Why the issue of abortion is also a free speech issue

Margaret Somerville:

"Political correctness operates by shutting down non-politically-correct people's freedom of speech. Anyone who challenges the politically correct stance is, thereby, automatically labelled as intolerant, a bigot or a hatemonger. The substance of their arguments against a politically correct stance is not addressed; rather people labelled as politically incorrect are, themselves, attacked as being intolerant and hateful simply for making those arguments.

"This approach is intentionally used as a strategy to suppress strong arguments against any politically correct stance and, also, to avoid needing to deal with these arguments.

"It is important to understand the strategy employed: Speaking against abortion or same-sex marriage is not characterized as speech; rather, it is characterized as a sexist act or a discriminatory act against homosexuals, respectively, and, therefore, as, in itself, a breach of human rights or even a hate crime. Consequently, it is argued that protections of freedom of speech do not apply."

The author of the Gazette article from which this is taken says, "We need the Order of Canada." I disagree. I also consider him almost charmingly naive when he states: "It is alarming to see this syndrome infect the Order of Canada. The Order should not be a microcosm of what ails this country. It should encourage the intellectual diversity that is the strength of this or any society." Oh my. Maybe Mr. Aubin didn't get the memo.