dialamah

Seems you don't understand the human rights we uphold, which is the right of everybody, including LGBTQ+ people, not to be demeaned and attacked, especially by people in positions of power. We are a progressive country, and as such we protect people from being targetted and persecuted for race, religion or sexual orientation - a right which Barry Neufeld is actively opposing, and frequently disregards in his public statements. As a private citizen, he can say what he wants. As a public official, I expect him to uphold the same human rights Canada and Canadians do. Just like Christians will toss people out of their congregation for expressing views contrary to their particular philosophy, I'm perfectly fine tossing public officials out their job for expressing views contrary to Canada's values and culture.

Yes, certain conservative people don't like Tam, so they have decided to claim she's transsexual, as if that matters in terms of her job. Maybe she is and maybe she isn't, but I could find no confirmation that she'd ever undergone sex change surgery. I bet its some rumour, repeated often enough to seem true among those who simply accept what they see in FB memes. Yeah, that school trustee needs to be gone instead of spreading misinformation and fomenting discrimination against LGBTQ. Then maybe girls wouldn't get beat up cause they're gay.

This is a fact of life in every country in the world. It is arguably less so in democratic countries, but its existence does not presage communism, that's just silly. Smart and engaged citizens would know that the primary importation of Covid to Canada was via the States, banning travel from Wuhan would have made little or no difference. Canada did, in fact, ban travel from China prior to banning it from the States. The "swallowing" of BS seems to be prevalent among a certain conservative subset, not among the "smart and engaged" population.

Sure, but his rhetoric certainly didn't discourage it. A leader should be able and willing to bring out the best in his followers, not the worst. Trump brought out the worst.

Rhetoric like "it's their fault" is where it starts. It takes a bit of time for a groundswell of hate and racism to build enough for a government to take action against a group. Anyway, I was merely commenting on how my eyes have been opened as to how much hate exists in Canada and the States; I used to think we were much farther ahead of certain third world countries in that regard. Fortunately, we have a Liberal gov and so it's unlikely that conservative tribalism will lead us into such government-sanctioned persecution.

Yeah, the last few years have really opened my eyes as to how far we haven't come. Had a much rosier view of Canadians and Americans in 2015. C'est la vie, I guess.

Desperate to see communism around every corner? I suppose you'd welcome another era of McCarthyism.

So, why aren't you cooperating?

And you, being non-Muslim, do not get to change the religion to suit your extreme views. Wherever in the world where you look, the vast majority of Muslims live peaceful lives - it is only the extremists who are violent. That alone proves you are a liar determined to push a twisted ideology as some kind of the 'truth'. Sure, Argus.

Yes, I agree that Covid cases are increasing in Canada. However, perhaps if dummies around the country weren't demanding their "constitutional" right to go to bars/restaurants/visit granny/vacation in hotspots/shop instore/not wear a mask, we'd be a bit better off.

They could do that now with driver's licences, social welfare payments, income tax increases on resistors; heck, they could even 'suspend' social insurance numbers, taking away someone's ability to work. There's any number of ways the government could "force" Canadians to do stuff using some kind of stick - vaccine passport is not needed.

Democracy index: This is a report from the The Economist, which rates countries based on the following 5 factors: 1) Electoral process and pluralism; 2) Civil liberties; 3) Functioning of the government; 4) Political participation; and 5) Political culture Canada came in 6th, the US 25th. Freedom House rated Canada 98% free (out of a possible score of 100% free), and the United States 83% free - among the worst of the "West". The Human Freedom index rates Canada #4, and the United States at 15; to determine scores, they consider: Rule of Law Security and Safety Identity and Relationships Size of Government Legal System and Property Rights Access to Sound Money Freedom to Trade Internationally Expression and Information Religion Movement Association, Assembly, and Civil Society There's more indexes and rankings to be found, but I didn't find a single one that puts the US ahead of Canada, or even very close to the top. The US is consistently achieves the lowest score among the Western nations. As much as the US advertises about how "free" it is, less boastful nations are actually more democratic and their citizens have more freedoms and security. Perhaps being allowed to tote a gun around isn't really the definition of 'freedom', hmm?

Let's review: And here you are, arguing against a position not taken. And here you are, somehow thinking that examples of people not wearing masks proves that masks don't work. Very strange.

I think the bible's lessons are "Thou shalt not kill, unless I would approve". Did I mention that Christian militia group in Georgia who are preparing to "regretfully" kill democrats/aetheists to save America? They are also less than 0.01% of the population of America, but maybe I need to start calling all Christians bloodthirsty savages just out to kill people, cause as per you, that's how it's done.

My "personal version" of Islam is exactly as valid as yours. in as much as neither of us are Muslim. In addition, my "personal version" has more followers than yours, which is to say if Muslims really were as bloodthirsty as you like to claim, there'd be a million+ Muslims in Canada waging war against us, and 3.5 Muslims in the US waging war- occassional attacks notwithstanding, I haven't noticed much in the way of "war" between Muslims and non-Muslims in either country. Mysteriously - given your conviction that a Muslim ain't a Muslim unless s/he's murdering someone - the actual number of extremist Muslims waging the war you so desperately want to believe in is something less than .01% of the total. Even in the Middle East, the extremist Muslims busily killing non-extremist Muslims is less than .01% of the total. It's still a lot of bad actors, but that doesn't give you - or anyone - the right to paint all Muslims with the same broad brush. Muslims are not a race, which is why you are an Islamophobe and not a racist (well, maybe you are a racist, but I can't remember seeing any proof of that on this forum). Sure that happened -- immediately after Big Moe and his followers were chased around the ME and killed. Guess he decided to take a stand. And how about those Crusaders, eh? Leaving Europe specifically to go kill Muslims - and Jews, btw - they get a pass in your world because "Christian"? History is full of bloodthirsty folks waging war for various reasons, often supported by someone's God. Muslims were no different in that regard.

Let me see if I've got this right: Nobody is claiming masks are a golden bullet, guaranteed to stop the spread, only a tool that helps. You argue against the idea that masks are a golden bullet, guaranteed to stop the spread and point to numbers increasing among those least likely to be using masks (having been told for a year that they won't get very sick, if they get sick at all), as proof that masks don't work. Do I have that right?

Aren't vaccine cards automatically given to parents to track their kids' vaccinations? Looked on a website, and same thing is available to adults, didn't seem very intrusive. That could be a "vaccine passport". Does anyone posting their concerns about a vaccination passport not have a cell phone? Cause if you are worried about your privacy, maybe get rid of your phone.

"several dozen cases that came mainly from Europe and the United Kingdom, where around 25 million people" Several dozen incidences of clots among 25 million people. I can see where it would be much safer to avoid the vaccine and hope you don't catch the disease that kills 2 in 100, or it's cousin that kills 4 in 100. Yup, makes sense.

Honestly, I think this is a good summary. My Brother-in-law, abrogation or not, thinks that the teachings of Mohammed prior to the "verses of the sword" are completely applicable to his life; murder is murder, even if it's a gay person or a non-believer. The verses of the sword only come into play if he, his country, his religion were attacked - that means, physically with soldiers and weapons. Every religion has their nutbars. I just watched a documentary about a Christian militia in Georgia that is completely willing (and preparing) to use violence and murder to progress the Christian way of life in the United States. Killing democrats/atheists is regrettable, but may be necessary to 'save' the US and Christianity.

Well, the unbeliever has to attack first ... a little detail you always forget to mention whenever you interpret the Koran to match your extremist views.

Nice videos.

Per the study: In other words, the half-measures that are initially easier on people's mental health and well-being become harder over the long term, while the relatively quick resolution of virus elimination, and avoiding second and third waves, results in better social outcomes - better economic outcomes and better mental health and well-being outcomes. So, again, OW, you should have read what the link said. Of course, the real answer will be revealed a year or two or ten from now - perhaps some other study will contradict the the findings in this study.

As did Richmond BC, apparently. The Iranian community also took similar steps to slow transmission, so kudos to them as well.

According to the study, most of Europe's lockdowns were not hard enough. The countries that really did shut down hard have had fewer deaths, and have performed better economically than the half-assed shutdowns most of Europe and most of Canada employed. You too should have read the article before commenting.

You haven't been too concerned about the tragedy of Covid deaths, as you've propagandized against even the softest of shut downs and mask use. In lower mainland, Richmond (Chinese dominated population) residents adopted mask-wearing early and widely, as well as staying home, and has had the lowest rate of infection in the lower mainland. Meanwhile, too many idjits blame Chinese people for the virus, even physically attack them, and whine about mask use and shut downs.