When Is A Religious Symbol Not Religious?

I have been going over the arguments I have presented why it is hypocritical for the PQ to want to eliminate religious symbols in public areas, but yet still keep the crucifix. But after much deep consideration I have come to the conclusion that I am wrong.

Because fundamentally is the crucifix itself being in the national assembly a religious statement, and can symbols that can be characterized as religious be able to get government funds? For example if the crucifix is broken and needs repair should taxpayers pay for it?

In this situation I find myself agreeing with the PQ and complacently disagreeing with my former post. That the crucifix does have historical reasons to be in the national assembly. It is a historical artifact, and like many historical artifacts in the world they do have religious meaning. For example in Mount Royal there is a big cross and many historical places that we preserve can be characterized as religious.

That doesn't mean simply because we invest in repairing or preserving these symbols that we are therefor endorsing a religion or another but rather that we are preserving it's historical meaning. For example the UN does spend money on preserving many very historical sites which can in some cases be a religious site, It doesn't mean that we endorse the religion the symbol may represent to some people but rather the protection of an old historical site.

On the question of whether people should be able to wear religious symbols in public I do still disagree with them, because I believe we should live in a very tolerant society that allows people in most cases (with very few exception) the ability to wear whatever we want as long as it is decent of course. Which means Hijabs, Kipahs, Kirpans etc... should be allowed to be worn by anyone anywhere in public.

In conclusion the crucifix should be allowed to stay in the national assembly, because it is historical.

I agree with my Blogger!

My Co-blogger says that the fact that the Liberal party walked out in protest to the Conservatives appointment for the auditor-general was outrageous. I think so, but for different reasons. If  you look at history many people do things that are very similar. When Iran speaks at the UN most of the developed world boycotted his speech. In many Parliament when a radical takes the stand and speaks his speech is boycotted in Parliament. The fact is that boycotting is an effective tool to show displeasure. Except I found that this situation isn't in need for a boycott. It wasn't completely as outrageous as Ahmadinejad dening the holocaust! I think marching out of the parliament should only be used when something completely outrageous is done. The fact that auditor general isn't bilingual is something to maybe disagree with, but not the kind of outrage that deems a complete walk-out of the parliament. On the question whether the Auditor general should speak french I think that it shouldn't matter, but the fact is that the Conservatives cheated there own legally binding rules. That's the problem. So I think if the Conservatives would have changed the rules from the beginning allowing all unilingual people a chance to go for such a job would have made it fair. But I don't think the appointment was a good enough reason to walk out. They should have stayed in the parliament and voted NO!

Conservative Champions of Wasting Time

Heckling has returned to the House of Commons with a bang. Once again, politicians of all parties engage in this enormously hilarious act! According to Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner, Deepak Obhrai said Mr. Speaker six times in a 30 second period. This allows him to use up his allotted time so he doesn't say anything important. But, it's also quite funny to watch.

It's horrible. Absolutely horrible for transparency and responsibility to the people and Parliament. Yet, this goes back years and years, deep into Canadian history. While it would be great if MPs were nice to each other, this would require a culture change and it simply will not happen. So, sit down and enjoy the wonderful back-and-forth of the House of Commons.Deepak 

Obhrai is one of the worst offenders, according to the opposition. 

Frustrated MPs say the parliamentary secretary to the Foreign Affairs Minister throws in a few “Mr. Speakers” and other set phrases to eat up his allotted 35-second answers to purposely avoid saying anything substantial in Question Period.

Read more at the Globe and Mail.

Farewell

Yesterday it was reported that Jack Layton has passed away. I may not agree with Layton politically, but he was someone who you just had to admire. he kept running in many elections even though he lost before numerous of times. My best wishes to his family and friends. Farewell Jack Layton. (age 61)

Canada Taking a Stand!

If there is one thing I agree with the Conservative party it would probably be some of there foreign policy decision. Canada will not go to the The Conference on Disarmament, because North Korea is the chair of the conference. That is more than insane! We should boycott that conference till North Korea the only nation in the world that withdrew from the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. That's like Libya on the Human rights council...Wait they were on the Human Rights council, And Saudi Arabia is on that council as well.... Interesting. On the commission's the status of women Iran and Thailand are on that council. Who picks these guys. That answer is the countries in the UN. That means countries like Libya can vote to elect countries that have similar human rights as them to get elected into the council, so that they can continue to what they are doing. Don't think it is just a few bad nations on these council. The Human rights council has more countries that aren't at all democratic than countries that are democratic. I have nothing against the UN, but the UN must restructure we don't want the people who are at the bottom of the barrel pointing at people that are clearly higher than them. That is why maybe it would be a smart move take North Korea the country that has been aiming for nuclear weapons shouldn't be the chair of the department that is suppose to look into countries like North Korea. I never though I would want to quote John Baird, but I give credit where credit is due.

"North Korea's chairmanship undermines the integrity of both the disarmament framework and of the United Nations, and Canada simply will not support that."

This is why we should continue to fight to eliminate other countries that are against the values of the council they are in. I think for many of the councils in the UN we should make a study to find out which countries are the best in practicing the values of that council, and then the top countries get in the council then we can have the people on the top look down at the people on the bottom

"It puts one of the world's worst offenders in the chair. It hurts the crediblity of the United Nations and it's a blow to any meaningful effort at disarmament," said Baird. "I think there's a lot of symbolism here but I think it is important that Canada put forward its voice strongly on this issue."

Read more here

Gay Rights Moving Forwards

Even though I don't support Civil Unions, because they aren't enough Gay people should be given complete marriage rights, but In Rhode Island a bill passed to give civil unions to Gay couples in that state. Now that means that all the new England states either have full marriage or civil unions. Hawaii and Delaware will allow Civil unions in 2012. Of course this still isn't enough the majority of state's still don't give anything to gay people in respects of civil unions or marriage, but at least thanks to the momentum of New York some progress is being done, and hopefully more states will soon allow full marriage equality. In some states like Texas it has in it's constitution no same sex marriage or civil unions. That would mean a vote would have to be held to overturn that piece of constitution in order to allow it.

Meanwhile, gay rights activists -- like Marriage Equality Rhode Island -- say that while they support the civil union bill, they would prefer legislation that permits same-sex couples to wed.

  Of course even if all states legalized Gay marriage if the federal government doesn't recognize it then many rights aren't granted.

Federal recognition, however, was not a part of Friday's vote, leaving benefits like Social Security and ease of immigration largely out of reach for same-sex couples.

Read more here

A Majority Has the Authority!

A new poll shows that 51% of Americans support recognizing gay marriage in the U.S.A . Now there is no reason that more states should allow Gay Marriage. In 2008 only 44% supported recognizing gay marriage. There will still be problems with legalizing gay marriage in the U.S. Democrats and Independents are  in favor of it.While Republicans are very much against it.

More than six in 10 Democrats support same sex marriage, joined by more than half of independents, but seven in 10 Republicans are against it," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.

 This poll means if a state wide referendum was done in every state it could be possible that liberal leaning states that currently don't have Gay marriage would have the majority needed to pass it. This means states like Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Maine should have a relatively easy time passing the referendum. That means we can add 6 with another 9 very soon. I think all 50 states will eventually pass Gay marriage it is just a matter of time.

This poll also means that for the future it will be more politically popular to support Gay marriage, and some Republicans are following along. In fact New York won't have been able to pass the bill if it weren't for a few Republicans in the legislature, but currently no Republican candidate for president supports Gay marriage only Huntsman support Civil unions which still doesn't give equal rights to Gay people.

Read more here

6 Down 44 to Go.

And now the major state of New York will join the 4 other new England states and the lonely Midwestern state in the equality of all people. Gay people can now marry freely (In a month if you want to technical). This again a very important step in full equality, and I hope I can soon says "All 50 down, No left to go". I want full marriage not just civil unions that make Gay people continue to seem inferior to straight people. When i was going throw NY to come back to Montreal I saw a sign that said "If you Don't like Gay marriage don't get gay married." How true if you don't like it don't do it. I have no doubt all 50 states will legalize full Gay rights it is truly just a matter of time, and people have got to get with the times. the truth is people there are Gay people and if you don't like why would they care? Because apparently unlike straight marriage you need to vote on whether it may be allowed. let's stop the stupidity and just allow Gay marriage to be legal fully.

Ignatieff Shows Leadership

When four kirpan-wearing Sikhs were not allowed in the National Assembly in Quebec City, Ignatieff showed leadership. He defended their right to wear the ceremonial dagger in public areas such as the House of Commons. This comes as the Bloc Québecois wants to ban the kirpans from being worn in Parliament. Ignatieff and Layton are right to defend the rights of ethnicities to continue practicing their culture. Especially when those four Sikhs were at the National Assembly to testify at a hearing on accommodation. The kirpan is a cultural item and Ignatieff is right to defend it.

Leadership requires the willingness to take unpopular positions. Michael Ignatieff showed that willingness this week when he went to Quebec and defended Sikhs’ right to wear the kirpan, a ceremonial dagger, in the Quebec National Assembly and other legislative buildings in Canada.

Read more at the Globe and Mail.

Related articles

• The kirpan and Canada’s French-English divide (theglobeandmail.com)
• Sikhs with kirpan not allowed in Que. legislature (cbc.ca)
• Bloc proposal to ban Sikh kirpans in Parliament called 'un-Canadian' (nationalpost.com)

Tu Bishvat.

January 20 was Tu Bishvat. Tu Bishvat is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the birthday of the trees. This holiday today is celebrated in planting tree's in Israel , Eating food especially from Israel and the respect of the planet. Tu Bishvat celebrates the planet that G-d created and in the Jewish religion people are supposed to keep the planet that they were given in the same or better shape for the next generation. The whole idea is to keep the planet clean and not live at the expense of other generation. This holiday brings the right message telling us that we are given a planet (no matter if you believe in G-d or not) that will be inherited by the next generation. When the next generation looks at the world they got they should be given a planet that was treated well when it was used by the past generation.
"No generation has a freehold on this earth. All we have is a life tenancy with a full repairing lease" Margret Thatcher

Rewriting History

We all know the N-word is a bad word to say, but over 100 years ago the N-word was used on a daily basis. Now someone wants to rewrite one of the greatest books in history. The Adventures of huckleberry finn and To Kill a mockingbird have the N-word numerous times in these books. The whole reason that these books are great is, because they make it sound realistic since they used old fashioned words. It be like watching a play about the 17 century and the actors aren't wearing old fashioned clothing it's just silly. Rewriting history is wrong. If we censure the N-word what next. Censure any books that talks about slavery or racism. for the sake of education people should know that the N-word exists. We shouldn't try to forget parts of history just , because they aren't lovely rather embrace the fact that the event happen and learn from it. One of the greatest books like To kill a Mockingbird or Of Mice and Men have the N-word in them they are great, because they were very realistic, because the books talked about issue's that weren't yet discussed. Censuring history is silly in this case you get nothing in return, but teaching kids that they're is no such thing as the N-word. Ignorance isn't bliss when that ignorance is the ignorance of ignoring history and what it has to teach us.

"We learn from history that we don't learn from history!." (Desmond Tutu)

Related articles

• New Huckleberry Finn edition censors 'n-word' (guardian.co.uk)
• Critic's Notebook: Light Out, Huck, They Still Want to Sivilize You (nytimes.com)

The Lottery Of Life

There are many people in the world some are luckier then others. In fact I think many people should appreciate how lucky they are. In fact if you were living in the U.S in the projects it would be like winning a lottery. You are one of the luckiest people in the world in fact. Why you might ask? See not everyone can be born in the great Projects of the U.S. In fact it's kind of like a lottery. The lottery of life. See we don't decide were we are born. Every day 360,000 children are born in the world. If you were born in the projects of the U.S you would be very lucky person compared to the kid who was born in Ethiopia , the kid born in India or the kid born in Bangladesh. If let's say you could have a second chance at the lottery of life were would you be born? Odds are you would be born in a country not like your own. In facts odds are you won't be born in the great projects of the U.S and instead in the slums in India with no Government assistance. This brings a whole new definition to "someone else always has it worse", So if you could be born somewhere else where would you be born. Click here
I am sure you will be very thankful of living in this free democratic fair country of Canada, and appreciate how great you have it even if you live in the projects.

Gay marriage more popular in the U.S

In the U.S only a few years ago Massachusetts and California were the only states that allowed same sex marriage. Then after the election of Barack Obama gay marriage got a hit by a bloc. Prop 8 passed and Gay marriage was no longer legal in the California. Then new hope came when states like Connecticut ,Vermont ,New Hampshire and Iowa. Then a judge in California saw that Prop 8 was unconstitutional and it might be replied. Anew poll shows that 42% of all Americans support gay marriage while 48% say they don't.Even though 42% support it only 5 states currently allow it, but in the future it might be better. A new poll shows that the younger a person is the more likely they support gay marriage, so soon the U.S will allow same sex marriage like Canada does.

Americans in the so-called Millennial Generation -- those born after the 1980s -- favor gay marriage by 53 percent to 39 percent, the poll found. Among those born between 1928 and 1945, just 29 percent favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally, while 59 percent are opposed.

Among Democrats, 53 percent support legalized gay marriage, while just 24 percent of Republicans do.

 Read more here 

Nobel peace prize

The noble peace prize is being given out this week. The question I have is who is getting it this year? I think Oslo could do a bit better than Barack Obama last year. I think they should give it to someone who atually did something. I think there are many people who deserve this award who haven't been given it. Bill clinton for his attempt to make peace with the Olso agreement, and for his fund to help people in Africa and his call to help aid in Haiti.Bono for his efforts to help and aid Africa and maybe Oprah winfery someone who has helped people in troubeling countries has created a school in Africa for women and has donated lots of money to help people in need. I think any of these people deserve the peace prize and probably many more people. I do hope this year that they will award ay of these people who have done lots and shouldn't wait any longer for a prize they deserve.