Star Trek Nick Troller is fighting the Canadian province of Manitoba’s decision to censor his license plate. It reads “ASIMIL8” and that was deemed offensive to “Indigenous groups,” the latest terminology to describe natives.
The conservative Justice Center for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) is taking up the free speech mantle on Troller’s behalf, The National Post reports.
“It’s another case that pits the Charter freedom of expression against the new, phoney right not to be offended,” JCCF President John Carpay told the National Post.
Carpay believes the province’s actions are motivated by a form of political correctness that directly undermines a basic freedom like free speech because someone doesn’t like the connotation of a word.
“There’s a difference between words that are inherently offensive regardless of how you use them, such as vulgarities, obscenities, four-letter words, versus words like ‘war’ or ‘assimilate,’ which can have positive or negative connotations,” he said.
Ironically, Troller wasn’t even referring to natives or anyone assimilating into Canadian society. He says the plate is tribute to the Borg — an alien race in the Star Trek series that roams about the universe impressing other societies into their orbit. The plate holder makes this quite clear; it reads: “WE ARE THE BORG” and “RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.”
In his affidavit appealing the province’s censorship, Troller argues that “the word ‘assimilate’ is just a word — it is neither good nor bad. We assimilate nutrients into our bodies in order to live.”
That reasoning isn’t scouring with native groups who are becoming increasingly militant in their protests across the country.
University of Manitoba assistant professor Niigaan Sinclair, a native who teaches at the University of Manitoba said free speech is “bogus argument” in the debate.
“If Indigenous peoples feel triggered by a license plate or a sports logo, or the name of a historical figure on a building, Canadians would be best served to listen to why Indigenous peoples are triggered, and show some care and sensitivity when they express themselves,” he said.
Troller had the license plate on his car for two years before the province ordered it removed — two First Nations people had complained.