Most people have heard about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but it seems to have escaped the notice of the people who run Instagram (the same people who run Facebook).

Especially this bit: Section 2, clause b: “Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;”

Like, Instagram?

With exquisite timing, just before Mother’s Day, Instagram shut down Heather Bays’ account because it featured pictures of her breastfeeding her 20-month old daughter. Heather, who’s originally from Winnipeg and now lives in Toronto, may have thought she was sharing a beautiful picture celebrating motherhood with her community, but Instagram apparently thought she was trafficking in child pornography.

Seriously. One photo showed her daughter’s bare torso, and another one exposed a full breast and someone took offense and complained.

Let’s remember that Heather Bays is a maternity photographer. Unlike millions of moronic selfies, her photos are actually good.

                   Meanwhile, over in Vancouver, people are trying to get Dr. Seuss banned again. This time, it’s If I Ran the Zoo, because there’s a line about zoo helpers who “all wear their eyes at a slant”, alongside illustrations of Asian stereotypes. While this was all perfectly acceptable back in 1950, it is offensive through a 2014 lens.

The Vancouver Public Library is resisting the call for the ban, wisely recognizing that if they ban Dr. Seuss, they would have to ban half the world’s literature, from Sophocles to the Arabian Nights.

At one time or another, everything and everyone offends. These days, everyone is offended. I don’t envy the gatekeepers. When everything is offensive, what do you do?

If you ask me, it’s simple. Just remember the Nazis. They loved to find things offensive. They burned books and banned works of art because they were decadent or written by Jews. The Nazis weren’t interested in freedom thought, belief, etc. In fact, they loathed and opposed such things.

Good thing we’re not like the Nazis, eh?

Look. As far as I’m concerned, lots of things are offensive. There are times when I wish country music, Hallmark Greeting Cards and cat videos were ruthlessly suppressed. But then I come to my senses.

We need to remember the great value of freedom. Right now in Nigeria, hundreds of school girls have been kidnapped by narrow-minded extremists to prevent them from being exposed to western education. This is the logical dead end of censorship. Freedom is messy, rude and annoying, but it beats oppression and slavery every time.

So let’s cut everyone a little slack. As far as I know, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms doesn’t protect your right to be offended.

At least not yet.