Pat Condell, censored by Youtube

Most readers of this blog are probably familiar with Pat Condell's videos, criticizing Islamic thinking, in the name of freedom for all, including Muslims. As the above video explains, he has finally caught up to our own Charles and had one of his videos banned from Youtube, something that happens to many who criticize the left-Islamist worldview. Charles' banned video, as I recall, was merely critical of French politicians; as anyone who reads this blog knows, he's not one for outrageous hyperbole, hate, or vulgarity.

Anyway, while it is not news that Youtube often censors those who don't hold to a certain politically correct party line, the video above is a timely reminder of how those who criticize Sharia precepts, and all the violence Sharia does to people, can, outrageously, be considered something disreputable in today's West.

That's why we, the Covenant Zone bloggers, meet every Thursday and encourage you to join us, wherever you are, in keeping up the tradition of freely speaking your mind, somewhere in public, preferably where others will overhear you and whoever else you can find to talk. (It used to be that when you heard a lone person talking to himself, you figured he was crazy; today we don't have that problem; if you can't find anyone to join you, just pretend you're talking into a cellphone or bluetooth device.)

We meet in the atrium of the central branch of the Vancouver Public Library, 7-9pm Thursdays, in front of Blenz Coffee. Look for the blue scarves.

Here is the text of the above video:

Pat Condell supported the petition against Sharia law in the UK with his video Welcome to Saudi Britain.

As a result of his usual brave and dignified stand in favour of freedom of speech his video has been removed.

He merely criticised the Saudi-based Islamisation of the UK. He did not incite violence nor hatred of Muslims.

The email I received from Pat said this:

patcondell has sent you a message on YouTube:
My video has been removed
Just got this from dhimmitube:

The following video(s) from your account have been disabled for violating the YouTube Community Guidelines:
•Welcome to Saudi Britain - (patcondell)
Your account has received one Community Guidelines warning sanction, which will expire in six months. Additional violations may result in the temporary disabling of your ability to post content to YouTube and/or the termination of your account.

I want to ask you to do two things:

1. Continue to sign the petition to stop Sharia law gaining more ground in the UK - do this in honour of Pat Condell.

"WE THE UNDERSIGNED PETITION THE PRIME MINISTER TO STOP ISLAMIC SHARIA LAW BEING USED IN GREAT BRITAIN."
Deadline 4th October 2008.
Link:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/sharialawuk/

2. Leave a comment below that demands Pat's video Welcome to Saudi Britain be reinstated immediately - do this in honour of our greatest possession, freedom of speech, something that we will allow to slip a little more from our grasp if we do not do all we can to support Pat Condell in this instance.

I for one will cease to use Google as my search engine if YouTube (owned by Google) does not reinstate Pat's video within the next 7 days.

Use your voice on this video to persuade YouTube to overturn this lamentable decision.

We do not live in Saudi Arabia. We do not adhere to Islamic rules about non-criticism of Islam. We are free to criticise Islam. If Pat Condell's video is not reinstated, I will do all I can to peacefully but firmly fight YouTube and encourage as many people as possible to cease using their products for the foreseeable future.

My question to you is this:

If a voice as humorous and high profile as Pat Condell's can be silenced when asking people to sign a legal petition, who's going to hear our voices, we little people?