A viral video short from Canadian content creator Doug Sharpe making the rounds this week. He’s a perfect example of a modern entrepreneur who hustled his way to success with trendy, short-form “fun fact” clips. In one of his most popular videos, he points out that a Canadian judge ruled that giving someone the middle finger is a “god-given right”. It sounds like a joke but it turns out to be absolutely true.

It’s a fantastic example of a court finally pushing back on the trivial nonsense clogging up our justice system.

This all comes from a 2023 Quebec court decision. In a ruling that’s equal parts legal judgment and pure entertainment, Judge Dennis Galiatsatos acquitted a Montreal-area man named Neall Epstein of criminal harassment and uttering threats.

The backstory is a classic neighbour-from-hell dispute. Epstein a school teacher was arrested by police after a confrontation where he admittedly told his neighbour Michael Naccache to “fuck off” and gave him the double middle finger. The neighbour claimed Epstein also made a throat-slitting gesture. The judge flat-out didn’t buy that part.

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What makes this case a national headline is the judge’s spectacular and common-sense ruling. He called the complainant’s grievances “nothing more than mundane, petty neighbourhood trivialities”. He said it was “deplorable” that the complainants “weaponized the criminal justice system in an attempt to exert revenge on an innocent man”.

Judge Galiatsatos wrote in his decision “To be abundantly clear it is not a crime to give someone the finger”. He famously added that “Flipping the proverbial bird is a God-given Charter-enshrined right that belongs to every red-blooded Canadian”.

The ruling is a breath of fresh air for anyone tired of seeing our public resources wasted. The judge had choice words for the police response. He stated that “being told to ‘fuck off’ should not prompt a call to 911”. He added that “the police department and the 911 dispatching service have more important priorities to address”.

This is the kind of entrepreneurial thinking we need in our public institutions. It cuts through the red tape of hurt feelings and gets right to the point. Every hour a police officer spends arresting a man for a rude gesture is an hour they aren’t dealing with the real crimes plaguing our cities like car thefts, break-ins, and violent crime.

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This ruling is a solid win for Canadian liberty. As the judge put it “The complainants are free to clutch their pearls in the face of such an insult” but that doesn’t make it a crime. This isn’t about promoting rudeness. It’s about drawing a hard line between being offended and being a victim. Our Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects our freedom to express ourselves even if it’s offensive.

Was this judge right to call out the police and the complainant? Are we becoming too sensitive as a society? Where do you draw the line between a simple insult and criminal harassment?

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On October 18th, the Empire Theatre will host “The Music of Hans Zimmer & Others,” a concert event featuring The Hollywood Film Orchestra and choir. The show will present compositions by Hans Zimmer from films such as Gladiator, Inception, Top Gun, and The Lion King. The program will also include music from other productions.

The event will be hosted by a performer dressed as a “pirate from Pirates of the Caribbean.” The organizers state this performer is a real actor from the films and will be available for photos. This concert is an opportunity for film and music fans to hear scores from films like The Dark Knight, Interstellar, and Dune.

Join us on X, Facebook, or Instagram and share your thoughts.

Sources

• Facebook event page for “The Music of Hans Zimmer & Others – USA”: https://www.facebook.com/61566546855551/videos/24886187307643818/?rdid=If2xM7WvzTw8EXcT#

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The travel YouTube channel “Wandering Wagars” recently released a video highlighting their visit to Belleville and the Bay of Quinte region. The family, who admitted to previously viewing the area as a pass-through on Highway 401, spent two days exploring local attractions.

Their itinerary included a hike to the lookout at Sager Conservation Area, the boardwalk at the Frink Centre, and the National Air Force Museum in Trenton. The family also visited Reid’s Dairy for a Loonie Shake, kayaked the Trent River, and toured the Glanmore National Historic Site.

The video offers a visitor’s perspective on the community and its attractions. What local attractions would you recommend to a first-time visitor to the Bay of Quinte?

Join us on X, Facebook, or Instagram and share your thoughts.

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