Sovereign Canada, Insolent Iran

"The principle of free speech is one of the cornerstones of our democracy. Canada does not accept attempts from the Iranian embassy to dictate what films will, and will not be shown in Canada." Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore

Isn't it important to know, should we not be aware and interested when there are leaders - religious leaders at that - of troubled countries incapable of adequately serving their own population who publicly emote threats against us? Invoking the name of God - albeit their version of the Almighty - to confidently assert that all those who they feel conspire against them, and fail to sufficiently evince subservient awe of their god will be annihilated - "in front of your eyes"?

A 60-minute documentary film scheduled for airing at Library and Archives Canada was cancelled by the good folk at Archives on the receiving end of "threats"; that is, to be precise, threats "of protests". Violent protests, one might add. Upon hearing of that potential those who make the final decisions at Archives shrivelled in abject terror, cowering at the prospect of their building being surrounded by a possible half-dozen protesters.

A speedy cancellation the first solution that came to mind. Not, alternatively, let alone first off to contact the police to alert them of the possibility of loud shouting and slanderous accusations emanating from street level and reaching the tenderly bruised ears of the Archives staff. The imminent showing of the film, Iranium had the interest of quite a number of Ottawans, planning to attend the event. They would have braved the protests.

Weren't they surprised to discover that trembling knees and sensitive eardrums represented requisite attributes for Archives management? A factotum at the down-scaled Embassy of Iran did, after all, send a letter to Archives enquiring as to the feasibility of cancelling the event - oh dear! And those telephone messages from "members of the public" complaining about the screening and "threatening" to protest - migawd!

What's a body to do? Why, take a deep breath, sit perfectly still for five minutes - and begin shrieking. And then place your own telephone call to Fred Litwin, president of the Free Thinking Film Society who was stolidly naive enough to think that he had the freedom to offer the film to an interested viewing audience. Let him know there would be no screening.

Do we need to see in living colour the vile treatment of Iranians protesting their government's abuses of human rights; the threats issued to democracies by Iran's Supreme Leader; be reminded of the theocratic dictatorship's funding and training and arming of proxy militias that exist to threaten the only non-Muslim country in the Middle East? Most Canadians are already aware of Iran's Islamist nuclear program blessed by the Hidden Mahdi.

It does, however, rankle that a specially-produced film, put together by filmmaker Raphael Shore to clarify for those who would like those intriguing details, the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, its pursuit of nuclear weaponry, its sponsorship of terrorist groups, its hand in overturning the fortunes of legitimate governments in the Middle East to more closely reflect Iran's own values and priorities.

There are times when we need to be nudged, require reminding of the dangers presented to the civil world by monster regimes which seek to marginalize democracy and institute their very own brand of theistic totalitarianism. We're the poorer when such a regime feels it can act with impunity to bully and frighten legitimate, civilized government institutions with the assurance that their intimidating tactics will succeed in instilling fear and pull-backs.

As they successfully managed to do - albeit temporarily - in Ottawa, when Archives cancelled a scheduled event to appease Iran's tender feelings and circumvent the potential for violent dissent on our streets. Thanks to the resolute and swift action of James Moore who ordered Library and Archives Canada to reschedule the event, and the added support of Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, the non-event is scheduled to become once again, an event to anticipate.