dialamah

The "Right" wants to control and limit sexual and reproductive lives (gay rights, gay marriage, denying transsexual existence, abortion); they want to control and limit people's choice (religious apparel, right-to-die); to blame and punish those who fail to adequately conform to capitalism (disabled, elderly, minimum wage workers). The "Right" refuses to take responsibility for their rejection of others - past or present. Whether its dismissing or excusing what happened in residential schools, and their continuing racist rhetoric against First Nations or how Canada has treated past immigrants. The "Right" had to dragged, kicking and screaming, into a more enlightened age that offers equal rights for women and gays; currently they fight against equal rights for transsexuals and (certain) immigrants. The right still refuses to accept responsibility for their anti-(brown)-immigrant rhetoric and the effect it has on minorities of color in Canada. As far as I can tell, the "Right" is entirely interested in providing freedoms and rights to White, heterosexual Christian people who have money. The rest of the people can go hang, out-of-sight, and keep their mouth shut.

She stopped eating and drinking; the first time they force fed her. This time it seems they decided instead to believe what she told them and rather than let her die slowly of thirst, they consented to euthanasia. It's a pretty sad story for sure, but would hanging herself in her bedroom, or slitting her wrists in the bathtub for her parents to find her be a better outcome? This way, her parents could say goodbye and be with her till the end.

Sure, if you don't mind living in a poorly maintained basement suite or apartment, run out of food 3 days before your next cheque, hitting up the food bank, if you can get there, walk or stay home because you can't afford transit, do without a phone one or two weeks per month because your pre-purchased minutes are up, wear clothes exclusively from second-hand, run out of shampoo, soap, toothpaste periodically. Maybe your rental includes hydro and cable/internet. If not, no TV for you and always behind on hydro. And with all this "luxury living" knowing that a lot of people look down on you because you are poor and it's your fault/your 'scamming' the poor taxpayer. Yup, disability/social assistance - great life. Maybe you should try it, give yourself a clue.

It seems to have become a non-issue, at least according to the first paragraph of this Jan 2019 article. https://www.hilltimes.com/2019/01/23/controversial-pension-bill-unlikely-proceed-groups/184790 I am not a subscriber so can't read beyond the first few lines.

Yeah, that is how I feel. Admittedly I don't like going into stores and being ignored because I am white, any more than I like being ignored in high end stores because I don't look "rich" enough. But thats probably better than being black and assumed to be a criminal and given too much attention.

I live and work in Surrey and am an "old-stock" Canadian woman. I have neighbors who are Muslim, Columbian, East Indian, Japanese (I think) and white. I work with people from all over the world, different ethnicities. I feel like I belong here. I understand that lots of people are uncomfortable when they look around and do not see their own likeness reflected back at them in other faces. My granddaughter is like that. I don't know why I am comfortable with differences and others are not. I suspect its something a person is born with and to change that instinctive response is not easy or even desired by most. It must have served some purpose in the past, but I think that in the modern world it has become counterproductive and leads to conflict, violence and war.

Oops. Looks like I may have followed Scribblet into gullibility ... https://www.abc.net.au/religion/welcome-to-the-weird-world-of-australias-fake-sheikh-mohammad-ta/10095874 "Tawhidi is not recognised as an Imam or Sheikh by either the Australian National Imams Council or its South Australian equivalent, nor is he affiliated with any Australian mosque or prayer centre. The only religious instruction he offers is a self-described "university standard" Islamic Studies class delivered from a rented classroom at the University of South Australia. Tawhidi's tales about Sunni Muslims' shadowy plot to instate Caliphate have been enthusiastically embraced by the far-Right, including Reclaim Australia. Perhaps less expected is the extent to which Tawhidi himself has courted such groups. In the lead-up to last year's federal election, he made offerings of roses to roadside anti-Muslim Liberty Alliance and One Nation posters, as if the face of Pauline Hanson belonged not to Australia's most recognisable anti-Islam campaigner, but a titian-haired deity." Still, death death threats against him are unacceptable, imo.

Since the majority of Muslims denounce terrorism, and since the majority of Muslims in Canada are not violent and since less than half of them conservative (based on burka or hijab wearing), and since polls tell us that the majority of Canadian Muslims support freedom of religion and gender equality, where is your proof that they haven't already 'voluntarily' given up Saudi version of Islam?

Well, to be fair the arguments you and I have put forth assume that someone is guilty based solely on their choice of religion - whether it's investigating Mosques/Imams for extremism or closed religious Christian societies for abuse of women and girls. We may think the erosion of freedom implied by such assumptions is worth the additional safety we think society would gain as a whole, but are we right or wrong? Certainly, Egypt believes that assumption of guilt and harsh crackdowns on 'unacceptable' speech protects their society, and we regularly condemn their behavior. How do we "protect" our society while not falling into the authoritarian system of Egypt and similar countries? Any ideas?

Hundreds of thousands of Muslims put in camps by Chinese. Tens of thousands Muslims killed in Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar by non-Muslims. Tens of thousands more killed by other extremist Islamic groups. Tens of thousands more Muslims killed by Western forces in illegal invasions and proxy wars. Demonization of Muslims continues in Europe, the States and Canada. Ignoring the world-wide picture helps if you only focus on "extremist" Muslims attacking in Western countries and miss the slaughter, incarceration and demonization of Muslims carried out around the world.

The Koran also says that Christians and Jews are people of the book and should be protected along with Muslims. Your rhetoric is no more honest than is that used by al Qaeda or ISIS to radicalize young men online and offline.

And there are alt-right and White Supremacy hate speech all over the internet, increasing numbers of White hate groups and increasing violence as a result of this rhetoric. Both have led to the deaths of innocent people. It's a problem and if we, as a society, choose to crack down on Islamic-inspired hate, then we need to also crack down on White Supremacy-inspired hate. A Muslim's sincere belief that Jews are "the vilest people" should be no less acceptable than an old-stock Canadian's sincere belief that Muslim's are the "most barbaric people". So where do we draw the line and against whom?

If I may point out that neither Goddess nor I suggested going into Muslim homes, but to ensure religious and community leaders aren't enabling extremism or hate. I don't like hateful rhetoric; I think it's damaging to society as a whole, whether online or off. I don't know for sure if such rhetoric is a large part of lectures or sermons in Mosques, and there's been little evidence of Islamic extremism in Canada, but I would like to be sure it's not festering and growing, as White Supremacy has been festering and growing in the unwatched corners of the internet. At the same time, I can see the risks that "assuming" Mosques or Imams need closer watching presents for the rest of us in terms of personal freedoms. If Imams cannot refer to Jews as "the vilest people", should internet commenters also be sanctioned for calling Muslims iredeemably barbaric and violent?

This is a good point, but at the same time anti-Jew rhetoric and Islamic radicalization needs to be addressed, if such is happening. There is more evidence of female oppression in closed religious communities and addressing that presents the same issue in terms of rights. This is why I mentioned safeguards and admitted I don't know what they'd be.

I don't disagree with that, although I think there would need to be some safeguards, though I have no idea what they'd be. If I was going to investigate Christian religions for anything, it would be sexual and physical abuse of women and girls, especially closed community types like Mennonites and polygamous Mormon sects. But again, I would want to figure out a way to do it that still safeguarded rights.

Yes, the "thank you" was for introducing me to a moderate of whom I hadn't previously heard. Doesn't mean I necessarily agree with everything he believes. Only one Mosque per State? That makes no sense, unless he's also suggesting limiting all worship houses. I don't agree with that, people are entitled to worship as they wish, regardless of how irrelevant I find them. Too bad about what's happening with him though; he is as entitled to express his views as anyone else, without having his life threatened.

This is lying, as you well know. In the past I have said: 1. FGM is a problem in MENA countries, in some places practiced as much or more by non-Muslims as Muslims, that the practice predates Christianity and Islam and is thought to have arisen in ancient Egypt. I have objected to the bigotry that ignores the prevalence of FGM among non-Muslims in the Middle East and Africa and points to Muslims as the near-sole practitioners. I have objected to the assumption that Christian girls from those regions are not at risk. 2. There are ongoing efforts in these countries to eradicate FGM regardless of the religion of the practitioner. It's slow going. 3. Canada should do more to identify and protect girls at risk in Canada, whether Muslim or not. Please find a quote where I have denied, in so many words, that it has "nothing to do with Muslims and it was really Christians who had the problem".

I added substantially to the thread, and you just couldn't wait to bop on here and rewrite my contribution to suit your personal biases.

Oooh look! Have you been taking creative writing courses? Must congratulate you on your mastery of the misinformation technique; perhaps you could make a little extra coin at Breitbart or any conspiritard site.

An interesting read and I agree that community is an important part of human experience. Religion has been a primary driver of community throughout history, and still is in many parts of the world. It is also a primary driver of an "us vs. them" mentality (along with oppression of women and people who are not heterosexual.) In Western society, community is often found through associating with people with whom you have commonality, instead of through forced conformation to a set of imposed rules of behavior, aka religion. That means that my community can encompass the woman in a hijab or a bikini, as long they are both as equally willing to accept those who are "different". I think the writer fails to fully consider how other people may view community, and how their view may differ from his.

Ah, I see. That seems a tremendous leap from the suggestion to "smile at an obvious immigrant, talk to them, invite them for dinner". Being open to new people doesn't mean throwing common sense out the window, eh? Even the couple of down-on-their-luck strangers I have invited home had to pass a basic sanity (and smell) test.

What is a stranger? Someone you've just met, right? Is inviting your new neighbor or coworker for dinner "dodgy"? But aside from that, I have invited people I have just met who are down on their luck home on a couple of occasions. In my experience, most people are decent although I have to say I have had some sketchy moments.

I've never been locked up for smiling at strangers. Not even for inviting them to my house.