Patrick "Pat" Condell is a writer, polemicist, and former stand-up comedian. In his early career he wrote and performed in alternative comedy shows during the 1980s and 1990s in London, winning the Time Out Comedy Award in 1991. He was also a regular panelist on BBC Radio 1's Loose Talk. Mr Condell seems to have given up on comedy, perhaps because nothing's funny any more. In this short video (3:55) he sums up everything that went wrong in the society in which we grew up, the society we loved. There's no place there, any more, for such as we. Watch and listen.
Mr Condell is right in what he's saying. Let me repeat that. Mr Condell is right in what he's saying. If you know that, you should also know what's the right thing to do... that's right... not left, but right! Don't be shy! Don't be apologetic! Be RIGHT!
Showing posts with label rights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rights. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Friday, February 11, 2011
Canadian values -- only in Québec?
Canadian reaction to British Prime Minister Cameron's "multiculturalism has failed" speech has been strangely muted. The Land of the Maple Leafs [Is this right? Ed.] seems to be the last bastion of political correctness. No politician of any stripe has recognized the vote-gathering potential of standing up for Canadian values. Either that, or they're waiting for someone to define "Canadian values" for them.
Step forward Michael Den Tandt. Writing in the Sun newspapers today, Mr. Den Tandt arguess that the Oath of Citizenship should be amended "to include a vow to uphold values of tolerance, liberty and gender equality."
While I can think of some additions to or subtractions from Mr. DT's list, I agree with the concept. Surely there must be some values which are shared by the majority. Why is it that none of Canada's "leaders" wants to stand up for the things that Canucks hold dear?
Den Tandt accuses the Conservatives of being afraid of alienating communities they're "working hard to woo". He means (amongst others) the Sikhs whose bloc vote controls half a dozen ridings in the western Greater Toronto Area and another three or four in British Columbia's Lower Mainland.
Sikhism requires male believers to wear, along with turbans and special underpants, ceremonial daggers called kirpans. This makes some non-Sikhs nervous, especially when the Sikhs want to wear their kirpans into government chambers in which their rights are being discussed.
You can't bring a weapon into Canada's Parliament Buildings, or the Ontario or British Columbia legislatures. Unless, of course, you're a Sikh. Then it's OK because... errr... no-one wants any vizmins to be offended, lest they fail to vote in the desired way.
Except in Québec. To the chagrin of The Rest of Canada -- especially PM Steve Harpoon -- Québec's Assemblée Nationale voted this week to ban the wearing of kirpans in their building. Voted nem con.* Unanimously too.
Only in Québec, it seems, are people unafraid to stand up and be counted for values shared by the majority, even when they conflict with the "rights" of a minority. Strange, eh!
* nemine contradicente
Step forward Michael Den Tandt. Writing in the Sun newspapers today, Mr. Den Tandt arguess that the Oath of Citizenship should be amended "to include a vow to uphold values of tolerance, liberty and gender equality."
While I can think of some additions to or subtractions from Mr. DT's list, I agree with the concept. Surely there must be some values which are shared by the majority. Why is it that none of Canada's "leaders" wants to stand up for the things that Canucks hold dear?
Den Tandt accuses the Conservatives of being afraid of alienating communities they're "working hard to woo". He means (amongst others) the Sikhs whose bloc vote controls half a dozen ridings in the western Greater Toronto Area and another three or four in British Columbia's Lower Mainland.
Sikhism requires male believers to wear, along with turbans and special underpants, ceremonial daggers called kirpans. This makes some non-Sikhs nervous, especially when the Sikhs want to wear their kirpans into government chambers in which their rights are being discussed.
You can't bring a weapon into Canada's Parliament Buildings, or the Ontario or British Columbia legislatures. Unless, of course, you're a Sikh. Then it's OK because... errr... no-one wants any vizmins to be offended, lest they fail to vote in the desired way.
Except in Québec. To the chagrin of The Rest of Canada -- especially PM Steve Harpoon -- Québec's Assemblée Nationale voted this week to ban the wearing of kirpans in their building. Voted nem con.* Unanimously too.
Only in Québec, it seems, are people unafraid to stand up and be counted for values shared by the majority, even when they conflict with the "rights" of a minority. Strange, eh!
* nemine contradicente
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Obituary for common sense
Agent 5, who has been lurking here for some time, finally contributes a good item.
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; Why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
This has been kicking around the Internet since 2007 (according to http://www.snopes.com/) and originally appeared in the Indianapolis Star. It is the work of one Lori Borgman, and you can read the original here.
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; Why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
This has been kicking around the Internet since 2007 (according to http://www.snopes.com/) and originally appeared in the Indianapolis Star. It is the work of one Lori Borgman, and you can read the original here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)