LETTER

A benchmark in the fall of free speech

 

In response to Fred Ryan's Editorial, "Censorship Here At Home", I would like to express my profound respect for the Aylmer Bulletin's desire to continue to support free speech; regretfully, I suspect that both the he and I are swimming against an inexorable current in these oppressive times. Whilst I am writing this letter, Lauren Southern, a Canadian journalist, is being deported to British Columbia. Which dictatorship is throwing her out for being a passionate advocacy for free speech? Iran? North Korea? No. It's the United Kingdom.

Whilst over 400 ISIS jihadists are being welcomed home to Britain from Syria and Iraq as heroes, given money, well-paid jobs and subsidized houses, Theresa May's government is using the anti-terrorism laws to deport a 22-year old Canadian for campaigning against political correctness and for being close to the friends of Donald Trump. May's government is introducing new internet censorship laws that will facilitate the arrest and imprisonment of anyone writing anything critical of the accepted political dogma online – anything, like this
letter or Fred Ryan's editorial.

The deportation of Lauren Southern is a benchmark in the fall of free speech and a day that we should all grieve.                

                 
Robert L Thompsett Aylmer