Tag: Stephen Harper

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Canada: Harper’s Deafening Silence on the Iran Nuclear Deal

By N Oji Mzilikazi

30 August 2015

Like right-wing Christian Churches, Christian Zionists and Christian fundamentalists that unequivocally support Israel and send millions of dollars to fund Israeli settlements, Stephen Harper, our unbeloved prime minister and his Conservative government are the world’s staunchest supporter of Israel. In Harper’s eyes, Israel can do no wrong and Israel does not do wrong.

In his January 2014 speech before Israel’s Knesset, Stephen Harper vowed loyalty to Israel. Harper declared:  Through fire and water, Canada will stand with you.

At the November 2010, interparliamentary conference on combating anti-Semitism, Harper declared: As long as I am Prime Minister, whether it is at the UN or the Francophonie or anywhere else, Canada will take a stand whatever the cost.

In stating he would take a pro-Israeli stance, no matter what the political cost to Canada; Stephen Harper is feted and embraced by Jewry worldwide, and given awards and titles by Jewish organizations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Harper a great friend of Israel and the Jewish people, and praised him for unabashedly standing by Israel on issues including Iran’s nuclear program.

Since Iranian hardliners foolishly swear to the destruction of Israel, Iran  was elevated as the latest bogyman that epitomizes evil and a threat to the west, Canada would not engage with Iran in any shape or form.

In taking up anti-Iran fire rage for Israel, in September 2014 Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird dismissed outright any co-operation with Iran against ISIS.  Baird passed on the chance to inflict serious damage on ISIS while in its infancy.

In the face of such pro-Israel support by Stephen Harper it was rather surprising to see Harper staying silent on the landmark Iran Nuclear deal hammered out by the United States and others – weeks after the signing, and with protests and objections by the Israeli government, prominent American Jews and others.

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee didn’t pledge loyalty to Israel, but he had no qualms about invoking the Holocaust to object to the Iranian nuclear deal.

Huckabee likened it to marching the Israelis to the door of the oven.

I’m truly baffled by Harper’s silence. Harper had no qualms about snubbing the United Nations. Harper was willing to call out and attack Russian President Vladimir Putin over Russia’s expansionism and militarism, yet when Israel needed him most he didn’t show up. Harper didn’t show support and solidarity with Israel and criticized or objected to the deal.

Wonders never cease!

 

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Our Deaf And Jail-Happy Federal Govt.

OUR DEAF AND JAIL–HAPPY FEDERAL GOVT.

By N Oji Mzilikazi

Originally published in the Montreal Community Contact Volume 23, Number 12 June 13, 2013

 

…In the face of the Tories multibillion-dollar prison expansion program, and Statistics Canada 2010 findings that Canada’s crime rate had dropped, Senator Pierre-Hughes Boisvenu said that “someone, somewhere, is manipulating the numbers.”

The decrease in crime was of such, Yvan Delorme, Montreal Police Chief (2005-2010), created a “commercial services” arm that rented out cops; manage their private hiring for parties, sporting events, traffic control during film shoots, motor escorts during parades, guards to businesses, and the like.

To further assail the reliability of the decreased crime statistics from StasCan, execute the Party’s agenda and serve up a “red herring,” Stockwell Day, the Treasury Board president voiced there was “an alarming increase in unreported crime.”

Are there crimes that go unreported? Certainly! But how can anyone “gusstimate” as to quantity when “unreported” implies unknown?… By Day’s logic, “unreported crime” justifies prison expansion.

Stockwell Day was never a bright political bulb, just a political opportunist. During his tenure as Opposition leader (Canadian Alliance Party) – in May 2001, Day condemned Canada for taking anti-Israel positions without public debate. And like a ventriloquist’s dummy, reiterated the #1 song on the playlist of the day (no pun intended): “Truth of the violence in the Middle East is distorted by television coverage.”

 

…On July 30, 2008 – when Day was the Public Safety Minister, he went on record saying that the government “Push for longer jail terms will not result in overcrowded prisons or ballooning corrections costs.”

It is impossible to have one without the other. Adding to the idiocy, Day also opined that longer sentences for drug and gun offences will be a deterrent — which has not been the American marketplace reality.

 In October 2010, the federal government announced prison expansion in Ontario and Quebec to the tune of $155 million. Also, it will be spending $2 billion over the next five years to ensure the nation’s jails can handle the expected surge in inmates.

 

…We imprison to our peril. Incarcerated citizenry are eventually going to be freed. And society stands to pay for the extra wrath and scars imprisonment left on souls.

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Dealing With Homosexuality

Dealing With Homosexuality

By N Oji Mzilikazi

November 24, 2011

(Originally published in Montreal Community Contact Volume 21, Number 24)

 

…Still, homosexuals: “batty bwoys,” “buller men” and “zami queens”- their female counterpart in West Indian parlance – consenting adults and not child rapists or pedophiles, are looked upon as a threat to the wholesomeness of the society. They are positioned and thought about as always primed to pounce on the virtuous, a corruptible influence, blot on humanity and deserving the wrath of the righteous – condemnation to death by Judeo-Christian religious degree…

 

 

 

…When it comes to sin, Christians often invoke Biblical lines like, “We’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” “We’re only human,” or use the expression, “Love the sinner but hate the sin.” Yet, when it comes to homosexuality, it’s about hating both the “sinner” and the “sin.” They aren’t prepared to live and let live, or leave the “judgement” and “punishment” of homosexuals up to God…

 

 

 

…Homosexuals can be our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, nieces and nephews and our grandchildren. Chances are that in every person’s family tree there is a family member who is gay…Must we love them less and discriminate against them because of their sexual orientation?…

 

…Given the complexity and nature of the Black struggle, does it make sense for the Black community to continue its homophobic ways and ostracise its gay, lesbian and transgendered members?

I am not suggesting the embrace of homosexuality. Only that we see those who are as full brothers and sisters worthy of respect and not a demon seed. And if you are a practicing Christian, worthy of Christian love.

Up you mighty race you can.