For some, opinions concerning human rights have become polarized. Opposite extremes exist. Fortunately, many people find common ground, focus on our shared humanity, and work constructively toward equality.
Mr. Bowden made comments regarding the Human Rights commission, then related them to the CDR. We are not the Human Rights Commission, and we are not a government body. However, the OHRC would not have been formed if discrimination was not practised.
Mr. Bowden states that one has to be a member of a group nowadays to have one's rights protected. If true, what a sad commentary, yet he is already a member of a group anyway. There are those who will make assumptions about his abilities based solely on the fact that he is white, and he enjoys certain privileges as a consequence.
When Mr. Bowden pre-registered for our conference, he stated that he has never really interacted with people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. If he genuinely wishes to protect human rights for all he needs to talk to the people targeted by racism. If he remains immersed in the ill-feelings and propaganda of the Heritage Front, he is at risk of losing his objectivity and Humanity.
Re-reading Ms Azzeh's letter for the umpteenth time, I get the impression she is willing to divide Canadians into two groups: Oppressors(white) and Victims(minorities). All her actions seem to flow from that basic premise.
Ms Azzeh's response to my letter didn't appear until almost two months after my letter. I don't know if it was because of the Yule season, or because she was waiting for a letter from the Heritage Front. It's interesting that she doesn't disagree with the central premise of my letter. Her comment about my reference to having to join a group is "if true, what a sad commentary". It is true, it is a sad commentary, and it's a direct result of twenty years of Human Rights Legislation. At least one member of the Community Dialogue on Rascism also believes it's true.
I'm also curious as to the source of the quote she has in her letter: "expiation of all non- Anglo Saxons back to where they came from". Ms Azzeh has for some time now tried to portray me as a member of the Heritage Front. Either it's simply an attempt to discredit me (don't listen to him, he's a Heritage Front member), or she really believes it.I suspect the latter. Ms Azzeh seems to operates on a simple linear type of logic. Everything is either/or; black or white. I suspect her thinking is something like: "I fight racism, Keith Bowden is against me, therefore he must be for racism, therefore he is a racist". Alternatively: "Michael Bowden is in the Heritage Front. He is against me. Keith Bowden is against me, therefore, he is in the Heritage Front". Both are examples of faulty logic, and both are false.
The reality is that I'm not for racism, nor am I for a hundred other "isms" that are a basis of prejudice in this society. I believe in the autonomy and integrity of every Citizen of Canada regardless of race, religion, culture, what have you. We have criminal laws to punish any person who violates anothers personal integrity in this country. Our criminal law should treat everyone the same. Any criminal law or social policy thar differentiates between "types" of people and provides "special treatment" only serves to created division and resentment.
I believe that Canada is the greatest country in the world. One hundred thousand immigrants coming here every year also think so.
What I am against is people like Susan Azzeh running this country and our culture down, trying to make people feel bad about themselves and their heritage. What I am against is the attempt at massive social re-engineering that is going on in Canada today. No longer are we content to fight wrong deeds, we are attempting to fight wrong thought. We want to make every one love and care for everyone else. It's a utopian dream that people have always wanted, but some people today in Canada believe the dream is attainable, and they will do anything to make it happen. Ms Azzeh and others of like mind would welcome any laws to facilitate creating her vision of Canada. No personal freedom we now posess is too precious if it stands in the way of her vision.
This country is one of the most tolerant and racially diverse countries in the world, and still it's not enough for Ms Azzeh. I keep hearing that the job has only barely begun. When will it be over? I suspect that as far as Ms Azzeh is concerned, it will never be over, it will never be good enough.
ACC NIAGARA/freedom@niagara.com/Feb 19 1997/Revised August 28 2006