Emery on 60 Minutes
You can now check out the video of the 60 Minutes interview with Marc Emery, the Prince of Pot, over at Pot-TV.
It is richly important that Emery wins the battle against extradition into the U.S. Watch the video and join the fight.
UPDATE: Jesse Gritter disagrees with me and takes a shot at libertarians [edited... see comments] over on his blog. I post a response there, as well as in my comments here.
It is richly important that Emery wins the battle against extradition into the U.S. Watch the video and join the fight.
UPDATE: Jesse Gritter disagrees with me and takes a shot at libertarians [edited... see comments] over on his blog. I post a response there, as well as in my comments here.
posted by P. M. Jaworski at 4:40 p.m.
8 Comments:
Why is it so important that we not extradite a man to face charges for crimes he committed in another country?
Let see ... Marc Emery intentionally and systemally breaks American laws, undermines the authority of America's democratically elected government, attacks the freedom of Americans to determine what laws should or shouldn't exist in their own country, and then expects the U.S. government not to want him extradited?
I think Emery's been smokin' a little too much.
It is not just libertarians that oppose the Emery extradition, or as Jesse would say, that are stupid.
For example, many criminal trial lawyers are outraged by this attempt on the part of our Crown to outsource justice. Emery broke the same laws in Canada as he is accused of breaking in the USA: why does the Crown decline to prosecute? Because they will lose.
The Extradition Act provides protection for Canadians who are victims of politically motivated extradition, as in the Emery case. Unfortunately for Emery, the Minister of Justice has a lot of dicretion, and I seriously doubt that Vic would lift a finger for Emery.
So, it is going to come down to the Oakes test, i.e. are Emery's crimes so serious as to justify the Charter violation inherent in extradition. The Supreme Court will probably agree to hear the case because of its political nature.
I am fundamentally opposed to outsourcing justice.
I don't see myself as anti-American, but I am opposed to hysteria. And hysteria is exactly what characterizes the US War on Drugs. As for American relations, either they understand that our values are very different and let us be, or "American relations" becomes synonymous with us getting butt raped. I for one "do not consent."
So Jesse, is your love of America so great that *you* are willing to play the girl?
And to Jeff, this *is* an important issue because the crimes in question are clearly political.
Jesse:
"Let see ... Marc Emery intentionally and systemally breaks American laws,"
Yes.
"undermines the authority of America's democratically elected government,"
I live in America, Jesse, and I'm surprised you think he's managed to undermine the authority of the U.S. government. He's done no such thing. He's *disregarded* the "authority" of the U.S. government, but he hasn't undermined it. I think you give Emery too much credit.
"attacks the freedom of Americans to determine what laws should or shouldn't exist in their own country,"
This is an interesting way of framing the issue. "The freedom to enact laws" is certainly a sort of freedom. Still, it's misleading to put it in those terms. Besides, Emery simply allowed Americans to disregard their own laws. He didn't make anyone buy seeds from him, he simply put them up for sale. I think you should gear your anger at the consumers here, not at Emery.
In addition, the "freedom" of the U.S. government to enact stupid laws should be put to the test with a little civil disobedience. Especially when the law is opposed to the expressed opinions of Americans with respect to pot in poll after poll after poll. The freedom of the U.S. government to enact laws contrary to the preferences of most Americans is certainly not a freedom I'd like to laud.
"and then expects the U.S. government not to want him extradited?"
He doesn't expect any such thing. Of course the U.S. is going to want to do this. And he has every expectation that they will be successful. Still, CANADIANS shouldn't allow the extradition to go through.
"I think Emery's been smokin' a little too much."
Or not enough...
Liberty isn’t the absolute freedom to do whatever you want, rather it is the right to exist free from arbitrary coercion. Jesse's argument completely miscategorizes liberty and then draws irrelevent conclusions about it.
I think Jesse has watched Reefer Madness a few too many times. His post is certainly a strange way to show "respect for Libertarians."
Peter, you'll be hard pressed to find on my blog the quote you ascribe to me in your post after you updated it -- "libertarians like Peter Jaworski"
I didn't write that. And I didn't mean to say that libertarians are stupid but that libertarians can sometimes "get stupid," as I'm sure conservatives can be sometimes too. However, I will grant that the title of my post is uncalled for.
But I do maintain that there is a way to change laws without being disrespectful and engaging in criminal behaviour as Emery has done and continues to do.
Jesse - I've changed the link.
I know, I know, you never did say that libertarians are stupid. I have no problems with you saying that libertarians sometimes get stupid. I just don't think that this is one of those times.
I also agree that there is a different way to change the laws. Nevertheless, I think Emery is approaching this in his own way. I also (somewhat) disagree with his methods, but I will defend anyone and everyone who breaks stupid, outrageous, ridiculous, immoral, counterproductive, and vicious laws. That includes the laws on marijuana. He's harmed no one. He's being threatened with extradition and the prospect of spending the rest of his life in prison.
I think this is atrocious. I think the War on Drugs is atrocious. And I support Emery in his bid not to get extradited. I hope you'll change your mind, Jesse. I really do.
Post a Comment
<< Home