Fighting Back When Called a ‘Racist’
Trapped in an Orwellian nightmare, Canadian author Howard Rotberg struggles to clear his name.
Howard Rotberg still shudders when he remembers hearing the words.
“He is a f***ing Jew!”
His attacker wasn’t a Nazi brownshirt in Germany circa 1938. Rotberg, an author and lawyer, experienced the anti-Semitic verbal attack at a Canadian college town bookstore in 2004.
Rotberg was launching his self-published novel, The Second Catastrophe, at the local Chapters-Indigo, Canada’s largest bookstore chain, with over 70% of the nation’s book sales. Incredibly, his novel — about a Jewish professor whose angry words during a lecture land him in trouble — practically came to life before his eyes that night. Years later, Rotberg is still feeling the aftershocks.
Rotberg had no sooner begun his lecture when, as author and columnist Phyllis Chesler later recounted:
Suddenly, two Muslims interrupted his speech. The first disrupter, who identified himself as a Palestinian, accused Rotberg of saying or perhaps thinking that “all Muslims are terrorists.” The disrupter admitted that he had not read the book. A second man, who identified himself as an Iraqi Kurd, began “ranting about how Americans and Israelis are the real terrorists and that democracy is really fascist.” They did not allow Rotberg to speak. According to Rotberg, they used “Gestapo tactics to completely disrupt [my] lecture.” One called Rotberg, the son of a Holocaust survivor, “a f***ing Jew.”
To Rotberg’s amazement, not a single member of the Chapters store staff, which included one young woman in a hijab named Raneem Al-Halimi, intervened — “that is,” writes Chesler, “until Rotberg responded that he would ‘not be called a f***ing Jew.’”
“The store manager came over to me and told me not to swear. I told him that I was the one being sworn at; he said that it didn’t matter. He gathered up the books on the table and escorted me to his office at the back.
“I want you to call the police.” I said.
“What for?” he replied.
“Because these totalitarians just stopped my right to lecture, and are swearing at me, and who knows what they will do next?” I said.
“I don’t have the number,” he claimed.
I couldn’t believe this. “Try 911,” I suggested.
The police were finally called, but they merely cautioned Rotberg’s hecklers and told them to stay away from the store. The responding officer also refused to escort the author to his car.
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Kathy Shaidle blogs at Five Feet of Fury. Her new book about the Canadian Human Rights Commissions is The Tyranny of Nice: How Canada crushes freedom in the name of human rights — and why it matters to Americans, coauthored with Pete Vere.
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74 Comments
1. B Shah:The new plank in attacking the west is “law”. Enemies of the west, its democratic traditions and secular principles, will use the law to harass the innocent till they submit to their jihadi will.
Sadly, our leaders, law enforcers and politicians are not up the job of protecting the freedoms we value so highly. While they are being politically correct and trying to garner the vote bank politics, they are unable to support the “truth” and stop these enemies of the “free”.
Aug 15, 2008 - 3:46 am 2. Chronicling the Canadian P(olitically)C(orrectness) sickness « Full Metal Cynic:[...] Continue reading story. [...]
Aug 15, 2008 - 4:10 am 3. John Samford:First, historically, there was a distinction between a racist and a bigot. A racist was someone who thought they were superior because of their ethnic background. A bigot was someone who hated an entire ethnic group.
Aug 15, 2008 - 4:28 am 4. RE:The Socialists have blurred the distinction and made the words synonymous.
Second, if the 1st amendment means anything at all, hate is a protected ‘expression’. Since bigotry is an expression of hate and bigotry is synonymous with racism, racism is protected by the 1st amendment.
This is a good thing, since without hate there can be no love. To outlaw hate is to outlaw it’s antipode, love.
A world without love? If that is your goal, immigrate to the former Soviet Union. They haven’t succeeded yet, but they are trying to outlaw love. Like the left here, they are too stooopid to figure out the yin and yang of love and hate, that you CANNOT have one without the other.
A new form of brownshirt thug has been unleashed upon western society.
Aug 15, 2008 - 5:27 am 5. Kathy Shaidle:Hi everyone. Thanks for reading yet another one of my stories about the assault on free speech up here in politically correct Canada.
I’d humbly suggest you visit Rotberg’s blog once in a while to follow the story, if you are interested. His two day trial is coming up very soon.
Aug 15, 2008 - 6:23 am 6. Paul From Hamburg:John Samford:
I don’t disagree with you, but everyone must know one important distinction: Canada does not have a 1st Amendment. The right of free expression is not guaranteed in the Canadian constitution. In the Canadian tradition, free expression must by weighed against the feelings of others. This helps explain why cases like this and the farce of the Canadian Human Rights Commission are possible.
Aug 15, 2008 - 6:30 am 7. Kirk:It is the nature of humanity that those too weak to defend themselves fall prey to the strong. It has been happening for thousands of years. It will continue to happen because it is our nature. If Canada is too weak , it will be changed by those strong enough to change it. That change may just be forcible conversion, but it could be anything the strong decides it wants. When people decide to descend into weakness, they are voluntarily putting their destiny in someone elses hands.
Aug 15, 2008 - 6:41 am 8. George Clarke:The best defense is a good offense. The biggest bigots in the world are the Anti-Christians, the anti-Capitalists, and those struggling hard against the Western Tradition generally. Flood the Human Rights Commissions with complaints against this minority and you could just shut them down, or render them powerless. Make the perpetrators the defendants. Victory in numbers should be easy on our own turf and with our own rules. Never lay down to these interlopers ever.
Aug 15, 2008 - 7:00 am 9. Dark Helmet:A religion is not a race, it is a choice. Case closed.
Aug 15, 2008 - 7:15 am 10. cosmos:Thank you..very informative…and I was already aware of him, perhaps from your blog…Enjoyed seeing you on t.v. last night. This situation of Rotberg is hideous…and thank goodness it happened to someone who can be in the press…it happens all the time in Canada to others that have no recourse..little people…Keep up the great work.
Aug 15, 2008 - 7:17 am 11. rocketeer:Hi Kathy,
Aug 15, 2008 - 7:38 am 12. Blazingcatfur:Great article. This is the first time I’ve heard the term “lawfare” and I think it’s completely accurate. We are all witnessing a fairly open society being completely taken advantage of by those that would see us all dead. In a saner time, our leader’s and court’s would be able to see the evil for what it is, but we’ve been fairly neutered by forty years of creeping liberalism, so that we’re now paralyzed before this threat. I pray that we all wake up before it’s too late.
Howard Rotberg is simply the tip of the iceberg in Canada. The cultural marxists who have infiltrated the Human Rights Commissions and other government agencies such as Heritage Canada are waging war against both conservative and religious voices.
Aug 15, 2008 - 7:49 am 13. Kathy Shaidle:Hi again, all!
“Lawfare” is a pretty new word but the phenomenon is getting chronic.
If you can stand it, read up on it, because it is very depressing stuff. We have to be on guard against it. Unfortunately, those fighting back, like Ezra Levant, Mark Steyn as well as American writers, are being smeared and bankrupted. Levant, for instance, owes his lawyers $100,000 and has lots more SLAPP suits etc to fight.
Thanks to everyone for their feedback!
Aug 15, 2008 - 7:55 am 14. holdfast:Pual – you are not entirely correct. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, made part of the Canadian Constitution in 1982, does provide, in Section 2:
FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS.
2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
(a) freedom of conscience and religion;
(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
(c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
(d) freedom of association.
This is tempered, however, by Section 1:
RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS IN CANADA.
1. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.
How those two interact is something that tends to end up in the courts. While the Canadian Supreme Court has upheld the “hate speech” portions of the Criminal Code, it was usually by narrow votes, and was subject to pretty serious scrutiny.
Canada’s protection of freedom of (unpopular or un-PC) speech has not been universally good, but it is wrong to say there is no protection. Rather, smart, involved people need to work to expand and cement that protection, and to work for the repeal of Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act and similar legislation which is clearly contrary to the words of the Charter.
Aug 15, 2008 - 8:06 am 15. Kathy Shaidle:Don’t forget Section 15.2
15. (1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.
Aug 15, 2008 - 8:36 am 16. Rose:Affirmative action programs
(2) Subsection (1) does not preclude any law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration of conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups including those that are disadvantaged because of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.
Great article Kathy.
Anti-Semitism is rampant in Europe, spread by the usual suspects Muslims and the far left. Canada needs to ensure that Muslims who are priviledged enough to be accepted into Canada do not bring their hatred into this country. Mr. Rotberg is another victim of Islamic Hatred under the guise of Muslim Victimhood of course. Saudi Money is funding anti-Jewish sediment across Canada via our Universities, Muslim student groups are openly spreading anti-semitism and hatred and they do so unimpeded by the CHRC and our laws of the land. Radical Islamists and the far left are given a free pass to spread their hatred, how many unprovoked violent attacks against Jews is acceptable before our stupid sleeping government wakes up and says no to special treatment of Muslims?
Since September 11 Muslim groups like CAIR have wrapped the mantle of victimhood around themselves, they scream victim victim whilst remaining silent as they spread hate against Jews, Homosexuals and women. Canadian Society is the real victim of Political/Radical Islam, our government fawns over Muslim organizations and we are told to shut up subjugate ourselves to the supremacy of Islam and if we do not we are racist haters. Well Islam isn’t a race and it’s hard not to hate Political Islam as a female living under Sharia Law would be akin to being buried alive for a lifetime.
Our government turns a blind eye and MSM ignores stories such as Mr. Rotberg out of fear. Even England admits they treat Muslims better than the rest of society because the government is afraid of them and their perpensity to become violent. I feel no such fear, allowing a small group of hatefilled Muslims to control what can and cannot be said about Islam is not acceptable to me. I’ll never surrender to Islamic Supremacy because it’s alot of things but Supreme it is not.
Aug 15, 2008 - 9:11 am 17. Dark Helmet:Rose….. “muslims who are privledged enough to be accepted into Canada”
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha h ah a……sniff…..
Are you kidding? Canada has a horrible record of allowing ANYONE with little to no background check.
I’ll say it again since it seems to have escaped notice because it is just so gosh darn basic and fully grounded in reality and sets political correctness back about 40 years…….
muslim is not a race, it is a religion. It is impossible to be a racist against a religion.
It is a non issue.
Is baptist a race?
Is catholic a race?
Is methodist a race?
NO.
You can’t ‘ play the race card’ when you don;t have any chips in that game.
Case closed. Thanks for playing, what’s for lunch?
Aug 15, 2008 - 11:00 am 18. Paul From Hamburg:Holdfast: Thanks for the additional documentation and clarification. I was not suggesting there is no freedom of expression. I was really just trying to point out (as you did nicely) that these cases are more complicated in Canada because of the way the Constitution is structured.
Aug 15, 2008 - 11:31 am 19. Rubicon:The PC lawfare happenings in Canada, Great Britain, & elsewhere, remind me of an old saying that is modified here, but one we must all be mindful of:
First they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for the conservatives, and I did not speak out — because I was not a conservative;
Then they came for the Christians, and I did not speak out — because I was not a Christian;
Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Obviously that saying assumes the author of the revised version of the saying was none of the above, since “they” came for him last.
Aug 15, 2008 - 12:02 pm 20. HeatherRadish:But, the meat of the meaning is there for all to read and to hopefully understand.
A religion is not a race, it is a choice.
If you’re born into Islam, you don’t get to leave it alive.
Aug 15, 2008 - 12:37 pm 21. Javelin:cultural marxists? Marxism was alledged to be scientific, not cultural.
Aug 15, 2008 - 12:38 pm 22. tanstaafl:“Racist things.”
“What do you mean, exactly?” I asked.
“I heard that you said that all Muslims are terrorists!”
The word “racist” is tossed around like a beach ball by ignoramuses. It is used as a generic (and largely meaningless) slur.
Muslims and Jews are religious groups, not races.
If Rotberg cancelled his remaining lectures, if both Levant and Rotberg are getting out of publishing, then those individuals whose sole intent is disruption (aka ignoramuses) are winning.
The same tactics are commonly used by other Muslims groups, e.g., the Muslim student group at the University of California, Irvine.
Aug 15, 2008 - 12:39 pm 23. Dark Helmet:Heather Horse Radish,
It matters a wit not, it is not a race. You take on another subject. One that obammy disputes.
Aug 15, 2008 - 12:41 pm 24. tanstaafl:Muslims and Jews are religious groups, not races.
I see where that observation has been “done” already in the comments.
Then there’s this:
DNA similarities in Semitic peoples
I’d like to ask one of those Muslim hecklers what that does to the whole “apes and pigs” thing.
Aug 15, 2008 - 12:53 pm 25. David P:Expect nothing less from a people which stole their beliefs by rewriting another groups history to match their own revised creation.
Aug 15, 2008 - 1:57 pm 26. schnargley:Oh stop whining,Rotberg! You cannot have your cake and eat it too. If you want to belong to a modern, progressive, liberal, open-minded, multi-cultural society like Canada, you have to learn to live within its, albeit unwritten rules. That means just your effen mouth and go away, or face the consequences.
We are a tolerant society.
Aug 15, 2008 - 3:08 pm 27. One who knows:The suggestion from Ezra Levant that the CJC funded the Canadian nazi Party is simply wrong. Ezra actually posted the magazine article about this episode in 1966 and nowhere in the article is there any mention that the CJC supported these bums. Instead it hired a PI to get info on these people who at the time, like George Lincoln Rockwell in America, were showing up at rallies in public parks in Toronto in full Nazi uniforms. No one knew then how many or who they were. The CJC not only exposed these bums but led to their destruction.
I like Ezra but I hate it when he plays with the truth. Really makes me wonder.
Aug 15, 2008 - 3:43 pm 28. Jim:“We are a tolerant society.’
Excellent. Hilarious.
Aug 15, 2008 - 3:48 pm 29. Blazingcatfur:One who knows, please provide the quote where Ezra says the CJC funded the Canadian Nazi Party, I do not see it in the article, Ezra does state that the CJC “operative” assisted in organizing that 20 person collection of misfits, nowhere can I find that Ezra says the CJC funded the Nazi Party, all 20 of em;)
Really makes me wonder where that quote is.
Aug 15, 2008 - 4:38 pm 30. John Samford:Dark Helmet you are not entirely correct. If you are born a Muslim, you stay a Muslim. It is NOT something you have a choice about. You can skip practicing, and as long as you don’t get caught, you are OK. If caught missing Prayer Call, or without a beard, you get tossed in jail until your beard grows out or you have the Koran memorized.
If you apostate Islam, then if caught, you are hung by the neck until dead.
The Muslims care as little about what the West thinks about those laws as the Russians care about how the West feels about them raping and pillaging in Georgia.
The West is about to get a quick intro into what the rest of the world thinks about western arrogance. The west is under the delusion that it was our cultural superiority that made the West dominant for several centuries. It wasn’t, it was our military ability and our will to use it that made the West was it was. WE have forgotten that, the third world hasn’t.
So buckle your helmet, check you Mags to see that they are full and make sure your receiver group is clean, we are about to get started on a war that makes what has gone before look like a cup cake convention.
A good part of the Third World thinks it can take us and is looking forward to paybacks. WE can either fight or surrender. In a free society, every citizen will make their choice. For the USA that choice will be made this November.
If you want to fight back, McCain is your choice. If you want to surrender, vote for Obama.
“The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer.”
Aug 15, 2008 - 4:43 pm 31. exhelodrvr:Henry Kissinger, New York Times, Oct. 28, 1973
US (German-born) diplomat & scholar (1923 – )
tanstaafl,
Aug 15, 2008 - 7:04 pm 32. Dave:Jews are also an ethnic group.
John Samford: You are correct sir.
However, it was our cultural superiority that enabled our superior military capabilities.
Hanson’s “Culture and Carnage” (Carnage and Culture????) is the best synopsis that I can think of offhand.
And by the way, Russia is part of that “turd world” to give it a fitting name.
Aug 15, 2008 - 7:35 pm 33. Dark Helmet:John,
I am a fellow bitter clinger.
But relgion is not a race…….. that’s the whole point. I just can’t make it any plainer for you.
But I certainly do agree with the rest that you write. We are in for it.
Here’s a little something that helps, you’re only as strong as your friends.
DH
Aug 15, 2008 - 7:51 pm 34. One who knows:Blazing Cat Fur, I guess your reading glasses need to be dusted off. Ezra posts it right here;
http://ezralevant.com/2008/08/why-did-the-canadian-jewish-co.html
“Why did the Canadian Jewish Congress build up the Canadian Nazi Party?
By Ezra Levant on August 1, 2008 2:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (23) | Trackback
Why did the Canadian Jewish Congress build up the Canadian Nazi Party in the 1960s — organizationally, financially and in the media, such as the Maclean’s blockbuster?
It was a pretext for the addition of “hate” laws to the criminal code. In 1965 the Cohen Committee on “hate” called for political change; immediately thereafter the CJC went to work propping up the laughable “threat” of a 24-year-old Nazi “leader”; within four years, Parliament had added sections 318-320, the criminal hate speech provisions. Within a decade, the Canadian Human Rights Act, and its more expansive section 13 hate speech provisions were added.
I’m still scratching my head. All that effort to invent fake enemies, when Jews have never been short of real ones.”
Yes I know its tough to see Ezra, whom we all so admire, screwing up the truth. Heaven knows the truth is wierd enough without Ezra having to make this stuff up. The more he does that the more credibility he loses.
Aug 15, 2008 - 8:55 pm 35. John Samford:DH, Oh but it is.
I’m not a lawyer, much less an attorney, but IIRC the USSC defined religion when it heard the ’scientology’ case and found that scientology was a religion.
Something to do with belief systems unsupported by facts. If that doesn’t fit racism to a ‘T’ what does?
With disclaimer firmly in place, let it be noted that everything hereafter is my OPINION based on what I could google. Not any sort of lawyer, but I can google with the best of them;
http://www.eadshome.com/supremecourt.htm
The above is from some sort of Christian fanatics.
This is from our snow bird neighbors;
http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_defn.htm
Check out number 4.
http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/religion/blrel_def.htm
Basically religion is what ever ones wants it to be. A real vaporous word to suit a real vaporous concept. So if one wants to make a religion out of racism, then one can. Prolly get a tax exemption too.
Every week, I blow 200 rounds downrange from my .40 CZ-75b. It is a religion to me. I wonder if I could write off the rounds and the melons? Or the beer cans?
I couldn’t find the USSC ruling on scientology and why it’s a religion. Either there wasn’t one and I’m mis-remembering or I have over-rated my google skils.
Here is the best I found. It changes the vapor into a thick fog.
http://www.religiousfreedom.com/articles/casino.htm
Aug 15, 2008 - 9:10 pm 36. shocked!:“we are a tolerant society.”
Aug 15, 2008 - 9:46 pm 37. ic:Please, don’t make me puke. We are a hyprocrite country is more likely. Canada preaches human rights, yet our courts & the so called human rights commission is a sham.
Here’s a recent story which happened in Western Canada. A Pastor wrote a comment to a msm newspaper that was printed. In the comment, the Pastor quoted Biblical verses that explain why homosexuality is immoral. There was no malice nor hate speech in what was said. Every single one agreed on that point. A homosexual was offended, the pastor was taken before the (so called) human rights tribunal. The Pastor was being forced to apologize, he would not. The homosexual didn’t think an apology was necessary. After all, it was an honest opinion based on what someone believed. Two years of harassment by the tribunal, a verdict was given. Sentence: Forceful apology & deny Christ. Thank God this pastor still hasn’t obeyed these fools.
George Clarke: “Flood the Human Rights Commissions with complaints …Make the perpetrators the defendants.”
But the HRCs can dismiss cases they don’t want to hear. Lemire (I hope I spell his name right) who was condemned and found guilty by an HRC, filed a complaint with said HRC. His complaint was rejected because all complaints were to be filed on single-sided paper, and Lemire’s complaint was printed on both sides.
Lemire actually faxed his complaint to them. Apparently, HRC’s fax machines could print both sides.
So perish the thought, you cannot bury them with complaints. But they can fine you for being a nuisance to them.
Aug 16, 2008 - 12:29 am 38. NB:As far as Rotberg is concerned. Come on down to the US. We (at least for the time being) still celebrate those willing to speak truth even if it does hurt someones widdle feewings. And here, unlike Canada your right to say it is protected by the Constitution. Again, perhaps only for a few more years, hopefully decades. Which leads to my agreement with Mr. Samford. Cleaned, oiled and ready just in case is never a bad policy.
Aug 16, 2008 - 1:04 am 39. Dark Helmet:Dear John,
Even with your .40, I must continue to insist to point out the very basic fact that a race is not a religion.
Best of luck with your practice, being over 75, I must rely on a 12G for broad sides of the barn.
Aug 16, 2008 - 2:18 am 40. Sandra M:Call people racists and bigots wrongly and often enough and eventually they may shrug and say “whatever.” The law of unintended consequences has kicked in as a result of Obama’s candidacy and the victim stance of CAIR.
Obama’s campaign made the public aware of Reverend Jeremiah Wright, his parishioners and Black Liberation Theology. Since then, I have seen much more push back on the part of whites who are entitled to use the “tu quo que” argument: You’re one too.
Similarly, CAIR and its arguments on behalf of Muslims don’t impress me at all. I’m anti-fundamentalist Muslim. And I think those who don’t believe in separation of church and state and want sharia law should be deported.
Those who want to become American and live by our laws are welcome.
Aug 16, 2008 - 4:14 am 41. Kathy Shaidle:Lest anyone doubt ic’s story about the double sided fax machine, here’s Mark Steyn’s column about it:
http://www.macleans.ca/canada/opinions/article.jsp?content=20080326_105422_105422&page=2
Aug 16, 2008 - 4:23 am 42. Blazingcatfur:One who knows thanks, I was looking at the link which contained the old Macleans article pdf’s posted by Ezra, still for all the crime you accuse Ezra of seems pretty minor and it is easily argued that the CJC operatives organizational efforts constitute a form of indirect financial contribution. That said it does nothing to detract from Ezra’s position, the CJC manufactures the extent of it’s enemies alleged power in order to stay in business. I will do some fact checking with Ezra when he is back from vacation to see what he has to say about this.
Aug 16, 2008 - 5:09 am 43. scaramouche:Get a load of the Post article about the homeless in Toronto flogging what is essentially a latter-day version of Der Sturmer (apparently, a socially-acceptable alternative to panhandling). The contents of the this loathesome rag would warm the cockles of the late Josef Goebbels and the Grand Mufti’s heart (assuming they had one when they were alive). Commissar Barbara Hall, who, as you’ll recall, rendered judgement in the Maclean’s/Steyn case without a hearing, slamming both as being flagrantly xenophobic and Islamophobic (Babsy’s double whammy) agreed that the paper was a bit, er, out there, but wasn’t nearly as upset by it as she was by the Maclean’s “hatred”. Here’s the link: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=726675
Aug 16, 2008 - 6:19 am 44. Brian Macker:“The Socialists have blurred the distinction and made the words synonymous.”
No, even worse, most of the left accepts the idea that criticizing religious tenets is the exact same thing as being a bigot. At least when it comes to Islam. The fact that Islam as codified in her religious texts is violent and intolerant cannot be discussed without charges that one thinks “all muslims are this or that”. The fact that the Qur’an advocates the murder of Jews, promotes subjegation of non-muslims, and even in the best verses vague to the point of uselessness does not mean that every Muslim is stupid and evil enough to act on those incitements to violence.
There is a big difference between making factual claims about religious documents and making any claims about what individual Muslims believe. In fact, there is a likelyhood that many Muslims self identify as believers merely based on the intolerance that their societies hold for apostates. I’m sure there are a lot more atheists in hiding in Muslim society than in Christian society. That’s just the most extreme example. The same goes for all shades of belief in between.
Aug 16, 2008 - 6:39 am 45. One who knows:Blazingcatfur, you are welcome.
I accuse my friend Ezra of no crime other than making up facts. One poster on Ezra’s site points out that in 1966 no one knew the extent of the Canadian Nazi Party. In an update Ezra begrudgingly admits that he “may” have gotten it wrong. He then goes on to belittle the fact that “only” 20 neo-Nazis showed up in uniform at Allen Gardens to harass Jews in 1966. “Only 20″??!! Can you imagine the fear this must have caused Holocaust survivors and the Jews of Toronto? Everyone was sufficiently concerned including the police that dozens of mounted officers were in attendance whenever these goons showed anywhere.
How do I know? I have just finished reading this incredible history of the time for a summer course called “Delayed Imapact: The Holocaust and the Canadian Jewish Community” by Professor Franklin Bialystok.
http://books.google.ca/books?id=TEOzC2c9gmYC&pg=PA295&dq=Frank+Bialystok&sig=ACfU3U1ms4Vbwn3VprblHvKlkb_wW06TfQ#PPP1,M1
This book unequivocally demonstrates Ezra’s fiddling with the facts. There are three full chapters in this book on the Canadian Neo-nazi movement led by William John Beattie and the absolute fear it struck in Toronto at the time. There is also a dissection of how the CJC dealt with the matter by hiring this PI and that the result was the complete eradication of the Nazi group.
As I have stated, there is more than enough factual matter to expose. Ezra’s attempts to discredit groups like CJC by making up facts is not good for us. I prefer criticizing Jewish or Human Rights groups like B’nai Brith and CJC for their POLICY positions on anti-hate law rather than attacking their leaders or making up stories that are so easily proven untrue. When you make up stories that then get proven wrong and then the author of the stories gets all defensive, well it only serves to discredit and Ezra’s fine research in other areas also comes under questioning.
Aug 16, 2008 - 6:42 am 46. Lea:“Jews are also an ethnic group.”
Exactly. The Germans didn’t care if you were a practicing christian and the folks over in the middle east don’t care either.
Aug 16, 2008 - 7:11 am 47. tanstaafl:Call people racists and bigots wrongly and often enough and eventually they may shrug and say “whatever…The law of unintended consequences…”
If I ever get a T-shirt made up to display my worldview, “Proud Infidel” sounds about right
I could counter the “Intifada NYC” shirts made up by the individual (D. Almontaser) who almost succeeded in founding the Khalil Gibran academy (on NY taxpayer money).
In America, our rights and freedoms don’t derive from government, but are our “natural” rights. Government is not the source of these rights but, simply, a guarantor.
We’re moving in a dangerous direction with the possibility of an even more greatly expanded federal government. A direction where this notion of “natural rights” could be turned on its head (it’s already suffering greatly)>
For Islamists worldwide, a fundamental tenet of jihad is sapping western/secular societies of their decadent values (like “free speech”).
That is exactly why hecklers become organized to show up at innocent speeches at Canadian bookstores shouting ignorant crapola like “democracy is fascist”.
Aug 16, 2008 - 8:14 am 48. Brian Macker:I had read an article via Ezra’s site that did discuss the CJC using an operative to organize the Nazis. It was NOT the article you linked to. In the other article it gave more details about how the CJC actually organized the Nazi group. The actual actions, as described, went way beyond the mere hiring of a private eye to investigate.
I just found the article titled, “The moral hazard of being in the anti-hate industry” on Ezra’s site. You should use this to decide whether Ezra is “making up facts” instead of that tiny article you linked to.
There are quotes in the article that support Ezra’s view but I think it’s pretty slim evidence. Certainly it is clear these kids were no danger. What’s not clear is how much organizational support was given. It looks like little to none in my opinion, but that is an uninformed opinion. Unfortunately the entire article was not available. I confronted Ezra in a comment and it is awaiting moderation. I want the entire article and confronted him on the weakness of his argument. According to the article the CJC provided little financial support and was mainly interested in names. Plus the PI was mostly acting on his own and had become deeply involved prior to the CJC even spending one dime on this.
Here are the quotes that may have lead Ezra to his views:
“I offered him the benefit of the legal knowledge I have gained from eight years working as a peace officer for the County of York and as a private detective. I helped him prepare his defense, and although he was convicted and fined $150, he began to trust me. I helped him in the same way later when he was charged with unlawful assembly, and he cam to regard me as his closest friend.
I still don’t see how Ezra is “making up facts”. At a minimum the CJC was in fact supporting a guy who was acting as the “Heinrich Himmler” of the Canadian Nazi party. Whatever that means. Of course, from the article, it is not clear what the CJC knew about this guys activities. Therefore, it’s not clear if they were even walking an ethical tight rope. I mean if they don’t mind other groups paying to put moles in their organizations when they are breaking no laws then they are not moral hypocrites in that regard.
Aug 16, 2008 - 9:11 am 49. Brian Macker:That last post was directed at “One who knows”.
Aug 16, 2008 - 9:12 am 50. One who knows:But Brian your own post is so ambiguous. Let me start by having you understand that the article I linked to was to rebut BCF who claimed that Ezra did not post anything about CJC financing the Canadian Nazi Party. I noted (as did BCF) that the article from MacLeans was posted in Ezra’s site elsewhere.
Secondly, Brian, you seem confused after reading the MacLeans piece and I do not blame you. Remember this, in 1966 when Beattie was goose-stepping his way into the hearts of Torontonians, no one knew the extent of his party. It was this PI that discovered its limitations and that thanks to the CJC. Easy enough for us to sit back and claim today that they were nobodies but in 1966 all people knew was that a bunch of nazi goons in uniforms and swastikas were intimidating Jews in Toronto.
As for making up facts, well look at Ezra’s chosen titles for his posts the last one specifically “Why did the Canadian Jewish Congress build up the Canadian Nazi Party?” Even you admit this is a stretch. BTW his answer to the question was the claim that CJC built up a Nazi Party to manipulate politicians to pass canada’s hate laws. This is sheer speculation based on only the fact that this group existed. To suggest that a Jewish group would build up a group of Nazis to manipulate Canada’s governmenet is in my view a horrible thing to say given that it is clearly untrue.
Ezra then claims that the CJC “propped up” fake enemies again with no proof. That is why I urge you to read Bialystok’s book. Honestly it gives the tenor of the times and exactly why CJC was so worried and took the action it did.
And finally that we all are even discussing the flimsy “factual” evidence at all is a sign to me of Ezra’s exagerrations. And the sad thing is, Ezra need not scrounge around for articles from 1966 to prove the HRCs today are desperately in need of change. He wastes way too much prescious personal resources trying to find fault with groups like the Jewish Congress and usually making himself just look silly. He is best when he is concentrating on the HRC and its policies that need changing . He should forget about this vendetta he seems to have against Jewish human rights groups.
Aug 16, 2008 - 1:19 pm 51. M. Vukobratic:He also made a discovery that eerily echoes recent revelations about Canada’s out-of-control Human Rights Commissions…
Kathy Shaidle is lying here, as usual.
Anyway, I note she didn’t mention the fact that she’s being sued for libel and that she herself has uttered some pretty vile, racist and quasi-genocidal expressions herself.
“· On Islam: “…your religion is f*cking retarded…ungrateful beligerent foreign savages…These are people who love watching beheading videos on the internet…A sick, sick religion. Basically Scientology with bombs. Pathetic whiny losers.”
Aug 16, 2008 - 3:26 pm 52. NotYourDaddy:· On Muslim and Pakistani immigrants: “Muslims…most of them can’t even read…What we really need to do is stop immigration from Pakistan and other crazy Muslim countries filled with illiterate, violent tribal peasants…”
· On Muslim children: they are “parasites.”
· On a group of Muslim students who object to some statements by Mark Steyn: they are “motherf*cking parasites.”
· On Muslims: “Muslims always have to be on top, in reverse proportion to their ability to do anything with competence or creativity.”
· On Indians: they are “parasites” who “extorted tax dollars [for] booze, smokes and junk food. Not to mention free everything else, including university educations they don’t bother getting.”
· On blacks: “…there is nothing ‘compelling’ about a black man impregnating a white woman. In more than one Toronto neighbourhood, that’s what they call Saturday night.”
· On the only people who can get excited about Barack Obama: “black, stupid or both.”
· On Jamaicans: “Just think of how much Jamaican immigrants contribute to our culture and economy: monotonous, illiterate music that all sounds the same, filthy hairstyles, those little tricoloured Rasta doohickies.”
· On the blacks of New Orleans: they are “pathetic losers” who cannot have their IQs raised “a single point.”
· On the poor: they are poor because they are “too lazy and stupid to a) finish high school and/or b) keep their pants on.…I don’t care about the poor. They’re no more real than Bigfoot.”
· On AIDS: “From the beginning, AIDS activism has been more about mainstreaming the gay “lifestyle” than saving lives.”
· On Sikhs: “Backward foreigners [who] sh*t on hand that feeds them…Unable to invent their own iconic product due to too much time spent worshipping monkeys and cows, setting women on fire and obsessing over imperceptible differences in each other’s skin colour…”
· On blind people: “Giving blind people real jobs…is not working out.”
· On Chinese: “[They are] spitting and shooting snot on the sidewalk…throwing broken crates of rotten bock choy all over Spadina Avenue [and] eating dubious, illegal foodstuffs” [and cause SARS.]“
I wrote two blog posts recently on this topic, The “R” Word and Sticks and Stones and All That. The second was a response to all the responses on the first.
Liberals these days are quick to brand anybody who disagrees with them with the scarlet R. But their reckless exuberance at hurling that epithet may have unintended consequences. People who’ve always been offended by actual racism are starting to be equally offended by widespread spurious accusations of racism. What will liberals do when the victims of their favorite epithet start embracing the “R” word out of pure defiance, the way some blacks have embraced the “N” word?
Obama claims he wants to heal “racial divide” in this country, but his supporters are wedging a crowbar into it and prying it further apart every day. Do they have any idea what they’re doing, or what the results may be?
Aug 16, 2008 - 6:14 pm 53. Something Rotberg in the State of Canada:[...] consider freedom of speech (or, if you prefer, nationalized calumny), you can check out the options here. And if you [...]
Aug 16, 2008 - 6:20 pm 54. james wilson:How far we have all come from John Adams–
Aug 16, 2008 - 8:10 pm 55. Dark Helmet:‘Do not be intimidated or wheedled out of your liberties by any pretense of politeness, delicacy, or decency. Those, as they are often used, are but three different names for hypocrisy, chicanery, and cowardice.’
It is ironic that Jews led the way through the Twentieth Century in imposing the politics of political correctness. Critical Theory, concocted by Jews at The Institute for Marxism at Frankfort University, and imported to NYC with Horkeimer, Adorno, Fromm, Reich, and Marcuse, all Jewish Marxist fleeing Adolf’s boys, fully intended to destroy Western Civilization through it. The Islamists have joined up in this twisted pairing.
vukobradic:
Sounds like she summed quite a few things up quite nicely, so what’s your point? That speech with political correctness removed from it can be fucking brutal sometines? Waaah.
Aug 16, 2008 - 9:42 pm 56. AST:William Butler Yeats:
The “best” lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.. . .
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
I think we’re beginning to see the answer.
Aug 16, 2008 - 10:26 pm 57. Yaakov Watkins:Dark Helmet,
Some things that you call religion apparently aren’t religions. According to you, if you can be born into a religion, it is not really a religion. Okay, I guess that Islam and Judaism aren’t religions. Are you happy now?
James Wilson
Aug 17, 2008 - 1:29 am 58. USpace:As a point of clarification, none of the names you listed as Jewish would have described themselves as religious Jews. You have made an interesting point, it may be that Marxism may be accurately described as a Jewish heresy.
Thank God our rights are much stronger in America. For now anyway. We all must help Canadian bloggers get this out to the world. Bludgeon the HRC through the blogosphere, continue to mock and expose their lawbreaking. We must keep educating people about this stuff so we stay far away from that PC craziness.
This whole Steyn, Levant and the Canadian bloggers V Mark Warman thing may end up being the beginning of the first death knell, the beginning of the end of the HRC’s lawless actions. Or not.
Canada’s Supreme Court and Parliament will eventually be getting involved I imagine. I certainly hope so.
Let real Lawyers battle it out in argument. Of course the Left doesn’t want this. They know they have the weaker case.
I can’t wait to see a tape of Steyn in front of the commission. The one with Ezra Levant was a real hoot. Ezra skewered them.
Mark Steyn is totally excellent, someone MUST give him his own show! We should all go hear him speak if we ever get the chance.
.
absurd thought –
God of the Universe likes
human rights commissions
that violate human rights
while claiming to protect them
.
absurd thought –
God of the Universe hates
real freedom of speech
an American concept
which is NOT for Canada
.
All real freedom starts with freedom of speech. Without freedom of speech there can be no real freedom.
.
Why Does Canada Allow Human Rights Commission and Richard Warman to KILL True Free Speech?
.
Philosophy of Liberty Cartoon
.
Help Halt Terrorism Now!
.
USpace
Aug 17, 2008 - 2:00 am 59. One who knows:.
James Wilson tells us, “It is ironic that Jews led the way through the Twentieth Century in imposing the politics of political correctness. ”
I wonder, even if this ridiculous comment is true, who cares? What does faith or etnicity have to do with someone’s politicsl views? Arch anti-political correctness mavens here in Canada are also Jews, Ezra Levant, David Frum, Jonathan Kay just to name a few.
Such comments as written by this blogger targeting Jews are blatantly anti-Semitic in my view.
Aug 17, 2008 - 5:17 am 60. Kathy Shaidle:Ah yes, that fellow has a similar list of things Mark Steyn’s supposedly said. Steyn took great delight in debunking it.
The stuff you quoted (out of context) might be hurtful, but the real question is: is it true?
What is worse? Calling someone a nasty name, or allowing them to hijack a magazine to publish Islamist propaganda? Or letting them shut another magazine down? Or watching as your tax dollars are wasted on people who quite frankly don’t deserve them? Or standing by as a culture of victimhood, self-censorship and entitlement erodes your nation?
Oh wait: if you’re a liberal, the answer is: calling someone a nasty name! I forgot.
Yes, I am being sued for libel, for questioning the tactics of the Human Rights Commission. Will fight to the death, too. Not ashamed of any of this. Everybody knows how to google.
You’ll have to try harder, dearie.
Aug 17, 2008 - 7:22 am 61. Dark Helmet:Yaakov,
I never said anything about what was or was not a religion, anywhere.
Please do not misquote me and try to change the subject.
What I said is that
” RELIGION IS NOT A RACE. YOU CAN NOT BE A RACIST AGAINST A RELIGION.
THERE IS SIMPLY NO… SUCH… THING.”
No matter how much anyone wishes it to be true by attempting to distort reality, since it is one of the founding concepts of political correctness,
it’s BS.
FYI: I was happy to begin with, I’m not one of the masses who is still confused by all this.
Clean off your goggles and things get much easier to see *** warning****, it doesn’t make them any prettier or make you sleep any better. It does get you off the merry go round.
Aug 17, 2008 - 7:44 am 62. Canada…:[...] …. where free speech really IS in danger. LINK [...]
Aug 17, 2008 - 11:22 am 63. Judy, NYC:the west is not overrated, it has give us science, and art, and classical music, literature and the serious novel, the enlightenment, the magna carta and the constitution and the bill of rights. it has given us the only meritocracy on the planet, America. we are waiting too long to speak out with passion in its defense, and condemn those who would destroy us. anti-semitism and its old canards are historically root and branch of terrorism and the rotten fruit of its diseased tree. I was 8 years old when joe mccarthy raised the spectre of a different, frightening america. Mccarthyism, fulminated with accusations, and criminal allegations of treason against anyone vulnerable, especially jews. the bodies of his victims were strewn everywhere, actors and teachers and writers and filmmakers and the guy across the street. his sins were venial. the media made him iconic. then a handful of people stood up, and like some apparition from the netherworld his power vanished. and when finally he dropped dead, we wished him into hell. we waited too long, he almost did it. we could have bombed hitler’s railroad tracks, we could have freed the warsaw ghetto and opened the death camps. we could have stopped him before he ever got to austria. we waited, and hitler almost did it. we might have, instead of the best of intentions in railing against the klan, hit them and their supporters in the face with garbage can covers, made criminals of the murderers, ripped out the white only water fountains with our hands. again, we waited. perhaps, if we had stopped the olympics when 11 isreali athletes were murdered by the plo, the course of middle east politics might have been different. denmark went home. norway went home. we almost went home. there are muslim jihadists in our universities, writing for our newspapers, our children are being inculcated with fake history, we are being called whitey and racist by a presidential candidate and his zombie followers, sll of whom despise everything that is america. and there are muslim fundamentalists in our midst shlepping their crazy medieval notions of women along with them, wearing their loony garb in our streets. what are we waiting for now. another, almost.
Aug 17, 2008 - 11:30 am 64. Self-hating boomer:I missed that. Where did all the bodies end up?
Aug 17, 2008 - 4:12 pm 65. Judy, NYC:self hating boomer: the bodies of the victims of joe mccarthy ended up in the usual places when people kill themselves because they are ruined. i am very surprised at your comment. is it meant to be cynical. or a joke. there was nothing funny about joe mccarthy. those who stood up, edward r. murrow and cbs news, the hollywood ten, were very brave, and put everything on the line to do it. when mccarthy took on the army he bit off more than he could chew and choked on it, but not before he destroyed yet a few more lives. if you truly don’t know what mccarthyism is, please look it up.
Aug 17, 2008 - 5:52 pm 66. Kathy Shaidle:Judy, please name all the suicides, please.
The Hollywood Ten were not at all brave. They continued to write and cash checks under ‘front’ names, and dined off their reputations as rebels the rest of their lives.
Ever heard of Venona?
Aug 18, 2008 - 6:14 am 67. poul:judy, when a communist commits suicide, it’s win-win for all involved. what’s the problem here?
Aug 18, 2008 - 12:53 pm 68. Shocked!:“Especially Jews, actors and teachers and writers and filmmakers.” Although i haven’t an issue with most Jews, but them with these titles/professions disturb me. True, what’s the problem here?
Aug 18, 2008 - 5:03 pm 69. Smarty:Don’t call this “Neo-McCarthyism”, Nor equate calling communists “commies” with calling people “racist”.
McCarthy went after the leftist enemies of our civilization, and these muslims and their fools ARE ALSO the leftist enemies of our civilization.
Liberals call anyone that they dissagree with a racist, McCarthy called liberals out as commies.
We need another McCarthy, or better yet, our own Pinochet, because commies aren’t worth arguing with.
Aug 18, 2008 - 6:22 pm 70. George:Joe McCarthy was correct, according to KGB documents available after the fall of the Soviet Union, according to ” The Prince of Darkness ” by Robert Novak.
Aug 18, 2008 - 11:30 pm 71. CaptDMO:As well as in Blaclisted By History by M. Stanton Evans.
Aug 19, 2008 - 8:35 am 72. The Monster:Dark Helmet, the proper noun “Jew” may be accurately applied to two groups of people, which overlap to a large degree:
1) An ethnic group that traces its lineage to twelve tribes that inhabited the territory of the modern State of Israel and some surrounding areas.
2) Adherents to the faith of Judaism.
Judaism (religion) is not a “racial” description, but “Jew” can refer to a “racial” distinction.
Aug 20, 2008 - 7:06 am 73. Lilith:Good bye to Chapters and Indigo. I will never shop there again.
I am sick to death of listening to whining Muslims. Go back where you came from. I fail to understand why you are here at all.
Thinking that boycotting a book store will leave you with nothing to read?
Try using your local library.
Aug 20, 2008 - 12:03 pm 74. Revnant Dream:M. Vukobratic:
Are you the only individual in North America that doesn’t know Kathy Shaidle is being sued by an litigious HRC ex-employee?
She & others are taking a bullet so people like you can spout what ever nonsense you want. Even you crude attempts at innuendo. You will never be the man a Mark Steyn is, or a Ezra Levant. They don’t play the man, they are the real thing. Willing to bear the consequences of their beliefs. They don’t do this out of pride, but because of a little known concept in liberal circles. Its called Honor .With Patriotism for our ideals of justice with a rule of Law for all.
Sep 7, 2008 - 6:47 pm