Diary Oct. 9

This evening I sent the following comment to the Glove and Mail. The Globe published an editorial arguing that there could not be free speech if we are not allowed to hurt other people's feelings. Along the way the editorial described the way threats from Muslims has had the effect of stifiling free speech critical of Islam. My own view is that one simply has to face down those threats and continue speaking as free people. If the fear of Islam does succeed in stifling free speech that will also have been our fault, we shall have lacked courage. Here's the text sent to the Globe:

" Here's a not so subtle way of stifling comment on the issues relating to Ilam and Democracy. When I spoke recently at Saint Mary's University they, the University, forced me to pay $ 901 for 'security' for the two hour session. Dalhousie charged me half as much to make the same presentation on Islam And Democracy. After flying to Newfoundland, Memorial University tried to charge me an additional $ 400 for security on the eve of the lecture otherwise, they said, I could "take my show off campus". This demand came one day before my presentation and after they had been offered the text of my presentation and after the two previous presentations had passed without incident.
That's how the Universities stifle free-speech and enforce political correctness. Was my presentation incendiary? It can be read at http://islamanddemocracy.org .
I am going to make similar presentations across the country at 15 universities and I hope to prove that in Canada one really can speak freely about the issues surrounding Islam, even speak critically of Islam and calling for specific reforms.