I have a busy weekend, so don’t expect too much by way of new posts. A few quick reader tips, and you can drop your own in the comments.
While the media arm of the Liberal party worked itself into a lather over issues that would have been of only passing interest and nodding approval for a Paul Martin government, Canadians tuned them out post election. A National Post poll shows pretty respectable approval ratings;
The survey’s findings suggest Mr. Harper’s first week in power might not have been as bad as some of the negative headlines made it out to be, said Darrell Bricker, president of the polling firm.
54% approval. Which means people are weary of politics after a grueling election and not paying attention, or they’re consciously tuning out the over the top media hysteria for what it is. I suspect it’s a combination of both.
I mentioned to someone last evening at the SaskParty warm up that there was something missing in last week’s coverage – Stephen Harper looking like a deer in the headlights. That’s good. Instead of getting sucked into putting out brushfires, he’s letting them burn out on their own. Let them froth and fret and chase down attention-seeking backbenchers. (Note to Garth “so indignant about floorcrossing I’m thinking of crossing the floor” Turner – you look bad. Media hound bad. You need to look in a mirror and figure out whether this is about principle – or just about you. And that’s coming from someone who has been cutting you a lot of slack.)
Update – Turner seems to have come to terms with himself, in a post on his blog that finally makes some sense.
Now, on to other stuff:
Firetruck set sold separately
Bill Greenwood in the Red Deer Advocate, Muslim extremists lack perspective (for which there is no direct link, so I’ve copied his piece in the extended entry.)
Ya gotta love the Danes. Those quaint, unassuming Scandinavians are going to be the ones credited with causing the ground to shift under Western liberalism’s failure to come to grips with the rising tide of Islamofascism.
A few months back, I wrote about the seeming lack of desire among the mainstream, Western media to cast as critical eye towards the Muslim faith as they do a wide swath of Christianity.
As it turns out, at about the same time, a Danish newspaper was sponsoring a series of editorial cartoons aimed at poking the Islamist bear. Judging from the firestorm that has erupted, the stick was a tad sharp.
Initially, the response was somewhat muted, and generally limited to the small Muslim population of northern Europe. The paper was criticized by several “human rights” groups, and was threatened with lawsuits for publishing hate literature.
The editors dug in their heels and reminded the public that Denmark, like all secular democracies, had freedom of speech laws that protected it. It also, rightly, pointed out that there was nothing in those cartoons that differentiated them from any of the lampoonings of public figures that had been done in the past.
I first saw the cartoons early last fall. There is nothing particularly outstanding about them. They are certainly no more vicious than any of the pillorying we have routinely seen from North American editorial cartoonists, and I have yet to see one published in a major mainstream paper that I find genuinely offensive. And, I will admit, many of the ones that have been drawn regarding the Catholic Church’s ongoing scandals regarding priestly sexual abuses have been pretty harsh, for example.
I recall that there have been a few particularly nasty ones aimed at Pope Benedict. Yet, I haven’t seen too many Catholics marching in the streets and threatening to torch the Boston Globe or the Chicago Tribune building.
What is intriguing about this issue is the sudden emergence of a spine amongst the European press. Newspaper editors all across Europe have elected to defy the increasingly militant Muslim populations within their borders and re-print the cartoons.
The Islamists have reacted with tres faux outrage because the cartoonists have dared to depict an image of the Prophet Mohammed.
God forbid the Islamists let freedom of speech rear its ugly head when it comes to modest criticisms of their faith. It’s an easy sidestep of the very racist sentiments towards Christians and Jews that routinely get published on the editorial pages of Muslim newspapers.
Let’s get some perspective here. Since Sept. 11, 2001, Islamofascists have committed more than 4,000 documented acts of terrorism worldwide. In Iraq alone, the insurgents have killed more citizens since the end of active military operations than were killed in the actual war, and many of those were victims of Iraqi anti-aircraft fire returning to ground within Baghdad.
Yet you can count on one hand the number of prominent progenitors of Muslim thought who have expressed actual condemnation of Muslim terror. All of them have been threatened with violent and painful death. At the same time, Muslims want the rest of us to respect their religion, not subject it to such humiliations as depicting the “Prophet” with his turban fashioned into a bomb.
Gimme a break. Islamic religious law doesn’t apply to the rest of us. If we concede to this contrived blasphemy, what’s next? Am I to give up barbecued pork chops because that may offend Muslims? Edit “Piglet” out of Winnie the Pooh?
This boils down to the issue of freedom. Muslims who choose to live in secular, democratic nations must be willing to live with both the freedoms and restrictions of those societies.
Just as we are free to criticize many aspects of mainstream western religions, we can criticize Islam. We allow artists the freedom to depict Jesus in unflattering ways as criticisms of Christianity. We allow and protect unflattering portrayals of Jewish political leaders as commentary of the Mideast conflicts.
To outlaw depictions of Mohammed in order to protect an overblown sensitivity undermines the very freedom that allows the practice of Islam in the West.
If the Muslims of the world want to protest injustices, let them protest the unlawful displacement of Christians and Jews from their homes and businesses in Iraq, Iran, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon since the mid 1960s. Better yet, protest the unending violence against Israel. You guys do that and maybe we’ll take your religion more seriously.
Two good pieces with excerpts:
1) “Losing bin Laden:A CIA veteran explains a new kind of warfare — and how America’s nemesis survived it”, review in Washington Post Book World, Feb 12:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/09/AR2006020901687.html
‘The U.S. campaign in Afghanistan against the Taliban and al Qaeda will certainly go down in history as a brilliantly executed military victory in an entirely new age of warfare. But its glory was a bit marred, just as in Operation Desert Storm, by the failure to kill or capture Dr. Evil…While not intended to be a comprehensive history of the campaign, Gary Berntsen’s Jawbreaker provides a valuable new account by a major participant that fills in many blanks.
Berntsen was a top CIA field commander in the most critical sector of a new kind of war. What made the Afghan campaign a landmark in U.S. military history is that it was prosecuted by Special Operations forces from all the services, along with Navy and Air Force tactical airpower; operations by the Afghan Northern Alliance and the CIA were equally important and fully integrated. No large Army or Marine force was employed…
The success of the Afghan campaign makes all the more heartbreaking the unnecessary failure to kill bin Laden during its endgame. Contradicting Bush administration denials, Berntsen writes that his teams discovered bin Laden and the remnants of his entourage in the now famous Tora Bora Mountains along the lawless, rugged Afghan-Pakistani border. U.S. operatives under his direction were able to call in precision strikes 24 hours a day and pulverize the remaining al Qaeda forces. Berntsen recounts very credibly how he and others pleaded with Gen. Tommy Franks and the Pentagon brass to put in blocking forces so that bin Laden and the remnants of al Qaeda’s leadership could not flee into Pakistan. But for reasons that remain unclear to Berntsen (and, indeed, to this reviewer), the Bush administration or Franks decided to depend instead on local Afghan warlords rather than put U.S. forces on the ground to block bin Laden’s escape…’
2) “Selling Out Moderate Islam: Washington’s misbegotten campaign to be loved in the Middle East”, by Reuel Marc Gerecht, Weekly Standard, Feb. 20:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Utilities/printer_preview.asp?idArticle=6700&R=EB3336275
‘…Far more than most Middle Eastern Muslims and politically correct Western scholars of the region and Islam would like to admit, Western standards for individual liberty, curiosity, personal integrity, scholarship, and the political relations among men have become the defining benchmarks for Muslims everywhere, however resented or admired. If our standards collapse and give way to fear, theirs in the long-term have no chance whatsoever. The psychology of victimization–surely one of the worst gifts the Western anti-imperialist left has given the Muslim world–can only be made worse by Westerners who treat Muslims like children unable to compete and to defend their religion.
In the Middle Ages, Christian theologians said vastly worse things about the Prophet Muhammad than the Danish cartoons implied. Back then, Muslims cognizant of what the Christians were writing usually took it in stride, not too perturbed by the ruminations and calumnies of a superseded faith. Non-Muslims living beyond the writ of Islamic law were not expected to respect a prophet not their own. That is, after all, what it means to be benighted infidels.
To be healthy, Muslim pride and political systems need to be based on real accomplishments, where the average believer can feel that he is participating in a larger, productive enterprise. (In the classical and medieval Islamic eras, when Muslim armies usually defeated their non-Muslim enemies, manifestly fulfilling the divine promise that Muslims were God’s chosen people, maintaining both collective and individual pride was much easier.) Western indulgence of supposed Muslim outrage over these cartoon insults to the prophet is pretty demeaning. It can only fortify the destructive, self-pitying impulses that all too often paralyze Muslim conversations and thought. (One of the more bizarre facts of the modern Middle East is to see the ruling Muslim elites of these countries–men and women of considerable influence and privilege–bemoan their powerlessness owing to the hidden, omnipresent, all-powerful machinations of the West, in particular, the United States.)..
What we have seen happen in the Islamic Republic of Iran under clerical dictatorship–the conversion of the most anti-American holy-warrior society into the least anti-American, probably most pro-democratic culture in the region–will likely happen elsewhere but even more rapidly if Sunni fundamentalists are given a chance to gain power democratically and demonstrate to their fellow Muslims how their interpretation of the Holy Law and Islamic history will improve their lives.
Correctly understood, anti-Americanism when it accompanies the loosening of political controls in the Middle East is a sign that the status quo that gave us bin Ladenism and 9/11–the perverse marriage of autocracy and Islamic extremism–is coming apart. Under dictatorship, Muslims cannot evolve politically. They will not be able to confront the “baggage” that all Middle Eastern Muslims have with the West, especially the United States, and come to a livable consensus on how they are going to absorb Western ideas, influence, and money…
Like Christendom before it, the Muslim Middle East will have to work out its relation to modernity. The faster democracy arrives, the sooner the debates about God and man can begin in earnest. It will probably be for both Muslims and Westerners a nerve-racking experience…’
Mark
Ottawa
Freedom of speech is just fine–until you damage the interests of the state.
“ALY HINDY `Freedom of expression is not free'”, Toronto Star, Feb. 12.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1139699409920&call_pageid=968350130169&col=969483202845
‘Aly Hindy is the imam of the Salaheddin Islamic Centre in Scarborough, of which he is a co-founder. He is also a civil engineer with a PhD from the University of Western Ontario…
If you could speak with the Danish publisher, what would you say?
Sorry, this is a very stupid thing you’ve done. If you don’t know and you’re ignorant about what you’re doing, then learn.
I don’t think he knows anything about Muhammad.
The enemy, when he is educated, is much better than a friend. So, knowledgeable people in the West are also fair to him.
But this person should be tried, because he hurt the interests of Denmark.
What if he’d published military secrets? He would be tried, right [not in the US]?
He should be tried from the Danish point of view because he hurt the national interest of Denmark…
Muslim leaders in Montreal have called on the government to pass a law recognizing racism against Muslims as a hate crime. They’ve said if the government agrees to meet with them, they’ll discourage the demonstrators. What do you think?..”
Not much. Was “The Life of Brian” racism against Christians? Category confusion again. Aly Hindy’s views seem more at home in Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia or Iran than in Canada.
Mark
Ottawa
That dank cellar infested with vermin now has three (3) denizens : Turner, Ignatieff, & Buzz/CAW. NDP blows Buzz off his perch: Buzz dumped by NDP. Buzz croaks away: CAW, CAW, CAW…. as he flaps away to the Liberals. Wiil Martin sell a membership to Buzz/CAW? At what price? >>>>>
Commenter: Nash and Martson
Two CAW members who are now NDP MPs. Appearing on Bulte’s website was the final nail in the coffin for Buzz’s membership. >>
http://www.voy.com/178771/132878.html
Commenter: Bugs
Wow, that’s real treason. The opposition was a CAW woman organizer.
It isn’t hard to see what Buzz was about. He was using the NDP to advance his own strategic plan. But he isn’t pretending — where did he transgress? Are there ‘party rules’ here? I am only curious if this is being evenly applied.
Buzz’s strategic plan did not have to be negative to the NDP is those seats where they don’t compete with the Liberals for the seat … but the whole of Toronto, and other cities, are now contests between Liberals and NDP. There’s a lot of seats, and in fact, the main electoral movement of voters is between these two.
But it blew up in his face this time.
If I were the NDP, I would have my eye on becoming the official opposition, by cannibalizing the Liberal Party. An early election would help.
http://www.voy.com/178771/132888.html
Facts? What are facts? Do not confuse the left liberal socialist/NDP camp with facts. >>>
“One man who spoke in defence of Emerson, who is now the international trade minister, was drowned out in a chorus of angry boos at the event,
organized by the New Democratic Party.” >>
via cnews
And then there is this:
“British imam praises London Tube bombers”, Sunday Times (London), Feb. 12.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2036538,00.html
Excerpt:
‘A LEADING imam in the mosque where the July 7 bombers worshipped has hailed their terrorist attack on London as a �good� act in a secretly taped conversation with an undercover reporter.
Hamid Ali, spiritual leader of the mosque in West Yorkshire, said it had forced people to take notice when peaceful meetings and conferences had no impact.
He also praised the bombers as the �children� of Abdullah al-Faisal, a firebrand Muslim cleric, who was convicted of inciting murder and racial hatred in 2003.
Ali revealed that the leader of the London suicide bombers had attended sermons in Yorkshire by al-Faisal and tapes of al-Faisal�s teachings were still circulating within his mosque.
Al-Faisal, who has branded non-Muslims as �cockroaches� ripe for extermination, is serving a seven-year prison sentence but is eligible for early release next week.
Evidence of continuing extremism and terrorist sympathisers in the bombers� community has been exposed by a six-week investigation by The Sunday Times. It contrasts with the public statements of condemnation by community leaders � including Ali � in the immediate aftermath of the July 7 attacks…’
I wonder if the Canadian media have any undercover reporters?
Mark
Ottawa
Note to Pale who commented above.
The P.C. after Garth Turner’s name refers to the fact that he is a member of the Privy Council as a result of being in Kim Campbell’s Cabinet.
It has nothing whatsoever to do with the late, unlamented Progressive Conservative Party that was run into the ground by Joe Clark.
Why isn’t Garth the Speaker of the House or Leader instead of hairboy?
Posted by : Anonymeme
Oh Oh … the muzi shit is gonna hit the fan in Calgary now … censorship for religion or freedom of Canadian press … choose Canadians wimps ….. !!!!
—————————————————————————————————————————————
Cops called in cartoon flap
Religious leader complains to police over publication of Muhammad caricatures
CALGARY SUN – February 12, 2006
Muslim protesters gathered outside the Danish consulate in Toronto yesterday to protest caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. People also rallied in Montreal. (CHARLA JONES, CP)
A local Muslim leader has filed a police complaint and will be seeing a lawyer over the running of controversial political cartoons in two Calgary-area publications.
Alaa Elsayed of the Muslim Council of Calgary (MCC) said he will also be asking The Jewish Free Press, which published the cartoons Jan. 9, and the Western Standard, which is expected to feature them in tomorrow’s issue, to apologize for the slight.
But Western Standard publisher Ezra Levant said he and his editorial staff have nothing to be sorry for.
“This is the story of the month,” Levant said last night. “We think our readers would want to know what all the fuss is about … It’s simply a news call.”
Levant added he’s worried about any move by the religiously offended to bring the police and the courts into what’s simply a freedom of the press issue.
“It troubles me that the leadership of such an important community as the Muslim community is so out of touch with Canadian values,” Levant said.
“In Canada, we don’t call the police when our religious sensitivities are offended — we write letters to the editor.”
The cartoons, some of which depict Islam’s Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist, have sparked violent riots around the world.
Levant said in light of that, extra security measures are in place at the magazine’s offices, but Muslim leaders here are asking local believers to refrain from violence.
“Two wrongs don’t make a right, so I’m going to ask the Muslims to restrain themselves and deal with this in a civilized manner,” Elsayed said.
Syed Soharwardy of the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada and Muslims Against Terrorism said he encourages people with questions about the furor to attend an information session today.
But, Soharwardy said he hopes to use the cartoon flap to educate people about Islam, and why the images of the Prophet Muhammad are so offensive.
“People can ask me any question they want, even offensive ones, and I will answer them with patience,” he said. “There are many reasons and people in the western world, they still don’t fully understand what Islam is.”
People wishing to discuss the cartoon controversy are invited to the Al Madinah Calgary Islamic Centre, 5700 Falsbridge Dr. N.E., at 1 p.m.
Meanwhile, MCC has two discussions on tap which will touch on the cartoons and their impact, one an information session still in the works, and the other, an inter-faith round-table planned for next Sunday. >>>
http://www.voy.com/178771/132945.html
The Emerson affair will quite likely result in early (earlier) election, followed by Liberal majority for another 12 years.
What was Harper thinking?
Vijay’s Blog: >>>
Britney Spears Among Least Intelligent 2% of Americans
February 11th, 2006
I couldn�t resist putting this here. My buddy Eric from Blogcritics went a little further here.
It just suggests that wealth has nothing to do with intelligence and reminds me of someone in Canada who is stinking rich but dumber than dumb!
>>>>
Question: Who?
Answer: Paul Who? (Martin, Jr.).
If Harper were to introduce a bill that would call for a byelection now how do you think the people would vote Ibelieve it was a perfect way to back everyone into a corner also senate elections
On Question Period today, (CTV) Ian Wadell admitted that it’s the NDP, and not Libs, organizing all the protests in Vancouver. Didn’t know that Jason Kenny is the grandson of Mark Kenny, who died this wkend. Loved to dance to that orchestra. Garth Turner was also on and promised to support the Conservative party line. Seemed a little contrite. Craig also stated that Emerson has received huge support from the business community etc (of all parties) to stay the course. Buzz has been kicked out of the NDP, they kick members out and Harper gets them in. Buzz will now run for the lib leadership. Where is Paul Martin. With Iran and Cuba now friends, will Canada change its policy.
Ian got about 15000 votes and only some 200 turned out to protest. Where were the rest. This would go away if the media would leave it alone and report on serious news and situations facing us. Were all the riots the next action promised by OBL in his recent tape. Who makes Danish flags and where. Trace this and see who received a mass order for the flags, and when and where they were shipped. Could answer some questions, about whether these protests were planned or spontaneous.
That dreaded Kold, Klear, Killer Wind from the West has arrived in Ottawa/Hull/Gatineau. The Red Star is aghast; the KKKWind zaps the $200/wine bottles/$130 pizzas & etc. The George Radwanskis have bled/fled.
The KKKWind slays the expense accounts.
More, and faster. >>>
Big spending days over for Ottawa
Civil servants tighten their belts
Posh eateries closing their doors
Feb. 13, 2006. 01:00 AM
BRUCE CAMPION-SMITH
OTTAWA BUREAU
OTTAWA�Adel Ayad smiles as he fondly recalls the “good old days.”
The two-martini lunches. The $200 bottles of wine that flew from the wine cellar. The days when the capital’s finest restaurants were the place to be seen, where tables and booths became the outposts of Parliament Hill offices, when government business was done over lazy lunches and long dinners. >>> Red Star
Mr.Harper ain’t a thinker. He’ll be remembered as the most boring uninspired Tory leader Canada has had. We need a government like Harpers so we ca appreciate the other parties.