Scaremongering and Protesters

[Remiel]

I am kind of surprised no one has posted this yet.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/06/03/pol-senate-page.html

A release from Senate Speaker Noël Kinsella said the page's actions constituted a contempt of Parliament.

"All employees of the Senate are expected to serve the institution in a non-partisan manner, with competence, excellence, efficiency and objectivity," Kinsella said. "The incident raises serious security concerns which the Senate will fully investigate."

The first part of this I understand, and obviously firing this girl, Brittany DePape, was the correct response. In fact, she may even be lucky if that is the only consequence of her action, which was civil disobedience of a very high order, I think.

But the suggestion that this raises "serious security concerns" is, I find, more scandalous than the incident itself. A young girl does her job for almost a year, and then protests in an extremely blatant but entirely peaceful way, and we are all of a sudden supposed to head for the hills because their "security" has been "compromised"? What is this country coming to when every form of protest is suddenly a major "cause for concern"?

[Remiel]

Or maybe I somehow missed the other thread... Oops...

[Smallc]

Obviously, her background wasn't checked well enough. What if she was a terrorist bomber?

[Keepitsimple]

Obviously, her background wasn't checked well enough. What if she was a terrorist bomber?

Exactly what I was thinking. Crazy....but nowadays, who knows.

[bjre]

The best security method is kind to others, kind to the people, don't bully them, don't try to rob every cent from them.

Otherwise, your security will make everyone enemy some day and just try to lock yourself in Darth Vader's costume.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_V6QzDsYDdYE/TK6EMYCLE5I/AAAAAAAAO_E/9B5YAhyAU4E/s1600/vader.jpg

Edited June 6, 2011 by bjre

[Battletoads]

Obviously, her background wasn't checked well enough. What if she was a terrorist bomber?

Even if she wasn't, that sign could have had sharp edges

[cybercoma]

Her name is Brigette, not Brittany.

[Smallc]

Even if she wasn't, that sign could have had sharp edges

It really isn't funny.

[August1991]

Obviously, her background wasn't checked well enough. What if she was a terrorist bomber?

That was my thought too.

Except, now we taxpayers will have to fund several million more to vet Senate pages and myriad other minor federal employees who have jobs in the public view.

What happens if the RCMP officer supposedly protecting Harper decides to hold up a sign, and then write a book about all the dirt on the Harper family?

----

This young girl, and the people who admire her action, have pushed more people into the Harper camp. She has achieved the exact opposite of what she wants. More people are likely to vote for Harper because of her action.

The bottom line: The Canadian Left has been reduced to a Senate page holding up a sign. As Bob Rae said, it is a Party of Protest.

----

With that said, Harper's opponents will not be so naive or foolish in 2015.

[cybercoma]

Settle down, folks. The woman held up a sign in the Senate and you're all acting as though she would have flown planes into the World Trade Center buildings.

I can never for the life of me understand why people lose their minds over peaceful protests.

[bush_cheney2004]

...I can never for the life of me understand why people lose their minds over peaceful protests.

Wow...this is old school pomp...C-SPAN is airing the Throne Speech right now in Amerika for Sunday filler. The justices in Santa Claus suits are quite comical. The "black rod" dude should have just whipped Brigitte's ass!

[August1991]

Settle down, folks. The woman held up a sign in the Senate and you're all acting as though she would have flown planes into the World Trade Center buildings.

I can never for the life of me understand why people lose their minds over peaceful protests.

Settle down? It's only a tempest in a Toronto-centred, anti-Harper MSM teapot - and among the political junkies on forums such as this.

In the real world, it's not a story. In the French MSM, it's not an issue.

[mikedavid00]

Except, now we taxpayers will have to fund several million more to vet Senate pages and myriad other minor federal employees who have jobs in the public view.

Exactly my thoughts.

The way I see it, these things happen. They should fire her and move on.

Let's not make some giant make-work project over this isolated incident and waste tax dollars over this nonsense.

[Battletoads]

It really isn't funny.

Oh no, someone got a cardboard sign into the senate.

[WIP]

The bottom line: The Canadian Left has been reduced to a Senate page holding up a sign. As Bob Rae said, it is a Party of Protest.

Of course; because just like America, the Canadian Right represents the minority who control the Nation's wealth. After months of seeing rightwing attack ads constantly on TV, only 60% of eligible voters bothered turning up for the federal election; and of those, less than 40% were needed to guarantee a majority government.

So, a Party supported by one quarter of Canadians is claiming that they represent the majority! After they cancel the 27 million dollar campaign financing, we can expect the Money Party to have total power....now do you understand protest, civil disobedience, and possibly revolution if things really turn to shit in the near future?

[Shwa]

Even if she wasn't, that sign could have had sharp edges

[Smallc]

Settle down, folks. The woman held up a sign in the Senate and you're all acting as though she would have flown planes into the World Trade Center buildings.

Not her, someone else.

[Saipan]

Oh no, someone got a cardboard sign into the senate.

That's why I want my portion of the taxes that she was paid back. And I don't care how little it is.

If anyone else did it during Chretein's reign he would be in jail. Yes, I said HE.

[SF/PF]

I can never for the life of me understand why people lose their minds over peaceful protests.

It seems to be a growing trend in society that people become fearful, even paranoid, whenever something out of the ordinary happens. No matter how remote or ridiculous the perceived threat, the "what if" gears start grinding in heads.

I haven't seen so many terrified, leaking bladders since kindergarten.

[Saipan]

It seems to be a growing trend in society that people become fearful, even paranoid, whenever something out of the ordinary happens. No matter how remote or ridiculous the perceived threat, the "what if" gears start grinding in heads.

I haven't seen so many terrified, leaking bladders since kindergarten.

Fortunately the fear of duck hunters went mostly out with the Liberals.

Yes, there's nothing to fear but the fear itself.

[scribblet]

I guess she is so muddleheaded she doesn't understand that Harper has a majority so her chance to 'stop' him will come around in about 4 years, either that or she had something else in mind. What does she mean by a a Canadian or Arab spring, does she want violet protests on the street, does she mean that we should no longer respect our democracy - I sure don't understand why some people think she's some kind of heroine as she appears to be advocating violence.

[Molly]

Blech.

Not impressive, y'all.

She's right about everything but the acceptability of her actions. Too bad.

Of course it's a security issue. If she can smuggle in that sign, then who all else can smuggle in other stuff that presents greater physical danger?

But much more than that, it's a respect issue. That a page would do this? Where is the sense of having been honored by being entrusted with that post? It's so sad, so disappointing.

[MiddleClassCentrist]

Of course it's a security issue. If she can smuggle in that sign, then who all else can smuggle in other stuff that presents greater physical danger?

Like cardboard spoons, maybe even wooden knives!

OH THE HORROR!

[Remiel]

This is exactly what I meant. Fear is more dangerous than the actions of a girl with a cardboard sign.

Also, I think it is actually somewhat appropriate that the protest was in the Senate. After all, who has the power to stop Harper without risking losing their jobs? Senators do.

And besides, who is more dangerous? A senate page, or a guy who gets to carry a blunt weapon in the chambers?

Edited June 6, 2011 by Remiel

[mikedavid00]

After all, who has the power to stop Harper

Ummmm.. 'Stop Harper' from what? What exactly is he doing? (beside letting in even more immigrants than any other PM and spending more money than any other PM).

What exactly is the uneducated, dimwit, fear mongering left in Canada trying to 'stop' Harper from doing?

She's now out for personal attention doing the talk show circuit and trying to get a name for herself. There's also a Senator that was put in by Paul Martin who called her a hero. A senator in our own gov't is calling her actions 'brave'.

That is real Canadian bravery.. a stupid sign which cheapens our already joke of a country.

Also, news is in that the girl who held the sign took part in the G20 protests, she was involved in Green Peace touring against the tar sands, and has a long history of being part of the radical left. Now Michael Moore (the far left hero who basically lies on his films and is disingenuous) is supporting her.

I like the far left.. they need a movie or cartoon to understand logic. They only understand comic images and emotional fear mongering.

Edited June 6, 2011 by mikedavid00