M-103 - I'm not so worried
A lot of people talked yesterday about the end of free speech in Canada. They felt that M-103 was going to be the slippery slope that would end our free speech.
The motion, M-103, reads:
The government should: (a) recognize the need to quell the increasing public climate of hate and fear; (b) condemn Islamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination and take note of House of Commons’ petition e-411 and the issues raised by it; and (c) request that the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage undertake a study on how the government could (i) develop a whole-of-government approach to reducing or eliminating systemic racism and religious discrimination including Islamophobia, in Canada …
I happen to be a big defender of free speech and a free press being a foundation for democracy, so I would be vehemently opposed to anyone threatening this. I just don't see this motion is much of a threat.
It is not a Bill which means it is a not a Law, all it is accomplishing is referring something to a Committee. The right to free speech is safe and would require a change to Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and I can not see that happening.
In effect, MP Iqra Khalid had a problem. She was experiencing "hate" email and letters based on the fact that she practices Islam and as a Member of Parliament, she is a public figure. This is disturbing and horrific. Since she was an MP, she had the platform to make a statement, so she did. There are hundreds of Canadians who have problems every day with discrimination, unenforceable restraining orders, bullying in the workplace, etc. Unfortunately, they don't have the same public platform that Iqra Khalid.
Of course, I do object to what Khalid went through. She was discriminated against because of her faith and because she was born in Pakistan. She shouldn't have faced this hatred. Unfortunately, there is nothing to we can do to legislate stupid. There will always be stupid people wherever you go.* Unfortunately, these people are usually marginalized socially from a society that has largely ignored them.
I wonder if things are better for Khalid now. The Motion, that she introduced in December, probably hasn't quelled all of her hate email, and likely made her more of a target. Now, she is the MP who is going to end Free Speech. Law of unintended consequences.
When you actually look at her motion, you can see why it is no threat to free speech and will be difficult for Committee to come out of it with legislation.
a) There is nothing to substantiate that there is an increasing climate of hate and fear. Anecdotal evidence does not lead to legislation. Secondly, an increasing climate of hate and fear only does exist when we give energy to that. We would be better off ignoring the negative and focusing on the positive. The best way to combat hate is to focus on love.
b) Islamophobia is not our only problem and it should not be identified as such. Religious persecution has unfortunately been happening for over 2000 years. We should not single out Islam. All religions have claimed to be subject to racism and discrimination. We don't need our government to condemn this, we need people in general to condemn this. When we hear an offensive remark or a joke that uses a stereotype as part of the humour, we need to speak out. This is something that is not going to change by government condemning such, it is common sense that this will only change when the regular John and Jane Doe start taking action.
c) We can refer it to all the Committees we want, but unfortunately none of these Committees have the power of a magic wand. It is very sad but very true. Systemic racism and religious discrimination has existed prior to Canada existing. Again, it is hard to legislate against stupid.
*How do you think Trump got elected?
The motion, M-103, reads:
The government should: (a) recognize the need to quell the increasing public climate of hate and fear; (b) condemn Islamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination and take note of House of Commons’ petition e-411 and the issues raised by it; and (c) request that the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage undertake a study on how the government could (i) develop a whole-of-government approach to reducing or eliminating systemic racism and religious discrimination including Islamophobia, in Canada …
I happen to be a big defender of free speech and a free press being a foundation for democracy, so I would be vehemently opposed to anyone threatening this. I just don't see this motion is much of a threat.
It is not a Bill which means it is a not a Law, all it is accomplishing is referring something to a Committee. The right to free speech is safe and would require a change to Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and I can not see that happening.
In effect, MP Iqra Khalid had a problem. She was experiencing "hate" email and letters based on the fact that she practices Islam and as a Member of Parliament, she is a public figure. This is disturbing and horrific. Since she was an MP, she had the platform to make a statement, so she did. There are hundreds of Canadians who have problems every day with discrimination, unenforceable restraining orders, bullying in the workplace, etc. Unfortunately, they don't have the same public platform that Iqra Khalid.
Of course, I do object to what Khalid went through. She was discriminated against because of her faith and because she was born in Pakistan. She shouldn't have faced this hatred. Unfortunately, there is nothing to we can do to legislate stupid. There will always be stupid people wherever you go.* Unfortunately, these people are usually marginalized socially from a society that has largely ignored them.
I wonder if things are better for Khalid now. The Motion, that she introduced in December, probably hasn't quelled all of her hate email, and likely made her more of a target. Now, she is the MP who is going to end Free Speech. Law of unintended consequences.
When you actually look at her motion, you can see why it is no threat to free speech and will be difficult for Committee to come out of it with legislation.
a) There is nothing to substantiate that there is an increasing climate of hate and fear. Anecdotal evidence does not lead to legislation. Secondly, an increasing climate of hate and fear only does exist when we give energy to that. We would be better off ignoring the negative and focusing on the positive. The best way to combat hate is to focus on love.
b) Islamophobia is not our only problem and it should not be identified as such. Religious persecution has unfortunately been happening for over 2000 years. We should not single out Islam. All religions have claimed to be subject to racism and discrimination. We don't need our government to condemn this, we need people in general to condemn this. When we hear an offensive remark or a joke that uses a stereotype as part of the humour, we need to speak out. This is something that is not going to change by government condemning such, it is common sense that this will only change when the regular John and Jane Doe start taking action.
c) We can refer it to all the Committees we want, but unfortunately none of these Committees have the power of a magic wand. It is very sad but very true. Systemic racism and religious discrimination has existed prior to Canada existing. Again, it is hard to legislate against stupid.
*How do you think Trump got elected?
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