I wrote this letter after enduring The Community Dialogue on Racism forum held in the city of Welland November 9th 1995. While there I had to listen to a rant by an invited Left-wing terrorist group, had to listen to the same old crap about how Right-wing extemests are on the verge of taking over this country, and endure a political re-education seminar held by the Niagara Regional Police. The overwhelming theme, however was minority group rights. It was this emphasis on group rights instead of individual rights that prompted me to write the following letter to the Standard.
I attended the Community Dialogue on Racism forum on November 19th, and I must say, I was very disappointed. With all the talk, I didn't hear anyone say that all people deserve equal respect and treatment based on the fact that we are all Human Beings.
It seems that a person is entitled to the protection of his Human Rights only if he is a member of a visable minority.
The Human Rights Commission is misnamed. It should be called the Minority Group Rights Commission. If you are not a member of an identified minority group, your rights will not be protected.
One small example: I often see a sign in corner stores that say "Only 2 students at a time". Why? Are all students thieves that must be watched? If the sign had said "only 2 blacks", the full fury of the "Human" Rights Commission would make the store owner wish he had never been born.
Only victims of discrimination that are members of a recognized minority group can expect assistance. A system that forces an individual to join a group to have his rights recognized can only result in a fractured society. (The results are all around us, a society ever more divided into power groups).
(We must unite by giving everyone full equal rights and protection as Human Beings, not divide people by labeling them).
Human Rights in this country is not about individual dignity, it is about group power. Groups like the Community Dialogue on Racism only serve to further divide and separate us.
NOTE: I've put brackets around the parts the editor left out.
The comment about joining a group turned out to be more accurate than I thought. At the Meeting I referred to on the CDR page, A Community dialogue on Racism supporter told me that I couldn't possibly imagine discrimination since I'm a white male. I assured her that as a long-haired male I have experienced my share of discrimination. She then told me that if I felt I was discriminated against that I should form a GROUP for long haired males and demand our rights. Wow! That's the very thing I complained about in my letter, and there was a CDR member telling me to do just that. Like I said, as an individual you don't count, but join a group, then you get your rights protected. So, let me get this straight, as a long haired male individual, I have no recourse against discrimination, but as a member of the visable minority group of long haired males, my rights will be protected. That right there is whats wrong with this country today!
ACC NIAGARA/freedom@niagara.com/Feb 16 1997/Revised September 4 2006