One Canadian newspaper fighting for its life to support our freedoms

I received this email this morning from the Editor of the Western Standard, asking for support. Surprise! Surprise! Muslims are going to try and sue the newspaper for publishing the cartoons! The Western Standard is fighting for its life, as even the news stands in Canada are not stocking the newspaper anymore because they are afraid to offend the Muslims!

Here is the letter I received from the Editor, Ezra Levant. Please support this newspaper in any way you can, even if it's only by email. It deserves our support.

Dear Western Standard reader,

By now you have probably heard about our decision to publish the Danish cartoons -- those same cartoons that have been the excuse for riots around the world.

We believe that reprinting the cartoons is essential to properly telling that news story, which is why we did it. We also published them as a symbol of our freedom of the press, and in defiance of those around the world who would censor us through threats of violence.

I've never been more proud of our magazine.

Not everyone is happy with us, of course. A Calgary Muslim leader has reported us to the police, trying to get them to charge me with hate crimes. He has also filed a complaint against us with the human rights commission on the same grounds. Ironically, he has called our freedom of the press "intellectual terrorism".

Those are nuisance suits, of course. But the idea is to cost us money and time, break our spirit, erode our freedom of speech, and teach a lesson to all other media: that anyone who doesn't censor themselves will be made to wish they did.

The threats are working. Already, many Canadian magazine retailers who normally carry the Western Standard have caved in, announcing -- even before they see our new issue -- that they won't put us on their shelves. Again, the purpose of the censors is obvious: hurt our magazine economically, and make an example of us as a warning to all other media.

That's why I'm writing to you today: to ask for your help. Please do three things:

1. Let me know how you feel.

If you support our magazine's decision, let me know. Send me an e-mail to info@westernstandard.ca and I'll share it with the rest of our staff, to help buoy their spirits as we face this hurricane, to let them know we're not alone.

2. Encourage your local retailer to stock the Western Standard

Magazine retailers need to know that you value freedom of the press and your freedom to make up your own mind, and to not be censored by them or anyone else. Ask them to stock the magazine, or even to order it in just for you. You'll not only help us survive the boycott, but you'll put some steel in the spine of your local retailer.

3. Help us out directly.

If you're not yet a subscriber, now's the time to sign up -- a subscription is 37% cheaper than buying the magazine at the newsstand, and the money goes directly to us. If you're already a subscriber, consider renewing your subscription today, or extending your subscription, or even joining one of our clubs for enthusiasts by becoming a Sustaining Subscriber or a member of the Publisher's Circle.

You can find out more and do all of that right online, at HERE

It's fast, easy and secure -- and it helps us stay strong, and keep growing.

When we started the Western Standard nearly two years ago, I never imagined that we would have been at the center of a fight for our culture's basic freedoms -- or that the rest of Canada's media would be so silent, leaving us to fight this fight by ourselves.

But we're not all by ourselves. We have you.

Thank you for your help -- I look forward to your e-mails.

Yours truly,

Ezra Levant
Publisher

P.S. The best way to help us right now is to click on Western Standard: Subscribe

This was my reply to Ezra Levant:

Dear Ezra Levant,

I received your email this morning, describing the harassment you are suffering at the hands of Muslims who are trying to kill free speech and freedom of expression in Canada. This is reprehensible indeed.

It is also reprehensible that your news media outlets in Canada are so cowardly as not to stock your newspaper. Indeed, in my opinion, this is not only a blatant act of cowardice, but a blatant act of dhimmitude also!

You say you have never been so proud of your newspaper. So you should feel. You have every right to feel proud. Your newspaper is showing the spunk to stand up for our liberty when larger ones - the ones that should have joined the all-out fight weeks ago - have just caved in and sucked up. Look at the US press! How many US newspapers published them? Sadly, to my knowledge just ONE! Then look at the UK press! How many UK newspapers published them? To my knowledge NONE!

I am the author of the book, 'The Dawning of a New Dark Age: A Collection of Essays on Islam'. If I may say it: I have seen these problems coming for twenty years, or more. Then, only a few people would listen.

I have also got a weblog to promote my book. It's to be found at: Librabunda.blogspot.com

The title of the blog is 'A New Dark Age Is Dawning'. I, too, published the cartoons, but they were censored by Photobucket.com! I shall publish them again soon.

In support of your plight, I should like to re-publish this email on my weblog. I get lots of visitors from all around the world, from Alaska to New Zealand, and from South America to the Russian Federation. I should like to let my visitors know exactly what is going on in 'liberal' Canada. I trust that you are happy for me to do this.

I should like to take this opportunity to wish you all the luck in the world with your struggle for freedom of expression. Bon chance! I and my visitors are with you all the way.

Sincerely,

Mark Alexander

Author: 'The Dawning of a New Dark Age'

Again, please help the Western Standar in any way you can. In doing so, you will be helping the cause of free speech and free expression, and you will be helping to keep the darkness that is Islam at bay.

I SHOULD LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE BEEN CENSORED AGAIN! PLEASE LOOK TO THE RIGHT, AT THE SIDEBAR, AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THE CARTOON OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD, THE ONE SHOWING HIM WITH A BOMB IN HIS TURBAN, HAS BEEN REPLACED BY ANOTHER IMAGE - AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR 'PICTIGER.COM'. FIRST I WAS CENSORED BY PHOTOBUCKET.COM; NOW I HAVE BEEN CENSORED BY PICTIGER.COM!

THIS IS A VERY TROUBLING DEVELOPMENT, FOR IT SHOWS JUST HOW FAR DOWN THE ROAD OF DHIMMITUDE WE HAVE ALREADY COME. WE ALL NEED TO BOYCOTT THESE TWO IMAGE HOSTING COMPANIES.

©Mark Alexander