scaramouche

...born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad

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User: scaramouche
Irreverent, contrarian, delighted to be out of synch with the zeitgeist, I depend on my sense of humour (such as it is) to keep me sane in this wacky world.

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Tuesday, 23 June 2009

What is this, Czarist Russia?: A letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper:
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
I am writing to voice my alarm over an article that appeared in the June 22nd National Post. In an interview with Post reporter Joseph Brean, Jennifer Lynch, the head of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, mentioned that she has compiled a thick file folder--she estimated it contained up to 1,200 pages--containing the words of those who had been critical of her and/or her organization; in a recent speech, she dubbed such criticism a “reverse chill.” As someone who has questioned Canada’s human rights apparatus on many occasions, both in letters to the editor and on my blog, I am disgusted--no, sickened--that in a democracy such as ours a powerful official is collecting evidence of dissent.
Ms. Lynch insists that compiling this file is part of her job description--her way of defending all the vulnerable and marginalized who are meant to be protected by Canada’s human rights code. I trust you will understand if I, as someone who believes that free speech and the exercise thereof is the linchpin of a free society, see it as something else--as a blatant show of power and a profound threat to our personal and national freedom.
Ms. Lynch’s anachronistic file would not have been out of place in, say, 19th Century Russia, where police compiled dossiers on citizens at the behest of the Czar, or even 1970s America, where Richard Nixon maintained a long and continually-growing “enemies list.” It has no place in the Canada of today. I urge you to take the appropriate steps and show both the woman and her repellent file folder the door a.s.a.p.
Sincerely,

Posted by: scaramouche at 09:49 | link | comments (17)


Comments:
#1  23 June 2009 - 13:17
 
Canada is starting to look more like East Germany everday - we have a Human Rights Commission that rewarss snirtches for rating out their neighbors.
Anonymous
#2  23 June 2009 - 13:55
 

Instead of the Stasi were can HRCs to keep us in line.

User: scaramouche Contact me View user's mediablog scaramouche
#3  23 June 2009 - 13:56
 

..we have HRCs to keep us in line is what I meant to write. (Sometimes the fingers have a mind of their own.)

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#4  23 June 2009 - 13:56
 
It is interesting that Ms. Lynch is defending Section 13.1 so adamantly,  rather than acknowledging it's got any problems at all.

By doing this, she may very well lose her job, and possible the whole HRC 'System' she so dearly believes in and has dedicated her career to. All for a very small, but highly controversial, piece of HRCs cases. It looks as if she is willing to throw the baby out with the bathwater. It's all or nothing. Circle the wagons.

It is a sign of an 'activist', a true 'believer', a 'zealot' if you will. She uses the term 'right-wing' to disparage her critics. I would say it is more her 'left-wing' activism and hirings that has put her in the trouble her and her agency is in. And because she is highly biased herself, she will not, or more likely, just cannot see the real problem.

JR
Anonymous
#5  23 June 2009 - 14:12
 
Excellent article! Would you mind if I forwarded this, along with my wholehearted concurrence, to my MP-Jason Kenney?
Thanks
Anonymous
#6  23 June 2009 - 14:43
 

I must say, you should not find any of this alarming.  When Mr. Harper first got into office, he restricted access to the media and in doing so restricted Canadians access to the government.

That was the first move he made toward fascism.

His support for HRC's, and in particular, Section 13 only further demonstrates where the CPC and Mr. Harper want to take us.

When people can compile "files" like this is another sign of fascism. 

Want another sign?  How about the new proposed legislation to increase police powers so that the police will not need a warrant to gain information about net-izens and bloggers.


Anonymous
#7  23 June 2009 - 16:58
 
#5

Be my guest.
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#8  24 June 2009 - 08:30
 
Well thought out letter. I bet he never see's it though.  Some "Official" read drone will dismiss it. You are correct we have been going down the road to absolute tyranny since PET.
The Conservatives have revealed themselves as totalitarians by inaction if not support for this horror. That free people are now targeted by maniacs with power , with no breaks or interferance. You know they approve. They are scared of the Immigrant orginizations who prophit from the Shake downs. Besides it useful fo9r them to have this power. After all we just drink beer & EAT POPCORN!!! The culture of entitlement & our lketting these politicans feather their own beds while accruing power is now come back to force us to pay dues for not protecting our Liberty.
Well said Scaramouche.
It will take a lot of work if not suffering to reverse this Elitist o0r statist culture we have allowed to grow.
Anonymous
#9  24 June 2009 - 21:54
 
Great letter!  I'd like to put the whole thing on my blog; I'm going to assume that  "be my guest" is blanket permission for bloggers to repost.    
Anonymous
#10  25 June 2009 - 17:38
 
Perpsective, people, perspective.  How is she supposed to respond to criticisms if she cannot read and understand what is being said about her.  You are making all your criticisms in the most public of all forums.  Do you really think that copying articles and posts from the internet constitutes facism? Do you have any evidence that she is hiring people to secretly video-tape or audiotaping conversations?  I'd start buying your facism arguments then.
Anonymous
#11  26 June 2009 - 15:46
 
I totally agree with the above commenter.  I'd take it a step further ... I'd say it's irresponsible for the head of a public body NOT to keep track of how it's being criticized in the media.  I mean sheesh, do you actually want her to listen to your criticisms, or not?  How dare she take the fascist step of printing off those criticisms and putting them in a folder!
Anonymous
#12  27 June 2009 - 11:57
 

She isn't merely compiling a file. Her outfit keeps actually keeps tabs on us bloggers in the hopes of--what?--eventually bringing suit against us? If that isn't scary and fascist, in a Stasi kind of way, I don't know what is.

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