What follows was quoted in a comment in the Globe and Mail as being a letter to the editor of a "major Canadian newspaper" from one "T. Bopp" from British Columbia. It will be our last post (for this year) on Canada's hopelessly marshmallowy refugee policy. [Is dis a policy? Ed.]
The forces of all-party electoral ethno-politics have dogged all efforts to reform a system that, courtesy of Canada's charter of rights, has turned us into a willing doormat for all those bent on taking advantage of our reluctance to protect the integrity of our borders.
As long as Ottawa's political mind-set stubbornly opposes the notion of real reform of the Western world's most generous and porous refugee system, by hiding behind the universality of Canada's sacrosanct charter, we will indeed remain "the land of trusting fools," as put so aptly by a Russian security official.
Unique among such charters in Western democracies, by extending full civil rights to any and all non-residents once they set foot on our soil, the Canadian charter has opened a veritable Pandora's Box of refugee and immigration abuse and resulted in a virtual inability to effectively and expeditiously deal with undesirables freely flocking to our shores
The Supreme Court's 1985 "Singh Decision" forever changed the 1976 Immigration Act, making the Canadian charter universal by guaranteeing "everyone ... the right to life, liberty and security of the person."
It has resulted in endless litigation, negated the law and served as a major stumbling block to meaningful reform to ensure our refugee system is reserved for those afflicted by genuine persecution in other nations.
By enabling them to virtually guarantee their "clients" the protection of the charter, once delivered to Canadian soil, the Charter's unrestricted universality remains a veritable boon to a growing industry for human smugglers and continues to serve as a powerful magnet to all comers.
If you're a Canadian and you agree, you may send your comments to the Honourable Jason Kenney at Minister@cic.gc.ca. Watch your language please.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Benedict XVI to Chinese Catholics: Have courage!
In his "Urbi et Orbi" message today, Pope Benedict XVI urged Chinese Catholics loyal to Rome -- the "underground church" of which I've written before -- to have courage in the face of Communist attempts to limit freedom of conscience and religion.The Holy Father used his traditional holiday speech, delivered from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to tourists and pilgrims in the rain-soaked square, to encourage people living in the troubled areas around the world to take hope from the comforting message of Christmas. The trouble spots he referred to range from war-torn Afghanistan to the volatile Korean peninsula to the Holy Land — and also to China.
In recent weeks, tensions have flared anew between the Vatican and Beijing over the Chinese government's defiance of the Pope's authority to name bishops and its insistence that prelates loyal to Rome attend, against their will, a gathering to promote Communist China's schismatic and heretical "Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association".
This post has been adapted from the Associate Press report. To watch the AP video clips of the Holy Father celebrating Midnight Mass, click here.
The AP clip from the Pope's Christmas message is here. Note that the Holy Father is speaking in Italian, since he is addressing the people of Rome in his capacity as Bishop of Rome. The Telegraph has published the full text in English.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Muslims to Christians: "Get out of the Middle East!"
Christians make up less than 10% of Egypt's population. (Around 9% of Egyptians are Coptic Orthodox; only 0.3% are Catholic.) But even that small minority is too much for Muslim fundamentalists.
So says Father Rafic Greische, a spokesman for the Catholic Church in Egypt, in an interview with Vatican Radio. He discussed recent difficulties faced by Egyptian Christians, including the imprisonment of Christians who protested the government’s refusal to permit the construction of a church.
“This is what the Muslim fundamentalists want," he said. "They want the Christians to evacuate from the Middle East and leave [the region to them]. And this is what is happening every day… and the governments do not take serious action to relieve or solve these problems."
Contrast that attitude with the tolerance and freedom of religion which our secular governments expect us to show to the Muslims -- including Islamic fundamentalists -- whom we have accepted into our countries. As Christians we are taught to turn the other cheek, but really...
So says Father Rafic Greische, a spokesman for the Catholic Church in Egypt, in an interview with Vatican Radio. He discussed recent difficulties faced by Egyptian Christians, including the imprisonment of Christians who protested the government’s refusal to permit the construction of a church.
“This is what the Muslim fundamentalists want," he said. "They want the Christians to evacuate from the Middle East and leave [the region to them]. And this is what is happening every day… and the governments do not take serious action to relieve or solve these problems."
Contrast that attitude with the tolerance and freedom of religion which our secular governments expect us to show to the Muslims -- including Islamic fundamentalists -- whom we have accepted into our countries. As Christians we are taught to turn the other cheek, but really...
Monday, December 20, 2010
Red Green gives you some Christmas laughs
As is well known (see earlier post), Canadians suck at sitcoms and excel at sketch comedy. However, we have not discussed an eminently funny and internationally successful Canadian show which is neither. That would be The Red Green Show, sometimes known as The New Red Green Show.
The Wikipedia entry for The Red Green Show describes it as a cross between a sitcom and a sketch show. Walt says the only thing "cross" about it is Mrs. Walt's expression every time Red and the Possum Lodge gang come on the air.
Really the show is a series of monologues by Red (Steve Smith) or dialogues between Red and his nephew Harold (Pat McKenna) or other lodge members and friends, including such notable actors as Gordon Pinsent, Dave Thomas and -- as you'll see -- Graham Greene.
The writing, by Steve Smith, Rick Green (who appears but does not speak as Bill Smith) and others is brilliant, although some would say you have to be Canadian to get all the jokes. In keeping with the spirit of the season, Walt presents [geddit? ed.] a couple of Christmas segments.
The Red Green Show aired on various channels in Canada, with its ultimate home at CBC, and on PBS in the United States, from 1991 until the series finale in April 2006. It's in reruns on some comedy channels and PBS stations.
Yep, there's a website. PBS also has a Red Green page. "Keep your stick on the ice!"
The Wikipedia entry for The Red Green Show describes it as a cross between a sitcom and a sketch show. Walt says the only thing "cross" about it is Mrs. Walt's expression every time Red and the Possum Lodge gang come on the air.
Really the show is a series of monologues by Red (Steve Smith) or dialogues between Red and his nephew Harold (Pat McKenna) or other lodge members and friends, including such notable actors as Gordon Pinsent, Dave Thomas and -- as you'll see -- Graham Greene.
The writing, by Steve Smith, Rick Green (who appears but does not speak as Bill Smith) and others is brilliant, although some would say you have to be Canadian to get all the jokes. In keeping with the spirit of the season, Walt presents [geddit? ed.] a couple of Christmas segments.
The Red Green Show aired on various channels in Canada, with its ultimate home at CBC, and on PBS in the United States, from 1991 until the series finale in April 2006. It's in reruns on some comedy channels and PBS stations.
Yep, there's a website. PBS also has a Red Green page. "Keep your stick on the ice!"
Sunday, December 19, 2010
"How Jewish songwriters created Christmas"
"Oy, Christmas. It just wouldn’t be the same without Jewish songwriters."
So begins an interesting article by the Globe and Mail 's music reporter, Robert Everett-Green. Click here to read it.
Reminds Walt of the story about an Israeli tour group who were being shown around the Vatican. They gazed in awe at the architectural and artistic masterpieces of St. Peter's -- all the marble, all the gold leaf. And, it being Christmas, they paused at a Nativity scene and listened to the explanation of the guide.
Said one little old man, "So this all happened in Israel?"
Replied the guide, "Yes, in Bethlehem. The very place where Jesus was born is in your country."
"And the baby's mother was Jewish?" asked the man.
"Yes, she was," said the guide.
"And the baby was Jewish? Circumcised and everything?"
Another affirmative.
Then the old man turned to his wife. "What I can't understand," he said, "is how we ever let the Italians get hold of this!"
So begins an interesting article by the Globe and Mail 's music reporter, Robert Everett-Green. Click here to read it.
Reminds Walt of the story about an Israeli tour group who were being shown around the Vatican. They gazed in awe at the architectural and artistic masterpieces of St. Peter's -- all the marble, all the gold leaf. And, it being Christmas, they paused at a Nativity scene and listened to the explanation of the guide.
Said one little old man, "So this all happened in Israel?"
Replied the guide, "Yes, in Bethlehem. The very place where Jesus was born is in your country."
"And the baby's mother was Jewish?" asked the man.
"Yes, she was," said the guide.
"And the baby was Jewish? Circumcised and everything?"
Another affirmative.
Then the old man turned to his wife. "What I can't understand," he said, "is how we ever let the Italians get hold of this!"
"Jewish lightning" strikes Ontario town councillor
Political correctness is alive and well in Ontario's beautiful Caledon Hills, this according to Agent 3 who once roamed the hills freely.
Seems Caledon town councillor Gord McClure -- an eighth-generation local farmer known for his plain speaking -- used the term "Jewish lightning" in a debate about a historic home owned by former NHL star defenceman Paul Coffey.
Mr. McClure, a member of Caledon’s heritage committee, told a council meeting last week that he supports a proposed heritage designation for the home but not for the lot on which it sits.
Now comes the "slur". "If I owned the land I wouldn’t want the whole thing sterilized," McClure said. "We do that and it’s going to be hit by Jewish lightning."
Regional councillor Richard Paterak took McClure to be equating "Jewish lightning" with arson. Expressing his shock and sensitivity, Paterak said, "We should not make any comments that impugn any people or ethnic community and as a councillor [McClure] should know that."
Mr. McClure denied making a slur. "Paterak doesn't know what he's talking about," was the gist of McClure's remarks. He issued no public retraction and did not respond to phone and e-mail messages requesting comment.
Mr. Paterak's ethnicity and religion are unknown, at least to Agent 3 who says, "He must be an immigrant from Toronto."
Seems Caledon town councillor Gord McClure -- an eighth-generation local farmer known for his plain speaking -- used the term "Jewish lightning" in a debate about a historic home owned by former NHL star defenceman Paul Coffey.
Mr. McClure, a member of Caledon’s heritage committee, told a council meeting last week that he supports a proposed heritage designation for the home but not for the lot on which it sits.
Now comes the "slur". "If I owned the land I wouldn’t want the whole thing sterilized," McClure said. "We do that and it’s going to be hit by Jewish lightning."
Regional councillor Richard Paterak took McClure to be equating "Jewish lightning" with arson. Expressing his shock and sensitivity, Paterak said, "We should not make any comments that impugn any people or ethnic community and as a councillor [McClure] should know that."
Mr. McClure denied making a slur. "Paterak doesn't know what he's talking about," was the gist of McClure's remarks. He issued no public retraction and did not respond to phone and e-mail messages requesting comment.
Mr. Paterak's ethnicity and religion are unknown, at least to Agent 3 who says, "He must be an immigrant from Toronto."
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