betsy

I only made an assumption, and I should've made it clear in my post that it was just an assumption on my part.

Bollinger should not have invited this man in the first place. Why did he give this monster a chance to speak before the American public on American soil, giving him a venue to cast more skepticism, confusion, division in an already divided country over their view on war....at the time when they are at war! Just for inviting him alone had given some sort of credibility or respectability to this monster. Like as if despotic monsters are not capable of lying - I'd be surprised if most of them are not pathological liars! If I am Ahmedinejad, of course I'll grab at this opportunity. Why, it's an excellent strategy to play with this people's mind...especially at this time when they are divided with their views on war, and are displeased with their leader! Bollinger saw the criticisms in his actions for inviting this man and tried to rectify the error he'd made thus giving his intro the way he did.

I think you know what I mean. Just imagine the tons of complaints from clashing cultures...and that doesn't necessarily mean clashing with only Canadian cultures. Why should we further tie up our courts when we can easily avoid having to deal with this nightmare? Why do we need to spend more money on that? What is wrong with having one set of laws for everyone?

I didn't know gays can spawn children now! When did this breakthrough happen? So two men can now naturally concieve and naturally give birth to babies! Jennie, I have an advice for you. Whether you like it or not, I'll give it to you anyway so you wouldn't be interrupting a seriously interesting discussion. You remind me of a child icessantly disrupting adult debate trying to get attention. It's not cute. I have been enjoying reading the exchanges between the two debaters....and here you come disrupting AND de-railing the arguments that truly make any forum lively! I hope Charles have a good chit-chat with you. READ. READ AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU READ!

And how is that promting violence???? You mean you want to censor the opinions posted on the board! See? Just shows you the leftists are the true scary-scary we should be watching out for! They want complete CONTROL!

Good that this announcer had spoken out the way he did! I hope more people start having the balls to do it....loud and clear....and publicly! Before you know it, all of Canada will be like Quebec. Landslide majority clamoring for the return of practical common sense!

Why do we need to clog up our already clogged-up courts to settle rights disputes....when the simplest solution is to get everyone be treated equally? One set of laws for all. I bet that is one of the major reasons a lot of people are now viewing this reasonable accomodation seriously. All the possible implications down the road. Especially the legal ones. Oh boy. And according to MDuffy, Quebec had to establish a special Commission or Committee just to oversee these disputes about reasonable accomodations (apparently they've got quite a few issues there aside from the veil wearing women during elction. They mentioned girl hockey team and restaurant menus) So, that's probably why the poll shows 77% Quebecers are now wanting the immigrants to adapt. Only 5.4% agree with reasonable accomodation. Canada should be open. In the sense that future would-be immigrants (applicants) are not given any false expectations. Should Canada change its immigration policies...requirements and expections from future immigrants should be spelt out. Btw, I don't think anyone is saying that immigrants cannot practice their culture. They can. But just not at the expense of society....nor at the expense of curtailing the customs/cultures that's already established in this society.

I don't know what you're on about, Jennie. I think it is you who's still stuck with that turban thing. I'm waaaaayyy past that turban incident. I'm now on about the reasonS - see the plural form - why some people are starting to shout "SHUT UP AND FIT IN!" That's the new climate....and whether you want it or not....it's happening. And to borrow your phrase, thank goodness the people are finally waking up from the nightmare. Get?

A slur may be racist but it doesn't necessarily mean that the person is racist! You're saying anyone who spout "Nigger!" to a black in the heat of anger is a klansman! That's a crock of bull and you know it! You're saying it not to a race but to an individual who angered you! Argus is expressing his anger over what he percieves is the encroachment on and deprivation of his own culture...and though his statements made racist slurs, does not necessarily mean that Argus, as a person is a racist!

But you're not the only one. How many ethnic groups are there? It doesn't matter whether your Jewish population is high or low.....but it's plain sensible to conclude that if you extend a privilege for one group, you have to extend it to others. We cannot have each and every group imposing their culture or religious practices to society. We cannot sustain that! So the solution is simple: we adapt! We all have to respect the rule or the laws of the land.

Do you think we should allow the stoning of women if they commit adultery? I am also talking about foreign cultural beliefs. Do you think we should allow women to be burned for whatever cultural reasons some group has for burning wives? Ahhh....and the latest controversy that might have been the last straw, do you think the taliban-related burquas and face coverings be allowed for women voters....considering the irony that we are at war with the taliban for the oppression of women?

A journalist at MDuffy said they called 50 Liberals, asking them if they think there's any chance Dion will improve. All gave a resounding "No." That same sentiment was echoed by a member of Dion's caucus when interviewed (I can't recall her name but this was brought up on MDuffy, showing the clip of the interview with the press). The lady member of the caucus was trying to help Dion it seemed, however she made statements that are harming such as ..."he is too old to change." Apparently she got an earful from the other caucus members after that episode with the press.

I know the question is directed to Jefferiah, but I would like to give my two cents: The statements of Argus are not racist. They may sound that way....but to me, it sounds more like an expression of exasperation, frustration, despair, a feeling of helplessness over what is happening. We cannot judge a person just through a statement. We have to know the motivation behind that statement. Spouting racial slurs does not automatically make one racist.

I don't know why some can't see the obvious...that it's only just a matter of simple common sense. If you accomodate one foreign culture, you have to give the same consideration to others. How can we possibly accomodate each and everyone? See, what Borg had just added is one example. There's bound to be clashes! What rights supercede or trumps another's rights? There is only one solution: adapt to your host country. You chose to come here. No one forced you. If you feel that strongly about your own culture then you should re-think the option of coming here. Reconsider, that although the other side's grass looks greener, your happiness is where your heart is.

That was poignant.

Yes it did morphed. What's really about the outrage over our system - the way this incident was handled - had been deftly taken out of context, twisted around - with a determination by a few posters to make it look like it's a Muslim-bashing thread. And if we didn't put a good lid on it, it would've morphed some more and would have included the USA system mixed in with ours, with the determination by the same few posters to make it look like it's a Jew-loving thread.

Which is only true. Why do we want to import those ways to this country when it is plain to see that they are eroding our own system? The fact that for most of these immigrants, the reason they left their homeland and came here is because of their failed system. I stand by my conviction that the radical activists who are adhereing to Socialism and Communism are the only ones truly behind most of these demands. And obviously political parties that have the same idealogies....or politicians eager to get votes at any cost. These radicals usually spread their whimsical idealogies to universities (hence you see a lot of obviously educated people...and obviously young people spouting off the same mantra they've been brain-washed with, their naivete clearly shining through). And they go to the population that they can easily stir up (like the poor and in our case, the minorities). We have these kinds everywhere too. I've seen and had been approached by these types during my days in university. Anyway, welcome to the forum Baby Billy.

If it weren't for the big corporations, banks and churches....you wouldn't have anything to wake up to. Like John Lenon you'd have to imagine the utopia you think would exist without our society.

Someboddddyyyy is spending tooo much time in the sun.....and sniffing in the popppppy fields. You know what guys, once in a while, we need a comic relief.

Yeah, yeah, yeah....<yawn> Same-old, same-old.....so the answer to that is also a same-old. War.

As for the rudeness, yes I suppose Bollinger made a boo-boo there. After all, he invited this man, and therefore he is Bollinger's guest. Bollinger should've taken the "high-road", so to speak.

Well at last, we agreed on something. Thanks for the post.

Yep. Propaganda. You got that oh so very right. And that article you posted at the beginning of this thread is a good example of it. Propaganda from the left....or from taliban supporters themselves.

He asked for what he thinks he was entitled to. But the FACT is he already had what he was actually entitled to.

From my experience of talking to a lot of visible minorities, I'm betting that a lot of folks out there just want to be treated like everybody else. And I'm telling you, a lot do not welcome these ridiculous cultural rights demands that only put emphasis on us being "different" from the "true" Canadians. I guess it's like someone who doesn't want to wear those flashy clothes with cameras hanging down their necks so they wouldn't be identified or singled out as tourists. They are more than willing to adapt. And some do need help in order to adapt. That's the area we should concentrate on - helping immigrants, especially those who have had no experience whatsoever with western culture to adapt as quickly as they can. If possible, do a real western immersion for the newly arrived. Just like the foreign exchange students who get "adopted" by western families for a period of time to understand our way of life. A lot of immigrants end up grouping together - not because they don't want to integrate - but simply because they don't know how, or where to begin. A lot of them come from cultures that are not as out-going as western people, whom we'd describe as timid or shy to begin with....so to some of us, they seem aloof or unfriendly, when in fact they are just unsure. It doesn't help when radical activists - mostly those leaning towards Communism and Socialism - insinuate and plant seeds of discontent and distrust. "They're not treating you right. You are being looked upon as a second-class citizen. They are racist! You are at the mercy of these supremacists! You deserve your cultural right to be accommodated! They have to do this for you. They need to give you this...blah-blah-blah." Most immigrants come from places that were colonized by England or France or the USA. And some of these immigrants came from places that had experienced conflicts with England, France or the USA. So of course, to these radical groups the "whites" are the convenient villain. They need a villain to further their cause. What better way than to stir up and foster divide? These radicals would do their best to stop immigrants from fully integrating and fading off into the crowd. And then to top it all, here comes a politician who decides to use these people as good platform for his political party. "Oh yeah, you poor bastard...they're not treating you right. The conservatives don't want you in this country. They are racists. They have a secret agenda. They don't want you to succeed. I am your friend. I'll fight for you. You deserve more!" So holy molly, the poor immigrant just found himself in a place surrounded by whitey enemies! So what's the best recourse? Group with your own kind. Integration is the key, imho. Would-be immigrants (applicants) should know before-hand what it means and what is expected if they become immigrants to this country. Terms should be laid out. It's only fair....for both side. After all, migrating means uprooting. It is a giant step. Some immigrants have voiced out being given false expectations and had lost so much when they've uprooted and moved to this country. Therefore cards should all be laid out on the table to all applicants.