
Dear Robert Spencer and Brad Salzberg
Please remove me from this and, to repeat, all CAP and Jihad Watch emails/Listservs to which I have been subscribed without my consent.
There are many very good books on stereotypes, implicit biases, racism and xenophobia. I’d add islamophobia. Undoubtedly your public librarian can assist you with a reading list. Do feel free, as well, to contact your nearest Human Rights Commission.
Now: remove me from your list.
Dr. Malinda S. Smith
Professor, Department of Political Science
University of Alberta, EdmontonThe University of Alberta acknowledges that we are situated on Treaty 6 territory, traditional lands of First Nations and Métis peoples.
It’s all there: the arrogance, the rudeness (as if those who dissent from her views have no rights Dr. Smith feels bound to respect), the refusal to engage in rational discussion with opponents, the demonization of those opponents and the threat of authoritarian power against them. These are the hallmarks of the modern academic Left — indeed, of the Left in general and Leftists’ Islamic supremacist allies, as I detail in my new book The Complete Infidel’s Guide to Free Speech (and Its Enemies).
(In reality, just for the record, Dr. Smith is not now and was never subscribed to any Jihad Watch email lists.)