Free speech, human rights commissions, Steyn

The five foot fury quotes David Warren's thoughts on the matter. I particularly liked the top quote:

"... “Freedom of expression” did not develop in the West from purely idealistic motives. Nor is it necessarily a pretty thing. Like so much in civil society, we put up with it because the alternative is worse, and we'd rather cope with free speech, than with the free intimidation that results from its suppression."

Good stuff.

Updated:
David Warren's whole piece includes new info on the status of the complaint against Maclean's and Steyn:
It's time to start writing to politicians, newspaper editors and .... STOP the HRC.

... the case ... brought against Mark Steyn and Maclean's magazine, before Human Rights Commissions for Canada, British Columbia, and Ontario, by the Canadian Islamic Congress, led by Mohamed Elmasry. The first two commissions have already agreed to hear the case...