... is about to get a lot more interesting.
h/t Second Thots.
Update Varlaki has now pulled his entire blog content down. He responds with an apology in the comments here. I don't know that it's going to be enough to avoid an interview with the RCMP, considering the specific nature of his threat.
Posted by Kate at March 12, 2007 9:30 AMTrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/4889
Maybe we should be grateful the virulent left have voluntarily disarmed themselves with their genetic hoplophobia...they couldn't even stand the thought of holding an "evil" firearm much less use one.
In this country a leftwing zealotry may try to take out an opponent with searing surreal sarcasm, vacant racist taunts and if these fail they will hiss and spit till they collapse. ;-)
I don't think PMSH has much to fear from the moonbat left. It isn't body armour he needs but ear plugs ;-)
Posted by: WL Mackenzie Redux at March 12, 2007 10:18 AMI just read it then went back after reading the Star article and it's disappeared. Glad you got the screen capture.
More insite to Mr. 22 year old at;
http://allenvarlaki.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Cal at March 12, 2007 10:31 AMHis blog is back up and he's all mad at us for, like, getting mad at him.
http://allenvarlaki.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Kathy Shaidle at March 12, 2007 10:45 AMHey Moonbats, if it's that bad in Canada, you can do what your brethren moonbats only thretened down south. You can move to the U.S. ! Congress is in the hands of a Moonbat controlled party and GWB is proving ineffectve day by day. Obama is your candidate! What? He's mono-lingual you say? No problemo, he's Islamic! You know, the most oppressed minority group in the world--other than rich white lesbians.
Posted by: Doug at March 12, 2007 10:48 AMDoes the Archdiocese of Toronto know about this?
In a post from Sept 2006, young master Allen writes:
"I can finally say that I'm all settled in here at Serra House."
Serra House is where you live when you think you might have a vocation to the Catholic priesthood.
I may have to convert to Buddhism...
Posted by: Kathy Shaidle at March 12, 2007 11:06 AMNo, he isn't mad at us for getting mad at him. He's genuinely puzzled, and in my view, I think that many overreacted to him and his post.
Think.
How many times have bloggers/writers called for Bush's death? Saddam Hussein's death? Chirac's death? And so on. Indeed, in some countries, it IS a felony to call for the death of your leader (in Iran, in Saudi Arabia, in Saddam's Iraq, in Zimbabwe ie in totalitarian countries).
What about the many posts on the left calling for Bush's demise and the many posts on the right calling for the demise of China's leaders, the demise of Islamic imams and so on.
He's a 22 year old kid. As he himself says, his verbiage and his actions are not the same.
Posted by: ET at March 12, 2007 11:07 AMI'd be more worried about the folks behind the scenes that have been pulling the strings in this country realizing that Harper will never be their puppet and that he's going to burn their playhouse down.
Posted by: molarmauler at March 12, 2007 11:16 AMSirhan Sirhan, 24 years old. He wrote RFK Must Die over and over again in his diary.
I've never read a right wing post calling for the assasination of China's leaders
or Islamic imams, actually. I wish Castro would die faster, but I don't wish someone would kill him.
ET, I am absolutely surprised at your at your comment.
Having read (and appreciated) many of your writings during the last year or so, this seems uncharacteristic.
I am of the opinion that 22 years is enough time to have gained some common sense.
No matter what his intentions, this young man needs to get his head examined.
Remember the writings of the (also) young man who killed a young lady at Dawson College?
People that talk about suicide are the ones that kill themselves.
People that talk about killing people are the ones that do the killing.
Regardless of the attempt to spin a death threat against Canada's elected leader, it's still a death threat and both he and his friends should be shook by the RCMP to see what falls out. The guy is an unbalanced whack job.
Y'know, all computers, private papers, phone records, bank records, school records, library records and like that. Check this nut case out. The cries fro the left that he's only a kid are nonsense.
Posted by: Pat at March 12, 2007 11:38 AM
"violent rape at the hands of neo-con pigs"...
I never get invited to the really cool parties...
Posted by: Kathy Shaidle at March 12, 2007 11:41 AMProfessor Tim Ball has received 5 death threats for disagreeing with the IPCC report on global warming.
What the hell is happening to our country?
It will be interesting to see how the RCMP reacts to
this blogger.
Will they respond publicly?
Will we ever know if is just a hateful but harmless twit?
Do the 'insider joke' friends that he speaks of
have the same mindset, or are they a more determined lot?
And will MSM cover this story at all?
Many, many questions . . . . .
*
i can't wait for young mr varlaki to yell "fire" in a crowded theatre...
or make "bomb jokes" over at pearson airport.
he's such a card.
*
Posted by: neo at March 12, 2007 11:51 AMET,
I too am amazed at your comment on this so called 'kid'.
Most of the "men" dying in Iraq as part of the US Army and Marines are about that age.
There is no excuse for this kind of irresponsible behaviour from a 22 year old university student.
For God's sake man, the age of reason is seven!
This person should go to jail for incitement and uttering threats or whatever the lawyer talk is for dangerous behaviour directed at our prime minister.
Just like a child pressing parents with bad behavior to find out what the parameters actually are. Allen Varlaki just found out how far you can push the neocon pigs before they start oinking back.
Well, Allen, you have arrived ... be afraid, be very very afraid. And good luck finding a decent after you have finished your indoctrination period. This episode will travel with you and your resume for life.
I don't think even your beloved leftist government agencies will want to have you around. You make them look even worse than they are and they do want to get elected.
Posted by: John at March 12, 2007 12:04 PMCharge him with incitement.
I still disagree; I think everyone is overreacting.
Kathy - because Sirhan wrote those words does not mean that all articulations of 'he'd better watch out' are the same.
Equally, it is invalid to say that 'people who talk about suicide' are the only ones to kill themselves as opposed to people who don't talk about it but still do. And the same with killing others. It is simply totally invalid to say that articulation is a required prior act.
Yes, 22 years is reasonably mature, but I think it is extremely dangerous to merge words and actions. Because one or a few individuals do carry out their verbal articulations does not mean that the two, words and actions, are inextricably linked.
Kathy - I've certainly read posts and lots of them calling for the assassination of China's leaders and the assassination of radical imams and Castro and so on. It's hardly unknown. Equally, there are lots of posts calling for the assassination of Bush!
I think it's an overblown reaction. Now, if he had been taking steps to carry out such an action, ie, purchasing a gun, purchasing explosives, etc, etc - that's moving the words into action. But I cannot stress enough the danger of thinking that words are actions.
Remember What's her Name - No, I'm not doing a Harry Potter, I'm simply terrible with names..but whoever..who stomped on a doll of Bush on TV - and Martin/Chretien did nothing about it. Martin only demoted her when she criticized him.
I maintain that it's an overblown reaction. He hasn't sent a death threat to Harper, he hasn't done anything. He's posted a scenario on his blog. You people may think I'm thick as mud, but I don't see the reason for the fuss.
Posted by: ET at March 12, 2007 12:09 PMHopefully his parents will take away his computer privileges for at least a week. No blogging and worse yet, no computer games. That should teach him...personally, I think it should be at least a month.
Posted by: John at March 12, 2007 12:15 PMYou bring up a good point , ET.
I would hope that this young man is never allowed the opportunity of ever legally owning a firearm.
I would think that should be the minimum result of his ill-advised comments.
I hope this moron is held accountable for his crap.
I'm tired of this 'sure it's on the internet, but it's only for a couple of friends who understand my quirky style of writing' BS.
What, is it actually too much trouble to email his two friends?
Posted by: Robert in Calgary at March 12, 2007 12:19 PMGreat posts about the armed forces. There are indeed 22 year olds in all branches of the service who competently handle million dollar equipment, and make life or death decisions. Meanwhile this witless fellow admits he's afraid of guns but wishes someone would use one on his behalf.
Three guesses which party he votes for, assuming he votes (he says he doesn't believe in democracy). They can have him.
ET you have read those posts but I never have. We must hang out at very different blogs.
Posted by: Kathy Shaidle at March 12, 2007 12:19 PMET,
"He hasn't sent a death threat to Harper, he hasn't done anything. He's posted a scenario on his blog."
Which is accessible to anyone and everyone. That is the whole points of blogs isn't it? So people -will- read your thoughts.
If someones publishes death threats or "scenarios" on their blog, isn't this tantamount to making a public call for the action?
Posted by: Robert in Calgary at March 12, 2007 12:23 PMET...
i to am surprised by your comments. the kid made 2 direct threats to the PM's life.
Hmmm...carrying on from ET's post...Ms. MacMillan and Ms. Shaidle, is this not (even in the least bit) like your postings about Justin Trudeau (drugging the St. Bernard and shouting whatever to induce an avalanche)? Granted, your postings were clearly obvious jokes while Mr. Varlacki's was very possibly a true death threat, but isn't it at least possible that these are in the same vein? Couldn't Ann Coulter and Bill Maher be accused of the same type of comments?
Posted by: Eeyore at March 12, 2007 12:27 PMThe left is all for democracy when they win elections. When they lose, however, democracy becomes an inconvenience that many of them are willing to put aside in order to get their way.
This warped arrogance and violence is the result of the left's brainwashing of weak minds, IMO. Unable to resort to logic, they resort to advocating violence.
When you think about it, it's not much different from when Islamic terrorists strap bombs onto feeble-minded idiots who aren't smart enough to question what they're being told.
Getting back to 'our' leftists, you see it all the time. Bill Maher saying the world would be a better if the Taliban had gotten Cheney. And this clown threatening Harper.
There is a fundamental difference between the left and the right.
When Republicans/conservatives lose elections, they take it as a message that they need to change.
When Democrats / liberals lose, a good number of them start plotting the coup to get around the ballot box.
Some of them are so warped by the belief that they're on the moral high ground that they feel justified in shooting people for what they view as the greater good.
It's just backs up Michael Savage's contention that "Liberalism is a mental disorder."
Conservatives may dislike the Clintons, Gores, Trudeaus and Laytons of the world. But I've never heard anyone say they should be shot.
Posted by: gwgm at March 12, 2007 12:27 PMIn my younger days I had an altercation in a bar. The police showed up and all the perps (including me) were arrested. I was taunted by one gentleman and I responded by saying "oh...you're dead ass*ole"
I was charged with uttering death threats.
Did I literally mean it, obviously not, but now I have a record for my stupidity.
Should our immature friend be charged? My opinion, hell yes!
If you've got thirty seconds of time to waste, have a look at the Red Star column Varlaki was talking about: it's a classic example of rambling, wet noodle, not-quite-sure-what-the-hell-I'm-trying-to-say space wasting journalese, and Red Star semi-literate journalese at that. Add to that the fact the guy is a part time civil servant and I think I get the picture as to why he wants to go postal. But he'd be better off he just drank the Kool Aid instead.
Posted by: Geoff W. at March 12, 2007 12:34 PMOk so this guy has in a failed attempt at a joke called for Harper's assassination. Some wish to forgive others to assail him in response. Here is my take, we need to get a photo of him and post it on our blogs as the face of a traitor. Plain and simple, no calls for retribution or police action, just expose him. I disagree strongly with most Liberls and I lived through a lot of their garbage but I would still never call for harm to any of them. In fact in a place like Michael Coren's show their misplaced passion has been shown to seldom be the product of thoughtful contemplation but simply [passion misdirected. Expose Allen as a thoughtless failed comedian who crossed the line of class and taste to the point of treason.
'Nuff said
Ok so this guy has in a failed attempt at a joke called for Harper's assassination. Some wish to forgive others to assail him in response. Here is my take, we need to get a photo of him and post it on our blogs as the face of a traitor. Plain and simple, no calls for retribution or police action, just expose him. I disagree strongly with most Liberals and I lived through a lot of their garbage but I would still never call for harm to any of them. In fact in a place like Michael Coren's show their misplaced passion has been shown to seldom be the product of thoughtful contemplation but simply passion misdirected. Expose Allen as a thoughtless failed comedian who crossed the line of class and taste to the point of treason.
'Nuff said
That's what leftism does, makes petulant little children out of people.
Posted by: ol hoss at March 12, 2007 12:45 PM;-)
Hey Hoss, check this out:
“At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child — miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic, and useless. Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats.”
—P.J. O'Rourke, Give War a Chance
Again, he shouldn't be charged; he wasn't threatening Harper. Because he said 'it's a good idea' doesn't mean that he is doing anything other than verbose imaginings.
Yes, there's the example of Bill Maher saying that Cheney ought to be 'taken out' and his death would be a good idea. Was he flung in jail? And as I've said, I've read on numerous blogs - which sites I can't remember - about wishes for the death of China's leaders, Putin, Castro, Bush, Hussein, all Muslims and Iran (nuke them! nuke them!)and so on.
He did not write Harper and threaten him; he talked on his blog. Period. I'm thick as mud and twice as dumb - and I still think the reaction of just about everyone is overblown hysteria.
Posted by: ET at March 12, 2007 12:59 PM*
"ET said... I still think the reaction of
just about everyone is overblown hysteria."
hey ET... "phone home"
*
Posted by: neo at March 12, 2007 1:11 PMOk, i have it figured out now.
This is not the ET we have come to know and appreciate.
Its an imposter
ET: Well I dunno about starting to charge the creepy things that are comming out of the moonbat left these days:
We got death threats to scientists who don't drink moonie Koolade, we got baby bats musing about shooting conservative PMs....then at the climate change moonbat shindig in Calgary we got some moonbat dressed like darth vader waving a 40" sword at Kyoto counter-protestors.
http://no-libs.com/?p=1517#comments
Maybe too early for a general police round-up of rabid moonbats but all conservatives and well adjusted people should keep some moonbat repellant close at hand until this hydophobia runs its course in the fringe left. ;-)
Posted by: WL Mackenzie Redux at March 12, 2007 1:16 PMET: I'm not going to get within a million miles of even speculating... but read the statement that this guy made (at bottom). Swap out Harper and insert "Justin Trudeau", "Hillary", "Obama", "Layton", or "Dion".
Can you look into your heart and say that you would feel the same way?
And again... I'm not threatening anything. I don't know you and I don't have anything against you.
BUT... what if someone had a website and posted your address and work schedule (these things are known about Harper)... and said on his blog that the time was fast approaching that YOU needed to take a bullet. Or your kid needed to take a bullet to end your socialist pig bloodline?
Still sound innocent to you? The reality is that you and your soiled undies would be on the phone to the police in two seconds screaming for protection. And you would be justified in doing so.
Nutjobs often tip their hands well in advance of hurting people. Someone should take a hard look at the type of person who would make a statement like this guy made.
Frankly, it sounds like a cry for help from a sick mind. Someone should answer it.
FROM HIS SITE: "I've always maintained that there will come a point at which Stephen Harper will have to take a bullet. I mean, we'll arrive at a time when the only way we can protect this country, its ideal and its history from a violent rape at the hands of the neo-con pigs is to take this man out."
Posted by: gwgm at March 12, 2007 1:19 PMNotwithstanding the debate of it blogger has uttered a threat, there is a troubling comment where he notes that Harper is doubling Dion's numbers on leadership, which is justification for stopping Harper, with a bullet or otherwise. This young lad doesn't respect democracy; that is a very troubling attitude. Does he have any idea what happens in authoritarian societies? Freedom of press and democracy are seen as threats to the hierarchy. What I find ironic in the left support of authoritarian causes is that some of the groups that gravitate to the left, gays and trade unionists for example, would be the first ones hanged in these states.
Posted by: Shamrock at March 12, 2007 1:22 PMAllan has come forward with a much clearer apology. We should be willing to forgive.
http://secondthots.blogspot.com/2007/03/blogger-calls-for-stephen-harpers.html
ET , liberal MP Carolyn Parrish.
"no calls for retribution"
From the right
in reponse to
"I mean we'll arrive at a time when the only way we can protect this country, it's ideal and it's history from a violant rape at the hands of the neo con pigs is to take this man out"
From the batshit crazy progressives.
I for one am done with giving someone violent the benefit of the doubt.
Is he a muslim, this sounds exactly like the Toronto 17's plot to cut Priminister Steve head off ?
What useless "ministry of" employs newspaper readers like this killer?
Posted by: richfisher at March 12, 2007 1:29 PMUttering death threats is a crime which is as it should be. It is a very chilling form of intimidation inimical to the functioning of democracy. There should be no burden upon the victim of such threats to go to any effort to ascertain the seriousness of the threat any more than a bank teller should be under any burden to assess the seriousness of a robber handing her a note saying "I've got a gun, hand over all the cash". The left love to use violence and intimidation and have a long history of doing so for one simple reason -- it works. It works to suppress the exercise of free speech and suppress opposition to the leftist agenda; it works to bully people into agreeing to policies they would otherwise oppose; it works to coerce people into surrendering freedoms they should by rights enjoy. The throwing of pies, vandalism or unlawful occupation of property, street violence, sabotage of public institutions, and threats against the person are not "jokes". Abusers threatening violence love to use "Oh you didn't really take me seriously did you?" as their out, to put the victim in a double bind. Likewise leftists love to use "Oh it was simply a protest" to abuse the larger society while trying to appear self-righteously virtuous. It's time to demand some responsibility and respect for democratic society. The man is over eighteen, an adult, responsible for his actions. If the facts are as outlined in the post, he deserves jail.
The point, ET, is not that he directly threatened the Prime Minister of the country. The point is that he is advocating that SOMEONE kill the Prime Minister. This is the difference between Allen and Mr. Maher. Maher lamented that the bomb didn't get closer, but didn't advocate someone trying again. This "educated" young man is advocating exactly that in a forum open to hundreds of millions of people. That a handful of fellow bloggers took his comments and ran with them just educates him as to why he shouldn't have made those comments in this arena in the first place.
He's now getting more education, perhaps at the cost of some legal bills, into what it means to advocate the death of your country's leader, whether you mean it or not.
Posted by: Andrew at March 12, 2007 1:43 PMMight I make an important distinction should the pigs be reading this. I know it's difficult to understand given your double-digit IQs and all, but saying someone should take a bullet is different from saying I will deliver such a bullet personally.
I wonder if those low-IQed pigs know the difference between "adversity" and "aversion"?
Posted by: andycanuck at March 12, 2007 1:47 PMSee... liberalism is a mental disorder...
And we see liberals' mental disorders getting progressively worse as society becomes progressively more permissive and encouraging of the mental disorder.
First the left threatens Bush in the US, getting away with it... now it's spread northwards to the Canuckistani Snow Moonbats...
Posted by: The Canadian Sentinel at March 12, 2007 1:50 PMDrD: Well said. A sending a threat to anyone on a blog, which is open to anyone in the public domain, is no different than shouting the threat out loud on any main street of any town in Canada. Being ignorant of the law is not an excuse.
Posted by: ABG at March 12, 2007 1:50 PM
He's not sorry for what he said , he's sorry you're too stupid to understand his self professed "perfect grammar and punctuation of an educated young man skilled in academic writing"
.
His appology is the standard non-appology version "I appologize if you "miscontrued" ,I'm the real victim" boilerplate.
"I can't express how much I regret having made the original post on my blog. For those who might have doubts, I have pulled the entire blog due to the volume of emails I was receiving. I just don't have time for all that.
As I said in my original explanation of the post, it was a style of writing that my close friends are familiar with, and in my ignorance of the internet and the volume of people who read blogs, I failed to account for the fact that the site was accessible not just to those who know me, but to others.
That people have spent time searching the internet to find more information about me makes me a little nervous. I'm not sure if I should fear for my own personal safety here; but that someone has found out information about my campus affiliations and my contributions to a political party leaves me feeling concerned.
Again, might I apologize to anyone who took offence to what I wrote. I assure you with every fiber of my being that I was not uttering a threat but merely posting rashly and without due consideration to how my words might be miscontrued. I'm sorry.
I'm relatively new to the whole practice of blogging, and this experience leaves me feeling uneasy about continuing to do so. I doubt I will re-establish my blog...it was always too much of a time-drain to maintain anyways. If I do, I will be sure to post more respectfully and with great dilligence."
# posted by A. V. : 1:22 PM
"Jail, no bail", and he began to wail!
Posted by: richfisher at March 12, 2007 1:56 PM
Exactly eyeore.
You'll notice that I'm not one of those calling the police on this fellow. I'm just pointing out and mocking his foolishness, just as other people took exception to my post and did likewise.
One big difference is that my post is actually witty.
Posted by: Kathy Shaidle at March 12, 2007 1:58 PMWell said, ET. You should consider starting up your own blog instead of just commenting on polluted forums.
I've never read a right wing post calling for the assasination of China's leaders
or Islamic imams, actually.
Well let me help you out, Kathy.
We should be responding quietly, killing radical mullahs and iranian atomic scientists...
http://instapundit.com/archives2/2007/02/post_2521.php
I think that some of the 'anti' reaction today is coloured by frustration.
As we all know, had this been written/said on some 22 year old rightwingers about Chretien/Martin/Dion etc.then the MSM reaction would have been immediate and shrill.
I am more of the school that it is not what you say, it is what you do.
Rob't is, of course, trying to infer that Instapundit is a "far right" blog. Anybody?
Posted by: rick mcginnis at March 12, 2007 2:10 PM"We should be responding quietly, killing radical mullahs and iranian atomic scientists..."
and these are heads of state, how? Robert? Are you really dumb enough to call Instapundit an extreme blog full of rants that call for assassination of leaders of legitimate nations? You've got to do better than that.
Posted by: Doug at March 12, 2007 2:35 PMtoo often lately the RCMP reaction has been akin to the cops on the Simpsons.
and we can go back to the time when PMJC's wife had to defend them "wit a pice of eskimo statchew"
Posted by: cal2 at March 12, 2007 2:40 PMET: If I were debating one side of an issue, and it came to light that my only supporter was "Mr. F the Jews", I would immediately contact a nutty left-wing (redundant?) blogger and convince him that "the time had come to put a bullet in my head."
Posted by: gwgm at March 12, 2007 2:44 PMFirst, it's 'really me', ET, who has been posting here. And I continue to stand by my opinion; I think everyone calling for this young man's head is complete overreaction.
As for other blogs, I simply won't name them, but there are 'right' blogs that include advocacy of death against Chinese leaders, Muslims and imams, etc.
To even suggest that the 'right' never harbors such thoughts, never voices them - and only the 'left' thinks in such a manner is to divide our species into two typologies - and that's invalid. We are all human, and we can all think and voice andn even act on such thoughts.
I repeat - a young kid, full of bravado and utopian arrogance - voicing such things is completely different from anyone with a deliberate agenda of carrying out such an action. Compare the threats and exhortations at hockey tournaments. Does the public shrieking 'kill him, kill him' expect anyone to actually carry out this very public order??
gwgm- your analogy is invalid. This young kid did not threaten to 'take out Harper's children'; he did not even threaten Harper. It was a scenario of voiced bravado and should be met with 'yeah, sure, so much for democracy' or 'naah, I think the bullet should reverse and hit you because you're a twit'
So far, I haven't seen any comments that will make me change my mind.
Thanks, Kathy...I was unsure which side of the issue you were sitting on. And my apologies to ET...I think some posters are attributing my comments to you.
Personally, I would have no qualms about the guy getting charged...his comment could easily be mistaken for a death threat...very much more so than the "witty" statement about Trudeau (and the less-witty statements made by Coulter and Maher). Although his comment should be taken seriously and investigated (with charges laid if appropriate), I'm not sure that it is so truly outrageous as to warrant the reaction here that it has.
So, add me to the tar-and-feather to-do list along with ET.
He was foolish to have said it and he should face the consequences of having said it, but this is a free country and freedom of expression is permitted. I don't think this is the same as yelling fire in a crowded theatre...although it may be the same as saying "I think someone should bomb this plane" at the airport.
Posted by: Eeyore at March 12, 2007 3:01 PM*
"Jim O'Brien said... Allan has come forward with a much clearer apology.
We should be willing to forgive."
Hey smarty-pants... there's a big difference between regret, especially after
stepping on your own dick... and an apology for threatening harm.
"I have pulled the entire blog due to the volume of emails I was receiving.
I just don't have time for all that."
And that, my friend... isn't even close to an apology.
*
Posted by: neo at March 12, 2007 3:17 PMI suspect this educated young man is about to get some more education.
Posted by: Mark Bourrie at March 12, 2007 3:18 PM40-odd years ago, I was a young, catholic, neo-marxist at an Australian university. At that time, I'm sure that I more than once remarked to my friends that Bob Menzies (long-standing conservative PM) ought to be shot.
It took me a long time to understand that the wealth of nations derives from the hard work, ingenuity and entrepeneurial spirit of the private sector and that this has to be given relatively free rein in order to flourish.
Now, I am an old catholic member of the CPC.
Give the young feller a break. At most he is guilty of naivete and stupidity.
Also, he needs to get a real job (and a haircut?)
Posted by: jlc at March 12, 2007 3:22 PMET: Canadians are sick of young monsters getting a free pass to do say anything and do everything - including murder - safe in the knowledge that their age will get them off the hook.
Eric Harris (18) and Dylan Klebold (17) were 'younger kids' than this clown. I'll bet the parents of the children they killed at Columbine High School wished someone had paid attention to the warning signs and website tipoffs.
I'm starting to think that they could find a weapons cache in this kid's house, with maps to Sussex Dr..... and you'd still be making excuses for him.
From Wiki: "Early warning signs began to surface in 1996, when Eric Harris first created a private website on America Online. The original site was set up to host Doom levels that he and Klebold had created, mainly for friends. Harris also began a primitive blog on the site, which included jokes and small journal entries concerning his thoughts on parents, school, and friends. By the end of the year, the site contained instructions on how to cause mischief, as well as instructions on how to make explosives, and logs of the mischief he and Klebold were causing. Beginning in early 1997, the blog postings began to show the first signs of Harris' ever-growing anger against society...."
As for other blogs, I simply won't name them...
I however, will.
AND THEN THEY CAME FOR ALEXANDER SKREPNEK
http://myblahg.com/?p=1949
If you follow the links it will lead you here.
Carolyn Parrish should die
http://tinyurl.com/2gzgco
ET's initial comment pretty much sums up my thoughts on Alexander Skrepnek and the lynchmob that's after him.
I'm all in favour of tearing an elected official a new one if they say something stupid, but this behaviour of going after Canadians for things they write on a blog only because they can be connected to someone in power is highly disturbing.
Posted by: Robert McClelland at March 12, 2007 3:40 PMIn The Sleep Viking's world, rick, Instapundit is far right, because he's from Tennessee and owns a gun...
Of course last time I checked he's also pro gay marriage, pro drug legalization, pro immigration, pro choice... Yep a real right winger.
Robert, I haven't read Instapundit in years (for why, see above). I can only know about posts. On. Blogs. I've. Read. That's what the words "I haven't read posts like that" means. ET and I read different blogs. Is that ok with you?
This is like your obsession with me being "a frequent guest on the CBC" when in fact I have been a guest on the CBC twice _in this century_.
You are, as usual, confused.
And a credit to your party, btw.
Posted by: Kathy Shaidle at March 12, 2007 3:45 PMgwgm - I think you should only speak for yourself, rather than claiming that you are speaking for all Canadians, eg. "Canadians are sick of..."
He is not a 'young monster'; he is not 'saying AND doing everything'; I repeat my caution about the danger of assuming that words are equivalent to actions. They are not. I think this merger of words with actions is extremely dangerous to freedom of thought and speech.
I also suggest that you not make assumptions about what I would do IF a 'weapons cache' was found in his home. I keep repeating, that words and actions are not the same nor are they always linked.
Your analogy is invalid. Because two kids set up a blog with specific instructions and details on making explosives is not equivalent to someone saying 'our PM should be shot'.
Again, my view is that this issue has been blown to hysteric extremes - much like Chicken Little.
I agree with jlc - give the kid a break. The sky is not falling.
Posted by: ET at March 12, 2007 4:08 PMJust wondering what the reaction would be if instead of PMSH he had referred to someone from the rop. Riots and carbeques?
I don't think ET will thank me for this but nonetheless: Good for you, ET, for not just following the mob!
I've read stuff this bad all over the web, including on a lot of right-wing sites. It's bad whoever says it - not just when people you disagree with say it and not just when they say it about your political hero.
Posted by: exile at March 12, 2007 4:39 PMaah... this little-baby redliberal personifies the INTOLERANCE of the brainwashed left in its full flower!
Credo of the Left:
“When I am weaker than you, I ask you for my rights, for that is your way.”
”When I am stronger than you, I take away your rights, for that is my way.”
The Right generally regards the Left as simply misguided. The Left, however, assumes that anyone who disagrees with them is not only wrong, but evil....and more.
Posted by: Monty at March 12, 2007 5:15 PMKathy and exile(AV for sure!)
This alan guy DID threaten the life of a person.
PERIOD.
Let him bear the consequences.
"I think it's an overblown reaction. Now, if he had been taking steps to carry out such an action, ie, purchasing a gun, purchasing explosives, etc, etc - that's moving the words into action. But I cannot stress enough the danger of thinking that words are actions."
I'm taking ET's side on this. I'm not in favour of criminalizing speech.
Posted by: Sean at March 12, 2007 5:39 PM(Cross-posted to Second Thots)
I believe Allen's about to learn the difference between public and private personas/spaces, and the utterances that are appropriate to each.
Here's a primer:
Your dorm room is private.
Having coffee or a beer with your buddies is private.
Interactions on a date are private.
Casual interactions with strangers on a street corner are private.
Dinner with your family is private.
YouTube is public.
MySpace is public.
Your blog is public.
E-mail (even though you think otherwise) is public.
Chatrooms are public.
Second Life is public.
Et cetera.
The second set of examples above can be generalized as follows:
If it's on the 'Net, it's public, indexed, searchable, and (for all practical purposes) eternal.
If you don't want it to be public, and especially if it's likely to be misconstrued, don't put it on the 'Net.
Got it?
Posted by: Garth Wood at March 12, 2007 5:40 PMFor the first time I must disagree with the brilliant ET. When I read this man's post a chill went up my spine. I have never read something like this before actually stating that our Prime Minister is to be shot. I felt this man was deadly serious. Though the left and their supporters always seem to resort to advocating violence if they don't get their way this is over the top.
This post to me seemed a real threat and I am not being hysterical or overreacting when I think the RCMP should take this seriously and investigate this individual to see if that threat does exist. At the very least there are limits to free speech and this man may have crossed it
Posted by: David Hand at March 12, 2007 5:49 PMIt is a certainty that this little creep will be interviewed by the RCMP, it's standard procedure. However, I don't believe that what he posted would be sufficient to qualify as a criminal offence.
His impending visit from a couple of (in his terminology) "pigs with double-digit IQs" will undoubtedly cause his sphincter to tighten more than a little.
Posted by: Bruce at March 12, 2007 6:04 PMWell this is all very interesting kids, I must say. One side calling for the RCMP, the other side tut-tutting in the name of free speech, youthful exuberance and etc.
One question to both sides: If the Prime Minister being told to buy kevlar was a member of Canada's Natural Ruling Party (TM), would Allen Varlaki have been allowed to call his lawyer yet?
Posted by: The Phantom at March 12, 2007 6:14 PMIf this is a real threat, or perceived by some as a threat, or threats of a plot etc. didn't the liberals and ndp and bloc just vote down any action by the police to investigate or question this guy.
Posted by: mary T. at March 12, 2007 6:16 PMMaybe some of the old Red Foreman would do Allan good!
Posted by: OMMAG at March 12, 2007 6:31 PMGotta agree with ET on this one. The kid is nothing more than a spoiled brat and a visit from the double digit IQ's may help him develop a new attitude. Too bad they can't rough him up a little,though. Seemed to work wonders in the past.
Posted by: Rattfuc at March 12, 2007 6:32 PMThe "kid" is over 21 and made a death threat.
PERIOD.
He WILL bear the consequences.
Here's my take on this "kid", at the least he needs some psychiatric help. At 22, granted you are still a work in progress, but, his level of vitriolic rage isn't wholesome or age appropriate. OK, after more than a few drinks in a bar with friends in a heated political discussion, but, to sit down alone, with perfect grammar as he demands credit for in his comment, to compose an assassination rant, sorry, but this is a very angry person whose issues transcend politics.
I doubt that he is another Lee Harvey Oswald, but then again, Oswald was telegraphing his angry inadequate persona for years before he acted. Too bad there was never an intervention when he was 22. What's the worst thing that can happen if the RCMP pay him a visit, not much, but, that may be that seminal point in his young life when he realizes with embarrassment as a motivator that he needs to address some issues.
Posted by: penny at March 12, 2007 6:44 PMCriminal? ... I don't know ... I'm not a lawyer. But I do believe that when one crosses the line there should be consequences. Maybe his workmates, schoolmates, friends, family will tune him in ... maybe not.
Posted by: ural at March 12, 2007 6:59 PMWell down here in the US what usually happens is that the citizen spouts off.
Then there's a knock on the door, and there are a couple of very serious and grim-faced men from the Secret Service who detain the man making the threats.
The subject is cross-examined very pointedly and very seriously until the Secret Service is convinced that the subject is simply a blowhard exercising freedom of speech.
At this point the Secret Service, having reminded the subject that such public threats are taken very seriously, leave him to think about whether he wishes to provoke a second visit.
Posted by: Greg in Dallas at March 12, 2007 7:15 PMI think that Mr. Varlaki's words in the case at hand are on the borderline. If they were just a little bit stronger, I'd say lower the boom. If they were just a little bit weaker, I'd say no harm no foul. As it stands, I can argue either for the prosecution or the defense, as many competently have above.
So I'm going to take the position at this point in this case that at a minimum Mr. Varlaki should get a visit from those responsible for the Prime Minister's security, for two reasons. Firstly, he needs a smack up-side the head to help impress upon him that there are, indeed, some perfectly reasonable limits to free speech in any functioning civilization (even though I relentlessly argue in favour of keeping those limits as small as practically possible). Secondly, such a visitation will allow those who are more knowledgeable than I on these matters to perform a proper evaluation of Mr. Varlaki's state of mind and its relationship to the degree to which he should be reprimanded for his misbehaviour.
Whether or not Mr. Varlaki's behaviour rises to the standards of mens rea and actus rea in the matter at hand is, I think, beyond my ability to determine given the information we have and my limited knowledge of the precedents in this area. Nevertheless, I suspect Mr. Varlaki, and probably quite a few other blog-o-pundits, are now more aware or at least reminded of the matter of Canadian jurisprudence in cases like this, and of the nature of the functioning of this medium in our commons.
Remember this: you write it, you own it, guaranteed.
Posted by: Vitruvius at March 12, 2007 7:25 PMGreg:
That's pretty much what will happen here, as well. And the RCMP members of the Protective Service tend to be less than cordial in situations like this.
Posted by: Bruce at March 12, 2007 7:29 PMDoesn't removing the posts and his entire site show a guilty mind, Vitruvius? (From March 12, 2007 7:25 PM)
Posted by: andycanuck at March 12, 2007 7:35 PMDid I ever tell you guys about the time that the US Secret Service came to visit? They did. Along with a rep from the RCMP. It was back when Billy Clinton was visiting Calgary for a speaking engagement. I was planning on protesting said engagement (http://no-libs.com/?p=449) and stated as much on my blog. It seems that the powers that be saw said post, did a little research and discovered a post where I called Clinton a Moonbat. They then discovered another post where I discussed "beating" MoonBats (in the metaphorical sense) and deduced that I could possibly be a security risk to Clinton... Luckily for me, I was able to show that the "beating" was done with words and had nothing to do with physical contact, lest I'd be sitting in a cell for the duration of Clinton's visit. I did peacefully protest the former POTUS but there were sniper rifles focused on me while I did it (yes, I saw them).
I think our new (young) friend is in for much the same treatment...
And rightly so...
Posted by: Richard Evans at March 12, 2007 7:46 PMPosted by: Kathy Shaidle (above)
Does the Archdiocese of Toronto know about this?
In a post from Sept 2006, young master Allen writes:
"I can finally say that I'm all settled in here at Serra House."
Serra House is where you live when you think you might have a vocation to the Catholic priesthood.
...........
My first impressions when I read the assassination statements saved on Second Thoughts, I pegged him as a very angry Dipper because I read similar sentiments (but not uttering overt death threats) on the babble/rabble.ca forum ... and it came from those who I labeled as "neoDeviates" having hijacked the NDP for their one issue politic.
Now that I read he may have thoughts of entering the RC priesthood, my suspicions are reinforced ... this guy may be a political neoDeviate and is lashing out at the biggest symbol in Canadian politics the neoDeviates on the rabble forum virulently attack - Stephen Harper and his family too.
The next federal election will be most bitter and violent as the Dion Liberals desperately attempt to claw back power, and the mentality displayed on the offending blog is symptomatic of the extremism that has invaded Canada and our politics .... "extremist elements" most certainly lurk in our very midst.
When one is already in a hole, continuing to dig is generally not helpful in getting out of that hole. His initial reaction, on his blog, in response to critical comments posted...an excerpt:
"Finally, Mr. Anonymous, I hope you have called the RCMP. I've always wanted to get on one of those lists they've been keeping; I think it's cool. Anything to distinguish myself from the herd of unquestioning fatalistic animals this society has become. I would imagine that most people who have have managed to preserve the capacity for independent thought and uncensored articulation might find themselves up there with Osama Bin Laden and the like.
"Piss off pansies! This is the real world, and if you can't stand the heat, stick your head in the oven and get it over with.
"Always a pleasure...
"On a side note. Might I make an important distinction should the pigs be reading this. I know it's difficult to understand given your double-digit IQs and all, but saying someone should take a bullet is different from saying I will deliver such a bullet personally. I don't really care for guns all that much, so I would never pick one up and shoot Mr. Harper myself. Does that mean I would be bereft if someone did? I'll leave that up to you."
Well the young man is assuredly now on one of those "lists" to which he referred...I doubt that he'll find the real thing terribly "cool".
Oh, and Allen, cancel those plans to spend spring break in Ft. Lauderdale...I don't think you'll make it across the border easily anymore...
Have you people ever read Free Dominion? There's stuff this bad on there quite frequently. And I've seen some things in the comments here (and at the Western Standard) every bit as bad as this. No one seems to mind, though. Funny, that.
I object to this kind of thing no matter who it comes from, unlike most of the commenters here.
Yes, Andy, I have no doubt that Mr. Varlaki's post hoc actions indicate something like a guilty mind. The question is, did he feel guilty of mens rea, or did he feel guilty of making a fool, focus, and/or laughing stock of himself in the publics mind?
There were I couple times in my youth that I did something stupid enough to warrant a visit from the local constabulary because of my big mouth (my apologies to all taxpayers). They were convinced, apparently, of my honesty and remorse, but they left no doubt in my mind that if I bothered them again on such a matter, they would make things, at least procedurally, much more difficult for me (Greg expressed this phenomenon well). In addition, in those cases, other people highlighted my errors, as the blog-o-sphere is now doing with Mr. Varlaki.
So as I said: at least until further developments, I think that the way things are probably being handled, both officially and in the blog-o-sphere, is just fine with me. I don't see a major unaddressed problem presented by this particular case.
(PS to Exile: In my opinion you are being disingenuous. It is not the case that most of the commenters here don't object to this kind of thing no matter who it comes from. Most conservatives and libertarians don't think you should be able to utter threats without facing situationally appropriate consequences.)
Posted by: Vitruvius at March 12, 2007 8:21 PM"It is not the case that most of the commenters here don't object to this kind of thing no matter who it comes from. Most conservatives and libertarians don't think you should be able to utter threats without facing situationally appropriate consequences."
Then they need to say so when conservatives utter threats. It would be nice to think that this was true. I have read far too much about what "should happen" to people the writer disagrees with.
But if you suspect that I am being dishonest, there is really no point in trying to talk.
Leaving aside the detail that disingenuous is not the same as dishonest, it may be the case that you have read far too much Exile, but that is not equivalent to your argument about most commenters. The fatal error in your attempted argument is that you said most commenters. If you had said some commenters, you might have had a living argument. Alas, it's a bit late for that now, your argument has ceased to be.
Posted by: Vitruvius at March 12, 2007 9:00 PMexile: Why are you bring in Free Dominion, Western Standard and ".... conservatives (who) utter threats", when we have a very specific example of somebody thought to be a disgruntled Liberal supporter uttering incitement to kill our prime minister?
Are you trying to justify this person's despicable actions because you claim you read similar threats by 'conservatives'?
What are you motives bringing into this discussion what you claim are equally despicable acts by 'conservatives'?
Are you defending tit-for-tat hatred?
Posted by: Anonymouse at March 12, 2007 9:07 PMConsidering what Bruce did for a living in the last life, my money's on Bruce...[winking icon]. Make sure you've got clean underwear, Allen. Double-digits are humourless.
Posted by: Skip at March 12, 2007 9:54 PMET, with respect...
What's the difference between this and a guy standing on a street corner holding a placard with a picture of a flak jacket and a slogan underneath stating "Someone, someday, for the good of the country, has to put a bullet in the Prime Ministers head!" Would you tell offended passersby "Move on, no story here." Would you wait till the police came by to tell them "Leave him alone, they're only words."
U. of T. student = high scholastic achievement, no? Prestige school, right? Probably regards himself as one of the elite.
Someone should explain to the little sucker the difference between "adverse" and "averse".
So he's developed an 'adversity' to reading newspapers, has he? He means 'an aversion to', but he doesn't know that's what he means. That about sums it up ... pseudo-intellectual little twerp with delusions.
Posted by: Frank at March 12, 2007 10:39 PMIf the RCMP do nothing to prosecute the person who published these overt death wish/threats against our prime minister, that will open the door for even more outrageous acts of terror against Harper and his family.
An example should be made of this nutbar to serve as a warning to others who think they can just express their political feeling in such a callous manner.
Those that argue this is just an innocent prank by some 22 year old college student should just remember Dawson College and Ecole Polytechnique massacres. This guy if filled with anger and is dangerous to Canadian society.
Posted by: Sarah at March 12, 2007 10:53 PM"ET, with respect...
What's the difference between this and a guy standing on a street corner holding a placard with a picture of a flak jacket and a slogan underneath stating "Someone, someday, for the good of the country, has to put a bullet in the Prime Ministers head!" Would you tell offended passersby "Move on, no story here." Would you wait till the police came by to tell them "Leave him alone, they're only words.""
No, of course not! But if there was another guy across the street with a picture of a flak jacket and a slogan underneath saying "Someone, someday, for the good of the country, has to put a bullet in Jack Layton's head", and the people around me were all talking about the first guy and not the second, calling the police on the first guy and not the second, I'd be making the same arguments I am here. Likewise, if the people around me were all talking about the second guy and not the first, calling the police on the second guy and not the first, I'd be making arguments parallel to those I am making here.
BOTH need to be called to account. (And I do not support the ndp. I just picked Layton as an example.)
I decided to reply to you since you make a rational argument and do not rely on childish insults.
Posted by: exile at March 12, 2007 11:17 PMPersonally, I think we're being too hard on the kid. He sounds fairly immature and spoiled, probably not going to make it through to ordination.
Aren't the Khadrs still in Canada collecting welfare? Didn't that loudmouth Coderre march in support of Hezb'allah? Didn't the Canadian-born muzzies from TO who were going to behead PMSH get minimum bail & release from jail? Hell, with all that going on, it's kinda hard for some spoiled momma's boy NOT to join the bleating liberal circus online and type out his puerile whims for ego reinforcement. That's all this is: a cry for attention by a kid who doesn't have the tools but wants to seem relevant & important.
Posted by: Alienated at March 12, 2007 11:20 PMexile,
Nobody said that Layton should be shot ... no flack jacket across the street.
Posted by: ural at March 12, 2007 11:29 PMVitruvius, "disingenuous" is not equivalent to "dishonest" but it implies dishonesty.
Posted by: exile at March 12, 2007 11:33 PMMr. Allen Varlaki seems to be suffering from Sudanese Shrinking Mimesis Syndrome.
(Tip of the hat to Mark Steyn)
Posted by: Farmer Ben at March 12, 2007 11:37 PMural: "exile, Nobody said that Layton should be shot ... no flack jacket across the street."
That's not the point. The point is that there are similarly threatening remarks on conservative blogs and no conservative seems to object to those.
And no I do not think that justifies this guy's behaviour. My point is that if his behaviour is bad (and it is) then the same kind of behaviour is bad when engaged in by conservatives.
No, Exile, disingenuous does not imply dishonesty, as you claim. While the latter is one of the possible implications of the former, there are other possible implications, such as "unaware or uninformed, naive", which you would have noted if you had the foresight to consult a dictionary or answers.com before you exposed your misunderstanding of the relevent denotations; therefore, it is not the case that any such implication as you claim is a priori necessary. If you want to play this game, son, you would be better off to study the rules first.
Posted by: Vitruvius at March 12, 2007 11:55 PMExile, i dont hear anyone arguing that it is bad business no matter who does it.
But this particular thread is about this young man who is advocating the death of our Prime Minister.
The shooter at Dawson College made disturbing remarks on the internet as well, ive been told, although i never saw them.
What i hear being said for the most part is at the very least this person needs a visit from the authorities to determine the extent of the threat, if any.
Look at the words that he wrote, look at his wish to be put on THE LIST, look at his frequent reference to PIGS.
Does he sound rational?
There may be nothing to this guy. He might be just so full of hot air that a valve burst and he's spouting off random blasts of steam.
However, now that this is out there and widely known the RCMP (and possibly CSIS) would be derelict in their duties if they did not at least pay a little visit to him to ascertain whether a threat actually exists.
And if the RCMP is investigating him for uttering death threats against a sitting Prime Minister, I doubt very much that this can fail to escape the attention of the FBI or other such organizations. I don't think much of his chances of ever visiting the USA, or flying on any international flight for that matter.
Oh, and can we please stop referring to him as a "kid"? He's 22 years old, with all the legal privileges and legal responsibilities of an adult, in every jurisdiction around the world. He isn't four years old, and infantilizing him neither advances the argument against what he said, nor bolsters the case for his forgiveness.
Posted by: Ed Minchau at March 13, 2007 1:04 AMOK exile,
We agree to agree. No one should threaten to kill the Prime Minister of Canada. Period!
Whew...
I didn't think this concept was so complicated.
"22 year old kid"....
Errr , welcome to the leftist infantilization of Canada.
22 year olds are not "kids", they are in all senses of the term adults. They can get married, have kids, enter into contracts, drink, join the miltary, whatever they want. At 22 you can easily have graduated from college with a 4 year degree, or be very good way into learning a useful trade.
He may need a dope slap and he may be particularly immature and stupid young man, but saying he's a kid is insulting to children, and degrades the seriousness of becoming an adult.
Posted by: Fred2 at March 13, 2007 8:35 AMRegardless of whether one agrees or disagrees with the *solutions* offered, by the commentors here, for this young man, one thing I am pretty sure of: the return-on-investment on his parents money vested in his education just bottomed out.
Posted by: Yoop at March 13, 2007 8:54 AMI decided to reply to you since you make a rational argument and do not rely on childish insults.
Posted by: exile at March 12, 2007 11:17 PM
..............................
Have you people ever read Free Dominion? There's stuff this bad on there quite frequently. And I've seen some things in the comments here (and at the Western Standard) every bit as bad as this. No one seems to mind, though. Funny, that.
Posted by: exile at March 12, 2007 8:01 PM
..............................
I gather you don't want to "make a rational argument" ... because you rely on your own "childish insults:..!!
Death-threat making Alan V is using the pseudonym "exile" to try and deflect responsibility and consequences. An IP is pseudonym proof and an ISP WILL devulge details under these serious circumstances.
This little leftwing weeny will get it whacked big time!
*
You look in the dictionary and right
beside the word -- varlakial...
*
Posted by: neo at March 13, 2007 10:58 PM