Columnist: Sexism Rife In Canada, And Talking Like Yoda Is Cool

Emphasis ours.

[Belleville Intelligencer, Anne Rector] Sexists live and work amongst us, subtly undermining equality though insincere rhetoric and crocodile smiles. Some hold positions of authority over local women. Gone underground it is.

I’m positive… if young ladies today understood how often sexists will dominate, detract, deter, and disrespect us, how quickly they’ll stunt women’s pay, undermine promotions, harass us at work, subordinate our means to a living, or label us whore, slut or bitch… then perhaps they wouldn’t be so eager to do it for them.

The rest.

Need Evidence For Trial? Google It

From Andrew Coyne’s live-blog of the BCHRT/Maclean’s hearing:

Joseph is now asking [Habib] about the Free Republic blog. How did he come across it. Well, shorttly after reading the Steyn article in October 2006, which he found “concerning,” he went on the internet to “look for any impact,” ie he Googled it. He found what he was looking for on the Free Republic: the Steyn article, with comments from readers underneath, to the effect that Muslims should be “eradicated,” that they should not be here, etc.

We’re working off a printout of a Google search performed today [June 5, 2008]. Porter [counsel for Maclean’s] is up, pointing out that Google searches produce different results at different times. [Habib] can’t say with certainty that what he saw in October 2006 is the same as it is now.

The rest.

British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal: Surprise Evidence OK

From Andrew Coyne’s live-blog of the BCHRT/Maclean’s hearing:

It seems he is going to call Habib, but first wants to introduce yet another piece of last-minute evidence, and yet another blog post — this one from the California-based “Free Republic” site — which is yet again operated from somewhere in that vast section of the universe outside the jurisdiction of the tribunal. McConchie is raising objections, probably futilely.

10:21 AM As indeed they prove.

The rest.

Animal Rights Protesters: Circus Fans Are Child Abusers

[Local Guardian] Animal rights protesters hurled abuse at families as they entered Zippos circus on Twickenham Green at the weekend.

Zippos’ founder and owner, Martin Burton, said he heard parents called “child abusers” by the protesters, who represented sub-groups of Captive Animals’ Protection Society (CAPS) and Animal Defenders International.

The rest.

Cop To Teenager: Take Down English Flag Or Else Pay Up

Via Brussels Journal:

[This Is Wiltshire] A TEENAGE motorist was told to remove an England flag from his car by a police officer because it could be offensive to immigrants.

Ben Smith, 18, was driving back home to Ingram Road in Melksham on Thursday evening after filling up with petrol, when the officer stopped him on a routine patrol.

He checked the tax disc and tyres on his Vauxhall Corsa but when he noticed the flag of St George on the parcel shelf he told Mr Smith to take it down.

Mr Smith, who works for G Plan Upholsterers on Hampton Park West, said: “He saw the flag and said it was racist towards immigrants and if I refused to take it down I would get a £30 fine…

The rest.

Columnist: Cluster Bombs Mean Americans Are “Terrorists,” Too

[Brandon Sack] But for the U.S. and Israel to continuously rant about the depravity of “terrorists” while simultaneously reserving the right to use weapons which they know maim and kill almost exclusively civilians and children, brings a whole new depth to the word “hypocrisy.”

Sadly, we have now lost all moral credibility in the eyes of the world community. We do not have the right to label any person, organization or state a “terrorist” until we actually walk the walk and start holding ourselves up to the same standards we so disingenuously demand of the rest of the world.

The rest.

Rehabbing Those “Overseas” Bigots

[Gallaudet University] By working overseas where attitudes about deafness may be negative, volunteers show that deaf people are capable of being productive, independent, and equal to hearing people in the community.

The rest.

Vatican Radio Picks Up Steyn Story

When Vatican Radio gives a better, more succinct story in two paragraphs than the Canadian press does all year, it reveals a lot.

[Vatican Radio] (05 Jun 08 – RV) In Canada, the British Colombia Human Rights Tribunal is this week holding a hearing against the nation’s most influential newsweekly, MacLean’s Magazine. It is accused of printing an article offensive to Muslims in 2006. The magazine says the case is an infringement on the freedom of the press, and the right to free speech.

The case has brought to national attention the work of the various Human Rights Tribunals in Canada, which do not operate under the standard rules of courts in the country. The Tribunals investigate, prosecute, and hand down verdicts in the cases, and many fear that unpopular speech is being targeted. 

The rest.

Crack BC Journalists Capture The Essence Of The Story

[The Province] Maclean’s article propagated stereotypes, witness tells human rights tribunal

An expert witness testifying before the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal on its third day Wednesday morning told the panel that the article at the centre of the dispute contains numerous examples of common stereotypes of the Islamic religion and Muslim people.

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[Vancouver Sun] Islamic expert testifies to inaccuracies in Maclean’s article

One of the world’s foremost religious historians testified before the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal on Wednesday to refute what he says are inaccurate portrayals of Islam in an allegedly discriminatory 2006 Maclean’s article.

Annulment Over Virginity Lie Causes Outcry In France

[AP] The bride said she was a virgin. When her new husband discovered that was a lie, he went to court to annul the marriage—and a French judge agreed.

The rest.