I've been on The Rocky Road to Recovery today. Fans of the 1990's CBC Radio cult classic series The Great Eastern; Newfoundland's Cultural Magazine will understand the significance of the title. I had a stomach virus on the weekend and an allergic reaction to the virus itself, which was confirmed by a physician yesterday afternoon. Things are looking up though, I actually ate toast with a thin layer of lemon spread on it today and feel myself wanting more to eat. Tonight's supper may actually be chicken soup, with noodles, last night, it was just broth.
The Harper Conservatives got caught yesterday. By days end, they were flatly denying any intentions to pursue hate crime charges against individuals and organizations who engage in or promote boycotts of Israel. I'll be perfectly clear before continuing--I am not against Israel's existence. While I can understand the justification for going after explicitly racist and anti-Semitic organizations, the fact that such a move could have criminalized organizations and individuals that are clearly not racist or anti-Semitic and represent a significant percentage of the Canadian population would have been absolutely abhorrent. The first to come to mind is the United Church of Canada. This is not my church and nor does it represent the approach to Christian belief that I hold to be true. However, I completely respect the existence of the United Church and its ministries, many of which are actually quite effective in the areas of social and economic justice. I do not agree that their encouragement of a boycott of Israel is right or effective, but they are entitled to do so. Most United Church congregations I am aware of are not exactly composed of people one would classify as angry radicals who are out to destroy Zionism either. When I think of the two United churches in my hometown, I think of working families, school teachers, lawyers, business people, veterans and senior citizens, many of whom are actually very conservative politically. Almost all of them are also people who contribute quite positively to the local community. These people are sports coaches, service club members, and even members of the town council. Good neighbours and friends are not radicals. The United Church of Canada is also the largest protestant, Christian denomination in the country, based on its membership roles. Would accusing the organization that represents so many church-affiliated Canadians really be a sensible political move, let alone a completely immoral one? How many members of the Harper cabinet and caucus are members of the United Church? How many provincial premiers?
The other completely innocent group the misguided hate-crime charge could have gone after is the Quakers. I've encountered a few of these folks over the years and again, their religious practice is not the same as mine, but I cannot imagine there being a more harmless and wholesome group of people. I had a high school teacher who is Quaker. I've met some of the others in his local group. In a region of Ontario dominated by right-wing politics and corporate agriculture, they bring some much needed balance and reason. For environmental reasons, most of them use their cars and tractors sparingly. They speak calmly, slowly, and quietly. These are not the features of a hateful people. And like the much more mainstream and abundant members of the United Church, the Quakers contribute to the community. They're teachers and small business owners. One of them has bravely run for the NDP several times in a riding where one gets little appreciation for doing so. In his devotion to using resources wisely, he even re-uses signs from past election campaigns. In 2011, I recall seeing signs by local roads saying "Broadbent for Canada, McQuail for Huron-Bruce" featuring the stylized maple leaf and stick people logo the NDP used during the 1970's and 1980's.
I'm as pleased as can be that the Harper government got caught on this. The public needs to keep catching them, right until the last ballot is cast this October.
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