Cui Bono?

I drove across the Burlington Skyway the other day; the first really hot and humid day of the summer. The sailboats were out on Hamilton harbour, and as I drove up the long slope of the bridge I could see the other thing which defines Hamilton in my mind: the visible layer of brown haze trapped between the escarpment and the steel mills. I’ve always loved the sailboats, but it’s the smog that says “Hamilton” to me.

I find myself doing these posts on Hamilton because the situation is evolving — or rather devolving — on a day-to-day basis. When last I wrote about this, on Friday, there was a glimmer of hope. Ceder Hopperton was waiting on the decision as to whether they’d violated their parole, and police had admitted that the only objectionable action they’d taken was to speak at a public meeting; surely justice would prevail and Hopperton would be freed.

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Free Speech vs. Propaganda

About two months ago, before I started this blog, I responded to a Facebook post about that swastika-wearing asshole in NYC’s Union Square who was egged by a passer-by. My comment was Anyone who walks around saying “Hell yes, I’m a Nazi” deserves whatever happens to them and they should be grateful it wasn’t worse.

It’s been eight weeks, and I keep getting harassment on Facebook over that comment. Some threats of violence, lots of pedantic crap from alt-right undergrad boys “just trying to have a discussion”, and so forth. It seems to come in waves, so I assume that the link is being shared and re-shared to some subreddit frequented by alt-right incel edge-lords whose basement apartments reek of ramen, B.O. and poor lifestyle choices.

But the thing that irritates me — far more than being threatened with axe murder, by the way — is the repeated claim by the morons defending a swastika-wearing homophobe who was shitting-up everyone’s public space in New York that day that I’m suppressing his free speech with my opinion.

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