Finally, The Supreme Court of Canada Pt 3

 

At the end of Part 2, I left you to contemplate our ‘MIA’ Politicians, which sadly is the case whenever our courts pontificate, regardless the subject. 

But here their standard mode of operation is even more egregious since the issue here represents the underpinning of Democracy - Freedom of Speech, and more to the point, the restriction of same.

We can only hope that our politicians are using the silence to beaver away on plans to invoke the notwithstanding clause to neutralize the SCC’s unanimous decision or are drafting laws to abolish Human Rights Commissions …but if I were you, I would not bet the farm on it.

Rather, the Court’s decision appears to be another successful step in the relentless march to impose the will of special interest groups upon the majority. 

The fact that the Court’s action is consistent with similar steps being taken across Western Society, is of little comfort.

So dear reader, if you can’t beat them – join them and that is just what I plan to do.

Going back to Ezra Levant’s article, he also talks about a recent episode of CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes.  During the course of the show a skit was conducted mimicking a Catholic Holy Communion but in place of wavers and wine representing the body and blood of Christ, the Show used Tim Horton’s Coffee and Timbits.

Funny Fellows Those CBCers.

Except I did not find it all that funny.  Indeed, I did not find it to be funny at all; I was offended.

More to the point, I believe their offensive skit is likely to expose a person (me) to hatred or contempt.

The question then becomes whether or not as a Catholic – I am part of a vulnerable group which clearly I think I am since Christians and especially Catholics have been under attack throughout the world in recent decades.  Many – far too many have been killed in less stable areas; our absolute numbers are in decline. Next to the Jewish, we are fair game for obnoxious slurs, slings and arrows.

Admittedly, we have not always acted in a pure and Christian like fashion – i.e. the sex scandals and cover-ups, but I take comfort in the Court’s finding that truth is not always a bar to a successful Human Right’s Claim.

I will keep you current with my ongoing efforts.

Rest assured, that any monetary award I may garner, will be immediately donated to Christian / Jewish Charities which will do more good than remaining with CBC. 

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

The Supreme Court’s Shut Out …Cont’d …

 

In my last Blog, I ended by saying that I was in despair with respect to the recent Supreme Court decision in the case of one William Whatcott.  Fall out from the decision now leads me to conclude that my despair should more correctly have been labeled ‘fear’ since its serious ramifications are quickly becoming evident.

In that regard, I highly recommend to you Ezra Levant’s column yesterday wherein he sets out in detail the salient points of the Court’s pontification.

In particular, Levant points out that from now on, the Courts will not tolerate ‘exposing a person to hatred or contempt’ if he or she comes from a ‘vulnerable group’ …whatever that term is intended to mean.

The Court also invents a new legal right, namely, ‘the right to self-fulfillment’.  Again..whatever that means.

What is clear though is their combined effect ..censorship in a wide range of cases for comments irrespective that those statements are ‘true, or a joke, or fair’.

And we thought up to this point that the Truth would set you free.  No longer.

Think about this for a minute;  If a bunch of Martians landed here in Canada and were constantly drunk, raped and pillaged… you or I can no longer say a word in criticism, for fear of exposing them to hatred or contempt, and ourselves to legal charges and expensive defence costs.

Let’s take a example closer to earth (home) – pretend there is a group of individuals, living in Canada, separate from main stream society, that lives by and large off public assistance.  And let’s say that the majority of them live under third world conditions despite the fact that their leadership receives billions of dollars per year on their behalf without having to account for the disbursement of those funds.  The Supreme Court appears to be saying that, from here on in, no one from the outside can legally criticize what is going on here.   

And think of the harm this will do to our churches – Christian, Jewish, Muslim - whatever.  Their views have already come under fire for alleged intolerance, and with the Court’s decision it will now be open season on them. 

Moreover, T.V. / Radio Talk Shows across the country are now considering whether or not they can continue to function in such a restrictive environment…and rightfully so. In many respects  these shows have been the last bastions of free speech and when they go off the air, we all lose.

For me, Freedom of Speech means having the right to say what you think despite how intolerant it may be to others on the basis that open and frank discussion will allow society to make up its own mind as to what is right and what is wrong.  It is the very foundation of a healthy and vibrant society.  To curtail it, simply moves it underground and will result in trouble ahead – i.e. the Communist experience.

There will be a part 3 to this but, in the meantime, I leave you with the following question:  Where are our politicians in all of this?

As of now, they have been collectively Missing In Action.

 As I see it…

‘K. D. Galagher’

The Supreme Court 6… Freedom… 0

 

If there was still any doubt about our collective lack of freedom, it was dispelled with this week’s unanimous decision of our once esteemed Supreme Court.

Simply stated, we no longer have Freedom of Speech in this Land and indeed, it has been missing in action for some time now.

And surprising, given the recent proliferation of Human Rights Tribunals which have ambitiously pronounced on what we can / cannot say and can / cannot hear.

Freedom of Speech is, as I have mentioned in previous Blogs, the fundamental freedom upon which all are other supposed freedoms rest.  Without Freedom of Speech, all other freedoms are mere shells.  Can you just imagine Freedom of Religion without Freedom of Speech; ‘practice any religion you wish but just don’t write or say anything about it for fear of offending someone’.

In the case at hand, the SCC determined that one William Whatcott was guilty of hate speech for disparaging gays.  As an aside, much of his source material came from the Bible but it could have come from any source, including his own vivid imagination.  

Thankfully the vast majority of us do not for one moment share his belief but again that is not the issue.  The fact is, he believes it and in other times would have had the right to voice his opinion without censure.

This brings to mind the late British writer Evelyn Beatrice Hall’s proclamation: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”.

We do not need the quasi judicial bodies or even our courts filtering out what we can say or hear.

Another very recent example of what Freedom of Speech is all about is the comment made a day or so ago by Harper’s long time Mentor, Thomas Flanagan.  He said that for freedom’s sake, individuals should be able to view child pornography without fear of criminal sanction since it was a ‘victimless crime’.  In fairness, he coupled his statement by saying the producers of such filth were clearly breaking the law and were deserving of severe punishment.  But that said, it was still a dumb statement for him to make and I believe has caused his career to come to a crashing close.

But that is not to say, Flanagan did not have the right to say what he did.  After all, isn’t that what a free and open society is all about? 

That is not to say there should be no limits on what a person has to say.  For instance, if they incite death or violence against a person or group of persons, clearing that crosses the line.  But the exceptions to the absolute right to say what you want should be kept to an absolute minimum.  This principle though has been jettisoned at the feet of these self-serving non elected and hence undemocratic courts and boards.  

More and more I despair with the speed society seems to be going toward autocracy and do not see any indication that this is likely to change and I feel sorry for the next generations.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

 

Horwath supports Grit’s Throne Speech …

 

Why am I not surprised.

Certainly there is little reason for Horwath not to support the Grit Blue Print…

Other than the fact that:

1. The Grits shut down the Legislature for the sole reason of allowing them to hold their Leadership Convention.
2. And yes, they spent multi billions to stop the manufacture of power plants in Toronto for the sole purpose of bolstering their numbers in the face of the last election.
3. And yes, their government invested in a Green Energy program that pays individuals to produce ‘green’ power at the cost of over 80 cents per kwh when the wholesale price for same is less than 4 cents.
4. And yes, electricity charges under the Grit stewardship (?) have tripled for Ontario’s consumers despite it being available in surrounding jurisdictions for about 6 cents a kwh.
5. Oh, and did I mention, this Grit Government has reduced this once great Province of Ontario – the former ‘Engine of Canada’ - to Have-Not Status.
6. And this does not even deal with the $billions of dollars of screw ups left at the feet of its taxpayers nor does it deal with the 17 Billion Dollar deficit which is much worse per capital than experienced by bankrupt California.

I could go on and on, but suffice to say, never in the history of our once great Province has a Government so richly deserved to be booted from office.

But that brings us back to Andrea Horwath and her misguided Party … they obviously see little wrong with the Liberals or how else can you explain her unqualified support for Wynn and her fellow rascals.

There needs to be an election now – and in defence of Tim Hudak, he finally seems to have come into his own.  And this spoken by one of his earlier most vociferous critics.

I don’t know whether Horwath’s propping up Wynn will do either any good – given Ontario’s recent track record, it may well do.  But Ontario Voters are entitled to one more chance to set things right.

Let the Election Begin.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police …

 

Is responsible for lot’s of things … some of a negative nature…but they are not responsible for the terrible circumstances experienced by young native women …nor, for that matter, native men and women of any age.

The UN has just issued a report critical of the RCMP’s treatment of young native women in northern BC saying that it was comparable to what is experienced by women in war torn countries. 

As if. 

This is just another in a long list of grossly misleading findings issued by a totally discredited world body.  And it represents further reason why Canada should be reducing its UN financial contributions and disallowing any further access to our soil by its mischievous minions.

That is not to say, that young native women are not victims since many most certainly are, but they are being victimized by their parents, grandparents, leaders and too often by their own Aboriginal Societies.

These kids frequently have little of value to do, especially on remote reserves such as found in northern BC.  It is not surprising to anyone then that too many of these children become addicted to various substances and as a consequence spiral down in later life.

To try to portray the RCMP as the villain in this picture is simply wrong and moreover is a disservice to young natives.

In the face of this, their parents look for scapegoats to blame for the totally unsatisfactory state of their lives and in this case, the RCMP are a convenient target.

I say to them, if you are looking for a solution to the problem, begin by looking in the mirror.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

Shaving has come full circle …

 

At least for me.

But first some history.

Men have over 25,000 individual hairs on their face and they grow at the rate of 125 – 150 mm per year. For those more comfortable with inches – that translates to between 5 and 6 inches per year.

And since the earliest of time, men have endeavoured to keep their beards groomed beginning with implements made from stone (pumice), sea shells etc.

The Egyptians were especially finicky about being well groomed in this department and in fact invented copper razors at around 3,000 BC.  Alexander the Great made it mandatory in the 4th Century BC for his warriors to be clean shaven to avoid “beard grabbing in conflict”.

These implements for shaving were sharpened with a ‘Strop’ initially made from stone and more latterly consisted of a Leather Strap also known as a Strop.  The art of sharpening, not surprisingly, is called ‘Stropping’.

The Leather Strap became popular in the late 17th Century, with the invention of steel straight razors in Sheffield England. It is stilled used by traditionalist barbers.

In the late 1800’s King Gillette patented the Safety Razor (1880) which is still widely used today.

Now my own history which has come full circle.

My grandfather, a veteran of world war one, used a straight razor and honed its blade on a leather strap.  He eventually evolved to the safety razor.

My father, a veteran of world war two, initially too used a safety razor but in the after war years moved on to the newly invented electric razor. The electric razor was invented just prior to the Great Depression but did not come into vogue until the late 40s and 50s.

It allowed for a dry shave so dispensed with the need for shaving cream and accordingly was much faster / neater.

When I started shaving in the 1960s, I too used an electric shaver if for no other reason than the fact that my father did. But once I left home I soon converted to the safety razor since I found that it gave a much closer shave.  The electric razor ‘pinched’ my skin and was quite dirty to clean out.

But recently, I switched again – back to the electric shaver…sort of.

It is a safety razor that is operated by battery.  So you get the best of both worlds – a clean shave with the efficiency of an electric razor and no messy clean-up.  It gives an even better (closer) shave than the standard safety razor with much less razor burn.

I am committed.  So back to the future for me.

Thought you might be interested.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

Nothing For The First Time…

 

A Definition of a ‘Conservative’ to which I subscribe.

I was going to do a Blog on the History of Shaving but today’s announcement by the Pope caused me to delay it for a day or two.

Now back to Pope Benedict’s announced retirement today.

Had the dear Pope called me for his advice, in advance, as a Conservative, I would have had to tell him that this is simply not done.

Resign that is.

The job of Pope is for life; otherwise it becomes less meaningful.  And can also become contagious.

Indeed, when I heard it on the morning’s news, the announcer quickly followed up by wondering if Queen Elizabeth would be next to announce.

Queens and Popes, dear reader, do not retire; they die with their boots on.  Or at least they should.

As a Conservative, I like to think that upon coronation they are instilled with some ultra humanness – (perhaps though, I am just deluding myself).

But I cling to that idea and despite physical and mental disability, believe that they should continue to the very end.  Rather like ‘till death do us part’ in marriage ceremonies. Death, like Life are inseparable.

And of all people to let us down.  Pope Benedict was viewed as old school – a keeper of tradition and here he is resigning in the face of some 600 years of continued history. 

So we now move into the era of part time appointments in the sense that they are no longer to be considered for life.

Rather in keeping with the disposable society we have come to accept over the course of the last many decades. 

Plus change revolves all about us – gone is the sanctity of the family – the former ‘corner stone of society’.  Marriage too has been co-opted virtually without debate.

The work ethic is under attack as more and more want to sit back and enjoy their unearned entitlements.  Too many look out for their own interests without a care for those for whom they betray – e.g. Our Esteemed Senators.

And now, in the face of all of this, we have the Pope joining the fray when the desperate need is for someone to continue to stand up above the maddening crowd.

I have no doubt that Pope Benedict’s intentions are most noble.  He is indeed frail of body and now likely has been diagnosed with a debilitating mental deterioration.  But by removing himself, he removes an otherwise constant from all our lives.  A constant that we all so desperately need.

As I see it…

‘K.D. Galagher’