TigersRainbow

According to the Mayans, the world is going to end in December 2012.  I think it will more likely be September 11, 2011 when they open the Muslim “Victory Mosque” at ground zero, near the site of the 9/11 tragedy.  Of course, this is what I feel after listening to all the talk radio shows about the mosque being built at ground zero on “sacred” ground.

I understand the arguments that building the mosque there seems highly insensitive to the victims of 9/11 and it might look like a stick in the eye of America rather than an effort to reach out to America.  Let us not forget that there has been a mosque in that area for a very long time without incident.

This is an issue that New York has to settle, and everyone else needs to keep their noses and influence out of it.  If the mosque supporters have all the permits and approvals I think the energy and outrage to protest it would be better focused elsewhere (how is the gulf cleanup going?).  The outrage by non muslims is rather concerning to me.  Why is this such a big deal to so many people who are just yelling?  Why is there so much outrage to this one religion?  I don’t want to hear anymore babble linking Islam to terrorism and violence.  Yes, there are Muslim terrorists and rogue governments, and the Koran has some troubling passages that can be interpreted to support violence and religious intolerance – but so can the Old Testament.  Islam itself is not the problem.  If you look at Islam it is a religion of peace and deserves respect, in spite of some very violent people within the group.  The majority of Muslims are men and women of peace, compassion, tolerance with basic family values (just like Conservative Christians).  Just because you might not agree with the religion, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be practiced.  North America has freedom of religion in so many ways – the US Constitution, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

9/11/2011 will probably not be the end of the world, even for all those who feel troubled and insulted by the new mosque.  The real end of the world won’t happen at least until the next economic forecasts and next elections.  9/11 could be the start of more respectful religious dialogue and perhaps could lead to an all encompassing understanding of religious freedom.

Filed under: Human Rights | Add Comment →

I think as Canadians, we have been proud of our country for being so open.  How open is it really?  Is it the people or is it the minds of the politicians who play their political games that draw the picture of the country?  Personally I love my country, but have spent long periods (especially of late) hating the politics.

The most recent aggravation is Jason Kenney.  He is our illustrious minister of Immigration (appointed by Stephen Harper) and as anti-gay as any bible thumping, god worshipping republican.  It’s a bit of a shock actually, to listen to him speak in the house.  He has fought every bill that has to do with anything gay, and he was one of the key players when Harper thought for a second that perhaps they should rescind the right to marry.  Luckily Harper has a minority government and a fairly smart political consultant who told him not to pick that fight.  I don’t for a second think he made that decision himself.  But I digress…

Jason Kenney took his black pen to the latest copy of the citizenship and immigration guide which is given to all new citizens of Canada.  However, he had any and all references to homosexuality removed. There is no longer any mention that homosexuality was decriminalized in 1969; that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation; and that same sex marriage was legalized nationally in 2005. It appears that there was a memo from deputy minister Neil Yeates, recommending the addition of “equality rights” under list of rights – noting that this bullet should be reinserted into the list as a means of noting the equality of all basedon race, gender, sexual orientation etc.  However, Kenney won the day and kept everything out of the book.

You will find no mention of gay and lesbian rights anywhere in the new 63 page guide.  500,000 copies of the new guide have been printed and starting March 15, 2010, new immigrants will be tested on the material.

Filed under: Gay & Lesbian, Human Rights | Add Comment →

Calling it an “explosive afternoon” the Courage Campaign’s Prop 8 live blog reported late today that according to documents revealed to the court, the Mormon Church labored hard behind the scenes to cover-up their involvement in the campaign. That’s not surprise to any of us, but it’s the first time physical evidence has been produced to substantiate this. For example, one letter indicated that the LDS church had identified a volunteer for the campaign in every single zip code. This was a church document that was in the hands of a Prop 8 campaign official, and thus was discoverable. Andy Pugno, the general council for ProtectMarriage.com tried his darnedest to get Judge Walker to exclude it, but failed.

Pugno: Objects because document will be revealing. Judge: Not to make light of this, but the reason people want to produce documents is that they are revealing. Boutrous: It’s from an outsider to the core group. We are attempting to show the level of coordination with groups that Protect Marriage says were not even affiliated with the campaign. This is perhaps the most explosive bit of all, from a document between the LDS Church and the campaign: With respect to Prop. 8 campaign, key talking points will come from campaign, but cautious, strategic, not to take the lead so as to provide plausible deniability or respectable distance so as not to show that church is directly involved.

Get that? The LDS Church intentionally worked to hide behind the scenes to disguise their involvement in the public realm. The LDS Church is well aware that the general public does not have the most favorable opinion of them. Attention on their involvement could have hurt their cause, namely passing Prop 8.

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2010/01/prop-8-trial-explosion-mormon-church.html

Filed under: Gay & Lesbian, Mormon | Add Comment →

In just three days, an astounding 140,671 Americans signed our letter asking Judge Vaughn Walker to “televise the trial” — and we hand-delivered 138,248 of your signatures to the court Friday morning.

The good news: Judge Walker just announced the amazing final results on public comments: 138,542 in favor, 32 opposed. Congrats to the Courage Campaign and CREDO Action communities!

The bad news: Opponents of marriage equality filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday, begging to hide the trial from the American public. And a few hours ago, the Supreme Court delayed their decision until Wednesday.

Prop 8 supporters and anti-equality organizations like the National Organization for Marriage have spent tens of millions of dollars on 30-second ads scaring the American people into thinking that same-sex marriage will destroy our country. And now, when federal judges want to open the courtrooms to America, Prop 8 supporters want to unplug the TV.

What are they hiding? And what are organizations like NOM and Focus on the Family willing to do and say to keep the American people from finding out the truth?

The Prop 8 trial starts today. That’s why the Courage Campaign Institute is launching the “Prop 8 Trial Tracker” — a web site that will hold right-wing organizations accountable for what they say every day of the Prop 8 trial. We need your support immediately. Will you contribute $25, $50, $100 or more right now to help us get the truth out ASAP?

http://www.couragecampaign.org/GetTheTruthOut

On the defensive, Prop 8 supporters are scared they will lose. Maggie Gallagher, President of NOM, has made Judge Vaughn Walker the immediate target of NOM’s misinformation strategy, launching a baseless attack on the judge a few days ago:

“The case will be a show trial in a kangaroo court. I don’t say that lightly of any federal judge, but Judge Walker’s extraordinary bias has already been flagrantly on display.”

As the trial unfolds, we can expect NOM and their allies to continue to try and convince the public the court is biased. And our Prop 8 Trial Tracker will continue to monitor these misleading right-wing claims, in and outside the courtroom, and report the truth.

We’re launching the Prop 8 Trial Tracker as a public service to get the truth out. But we can’t do it without your support. Please contribute $25, $50, $100 or more right now to support our work during the Prop 8 trial to hold the right-wing accountable:

Courage Campaign to Get The Truth Out

Thank you for helping us get the truth out ASAP.

Rick Jacobs
Chair, Courage Campaign Institute

Filed under: Gay & Lesbian, Human Rights | Add Comment →

Oh my oh my oh my. What can I say. It has been an interesting week. I didn’t post anything in the last couple of weeks because my outrage and disbelief was so strong. Dallin H. Oaks, a prominent member of the powers (general authority) that be in the Mormon church went too far this time. He gave a speech to the students at BYU Idaho in which he compared the backlash the Mormons felt after Proposition 8 to the African American civil rights movement of the 60′s. I couldn’t believe he actually said that. He was kidding right? There was lots of press coverage, lots of blog comments and just general outrage. I still think it’s pretty funny that he had the audacity to say what he said, but it shows how out of touch with reality they (church leaders) really are.

This was a pretty funny cartoon that appeared in the days following:

I don’t want to appear offensive or biased, but as a long time Mormon (25+ years) this really made me shake my head.  Are they really that arrogant.  Do they really think the backlash they deserved, received was comparable?  Here they are in 2009 working hard to deny civil rights to a whole lot of people, and they make it about them???

I can’t be bitter.  I can’t let it get to me.  I left the church years ago, and spent a long time in therapy trying to get over it.  I was reminded of my state of mind five years ago by my chiropractor this week.  He said “you were a mess struggling with church but feeling you couldn’t leave”.  Yeah, it was my need to not disappoint anybody.  I thought I was “needed” so stuck around.  I didn’t want the lightning bolts of God coming down on my head and ruining my life. After all…I was going to lose all my friends, my religion, my sense of who I was AND I was going to go to hell if I didn’t stick around and play the game.  As they say…had I known then what I know now….

There is a new movie coming out called Prop 8.

Check out the web site for the film 8: The Mormon Proposition

Filed under: Gay & Lesbian, Human Rights, Mormon | Add Comment →

I have to admit -- I’m not an atheist, and other than my father, I really don’t know any atheists (people who purport themselves to be). However, I came across this video of one of my favourite comedians and had to share it. I love this man and his wry vision of the world. Maybe it’s his English, dry sense of humour or maybe he’s just twisted -- but he makes me laugh every time.

Gervais on atheism.

Filed under: Humour | Add Comment →

So – it appears that the people behind Prop 8 are going to have to disclose their campaign strategy documents that opponents believe could show that backers of the same sex marriage ban were motivated by prejudice.  Really?  Seriously?  It’s about time that someone was called to account for some of the activity that went on.  As a Christian “god fearing” people they need to eliminate not propogate the H8!

Read the article here.

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Since the “kissing” incident at Temple Square it appears that new signs have been erected stating who can and can’t be on the grounds. I guess this wouldn’t be so funny, but it seems that the church is doing everything it can to control who can and cannot be on the temple grounds. I am wondering if there are “secret police” hiding behind every bush and tree – just waiting to see some inappropriate behaviour. I grew up hearing stories about my friends making out on temple square and having good old grope sessions – but I guess that was ok because they were members of the opposite sex. When hand holding can get you booted out and and assaulted – then perhaps it has gone too far.

Filed under: Gay & Lesbian, Mormon | Add Comment →

The Calgary Herald
Canada
Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Alberta pastor who condemned gays takes on human rights tribunal

By Daryl Slade,
Calgary Herald

CALGARY – An Alberta pastor who wrote a letter declaring “war” against the “homosexual machine” has become the latest torchbearer in the fight against Canada’s hate law, arguing that a provincial human rights commission had no authority to sanction him two years ago.

The lawyer for Rev. Stephen Boissoin told the Court of Queen’s Bench on Wednesday that such matters should be dealt with under the Canadian Criminal Code.

“We say the legislation stepped out of bounds when it . . . dealt with hate speech,” lawyer Gerald Chipeur said on the opening day of a two-day appeal hearing.

“Any limitation on debate in the public, whether by letter to the editor, at a community hall or on television, regarding political views .. . . has been restricted to federal government.”

The pastor from Red Deer, Alta., was fined and ordered to apologize for a letter he wrote that was published in the Red Deer Advocate in 2002. It called homosexuals “just as immoral as the pedophiles, drug dealers and pimps that plague our communities.”

Three weeks after its publication – and following an incident in which a 17-year-old Red Deer youth was beaten up after being called a “faggot” – high school teacher Darren Lund launched a complaint with the Alberta Human Rights Commission.

Two years ago, the commission ruled the letter was likely to expose homosexuals to hatred or contempt. It eventually ordered Boissoin and the Concerned Christian Coalition Inc. to pay $7,000 in damages.

Boissoin is now challenging the authority of the Alberta Human Rights Commission.

The appeal marks another yet challenge to Canada’s hate laws and human rights commission, a cause that has been taken up by conservative commentators and news outlets who say they are facing censorship and unaccountable kangaroo courts for expressing unpopular views.

Boissoin’s argument against the Alberta commission appears similar to one used successfully earlier this month against the federal law, the Canadian Human Rights Act.

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal sided with Marc Lemire, webmaster of www.freedomsite.org, against complainant Richard Warman, an Ottawa lawyer, in a decision this month.

Warman had argued that messages on the site exposed minority groups to hate.

But the commission ruled that Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act – under which the complaint was filed – violates the charter right to free expression because it carries the threat of punitive fines.

The decision appeared to strip the national commission of its controversial legal mandate to pursue hate on the Internet.

It sets the stage for a battle in federal court, where commission rulings can be appealed.

The commission’s ruling has no legal impact on the Alberta case, said University of Windsor law professor Richard Moon, who wrote a report last year for the commission that called for the policing of hate speech to be left to the criminal justice system.

“It certainly has no legal significance for this decision being made in Alberta,” he said.

“Now, with that said, any decision that’s made by anybody who’s put their mind to the question is going to be taken into account.”

With files from Canwest News Service

Filed under: Human Rights, Humour | 1 Comment →

Doesn’t Deserve Our Vote

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