What a dork! Even if they were pale tone of white, I would have reacted the same: If you are concerned about civil war back home, go home and deal with it, not terrorize foreign country where majority of you fled to become welfare supported refugees. Now call me racist.
So by Mr. Goldstein’s logic if I I criticize his column it could only be because someone of German ancestry such as myself hates Jews. The fact that his column offers not one shred of evidence that Canadians were being racists in this case and were simply upset that a bunch of retards closed a main traffic route with no advance warning on Mother’s Day is I guess besides the point. This columist should get a job at the Canadian Human Rights Commission where his ability to find racism where none exists will fit in nicely.
Why, oh why the Boer farmers don’t demonstrate on 401? Their situation is no better than Tamils, but they still do not terrorize anyone on Earth. Should they?
Pity, because Lorrie is usually pretty much on the ball.
Couldn’t agree with you more on this one Kate. I am so tired of people moving to Canada, looking for a better place to live because of the horrible living conditions in their home land and then being aloud to protest under a terrorist flag. Why, when they move here does their countries identity come first before Canada? It should be: Canadian/American, Canadian/East Indian, Canadian/Sri Lanka, I think you understand my point. There is no way if I moved to any other country I would be able to pull this crap off, especially in Sri Lanka. If this was a group of Canadian born, regarding of their heritage were protesting ei: Caledonia, they would get thrown in jail. It is time for anyone moving to Canada, that they are Canadians first. This has nothing to do with racism, it has to do with a bunch of do “gooders” that have become so political correct that we are loosing our Canadian identity and anyone that speaks out against a group that is protesting under a terrorist flag is called a racist. This country is going down the tubes quickly. If they don’t like it here go home. We need to take a tougher stand, like Australia has regarding these issues. One set of laws for everyone regardless of their race or religious beliefs, put your country Canada first.
On the ball w/o quoting single source of information to substantiate his claims? AFAIK that’s the opposite.
So Canadians have zero patience for terrorist supporters bring their bickering here so we must be racist.
Next: Canada is racist cause we didn’t help the Tutsis kill the Hutus.
Guess I am a racist then. I remember once in university many years ago, losing my temper at a group who could seemingly not let go of their religeous animosity, and saying, “This is Canada!We accept all beliefs. If you can’t stop fighting your old battles go back to Ireland!”
Cheers. Eric
Oh well..I’m a racist.I am white, multi-generational Canadian and served in the military..was it ever not thus?
We do need to take a tougher stand, STAND FOR SOMETHING. It’s impossible to do and retain the present Multiculturalism and Charter combo. Together they will ruin the country. We will be a pizza nation, standing for nothing. We can expect the same warring factions to mount ’em up and continue along the paths of some of the hell holes they left. It’s already evident in Ontario where Sharia Law was a hair’s breadth away from being enacted into law.
this country is our home….and we expect guests visitors immigrants to become attuned to the way we do things in our home….
Lorrie, am I a racist because I disagree with the Tamils killing the Prime Minister Of india, and if so, could I have it wiped from my record if I’m against the firebombing of the US Consulate in Toronto in 1999 ?
Lorrie, am I a racist because I disagree with the Tamils killing the Prime Minister Of India, and if so, could I have it wiped from my record if I’m against the firebombing of the US Consulate in Toronto in 1999 ?
As much as I disagree with him, some of the comments were very disturbing. Even trolls saying these things is just totally rude. My naivety is blatant but to quote a fine american, “Can’t we all just get along?”
As much as I disagree with him, some of the comments were very disturbing. Even trolls saying these things is just totally rude. My naivety is blatant but to quote a fine american, “Can’t we all just get along?”
My letter to Lorrie:
Dear Lorrie,
You’ve been one of my favourite columnists for years. So why are you ruining it with this shameful accusation that opposition to Tamil protestors is “racist”?
You nonsense implies that, had this group of protestors been white, there would have been no backlash. But Lorrie, no group of protestors, no matter how legitimate its cause, whether black or white in skin pigmentation, has ever resorted to the petulant displays of road occupation employed by the Tamils in Toronto – Tamils operating brazenly under the flag of a banned terrorist organization. I don’t care about their race, and for you to imply as much is absolutely insulting. There isn’t a place on earth more likely to judge you on the content of your character, rather than the colour of your skin, than Canada. And you’ll have to answer this question tomorrow: are the Tamils rallying in the streets AGAINST the Tiger-led protests racist against Tamils, too?
I hope this column is simply an overly emotional response that touched some sort of raw nerve in you, and not an insight into a shallow, confused, and cowed liberal mind.
Crap! better put me down as a racist too then! not sure why but I am sure there is someone smarter than me who can tell me why.
Lorrie is being the racist here. He has committed the all too common mistake that anyone of ‘colour’ must have a legitimate beef. The facts are that the Tamil Tigers are considered a terrorist organization in OUR country. Blocking highways and impeding the FREE movement of people and goods in this country is ILLEGAL. I don’t know much about this civil war half a world away,nor do I give a ratsass about it.BTW, I figure that the gov’t and the tigers are both ‘people of colour’,so how is it racist to let them solve their own problems. I do care about bending over for special interest groups that want to use our useful idiots to solve their problems. I hope that the next time a highway is blocked and an ambulance is delayed it has a protester’s family member inside.Canada is not a hotel,it is not a hospital,it is a country for CANADIANS. Either leave your problems at home,or don’t come to my house.
All of this is a predictable consequence of Canada’s lax refugee laws. Other countries with more sensible laws are not overrun with refugee claimants.
Good for you, Kate. We both like Lorrie as a columnist, but he needs a bit of tough love here.
I’d like to know what Canadians have done that is “racist.”
I’ve commented on the Tamil Tiger demonstrations and have voiced a deep concern that, apparently, as pointed out by a Tamil commenting on Stephen Taylor’s blog a few weeks ago, Sri Lankans living in Canada have the right to hold TWO passports, one Canadian and one Sri Lankan.
Why is this allowed? Doesn’t this indicate that these immigrants have not fully given their allegiance to Canada, even while many of them and their families are benefiting from health care, education, and housing paid for by us one-passport Canadians? Will they ever fully support Canada, will they assimilate into Canada’s way of doing things, or will they be simply Canadians of convenience, supporting Canada when it suits them and Sri Lanka when it suits them?
I certainly don’t have any options when it comes to my citizenship and I rather resent the fact that immigrants of convenience can be sometime-citizens of Canada, but only if it’s to their advantage. If saying this makes me racist then so be it — but I couldn’t disagree more. Are there “citizens” of Sri Lanka who hold two passports? I doubt it. Could I move to Sri Lanka and hang onto my Canadian passport? I doubt it.
Enough, already, with two-passport, sometime-citizen immigrants. Either pitch your tent fully in Canada or return to your country of origin. Either fully commit to being Canadian and making Canada a stronger and better country, or make a decision to do stay in your country of origin to make it stronger and better.
Please don’t ask Canadians to fight your battles and please don’t demonstrate in our streets: at Queen’s Park, OK. On Toronto sidewalks, OK. But don’t close down main thoroughfares or highways.
It’s very strange that there seems to be one law for one-passport Canadians and another one for multicultural visible-minority Canadians. I don’t get it.
Racist my ass! It’s people-bringing-their-foreign-disputes-to-Canadaist.
Maybe I should get a few Hutterites and Mennonites together and shut down some major road in Alberta. If History serves me well, my own people took a lickin’ from some retards in Europe. Maybe the result could be some big $$$ settlement by the Canadian government for not stepping in when we needed help in “Bolshevik”ville(Russia).
Ah ef it, we just moved and forgot about it.
Hint, hint, Tamils.
Why did the police set aside a lane of traffic for these demonstrators in Toronto?
And why does nobody in the national press care that this is going on in Montreal and Vancouver too. Here in Montreal we are into I don’t know how many days of screams of genocide, drum beating and at one point blocking René-Levesque Boulevard. The office workers and hotel guests around the American embassy have no rights it seems. Still practically nothing but Tiger flags.
Flag; You are right,maybe we should have “just got along” with Hitler,Tojo,Saddam,Bin Laudin and numerous other hoodlums over the years.We got along with Stalin during the war but it took the threat of atomic weapons to stop him after.SDI has ended the Russian threat for a while.
So the next time there’s a pro Israel rally–like the ones Shaidle and probably a few of your other readers attended just recently–I can scream at them, “go back to where you came from.”
Sweet.
It’s a free world Robert. Shout all you want, just don’t disturb my commute.
…or turn up the bass. That really gets me agitated. GRRRRR!!!!
Flaggman;
Your statement “But Lorrie, no group of protestors, no matter how legitimate its cause, whether black or white in skin pigmentation, has ever resorted to the petulant displays of road occupation employed by the Tamils in Toronto” isn’t entirely accurate.
Maybe we haven’t seen other groups take a highway, but we’ve seen many protests over the years every bit as bad or worse than the lawbreaking the Tamils engaged in. How about the anti-globalization protests, especially the one in Seattle a few years back.
In those protests most of what we saw were a bunch of punk white kids, a fact that strangely enough still makes your point. Although lilly white, they got precious little support from the public. The fact is that white, brown or any other colour, we just don’t sympathize much with lawbreakers. Now, if only Laurie Goldstein could understand that.
I am not sure what the race or religion of the Tamils even is. I know they are from an Island that used to be called Ceylon and is famous for it’s tea.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka’s Quebecois (the Tamils) for whatever reason don’t want to be part of the ‘rest of Sri Lanka’ so they want their own ‘solitude’ (country).
Unlike we asshole Canadians who pay our Quebecois to remain and pretend to be part of the ‘rest of Canada’ the Sri Lankin government shoots the bastards.
My question is: if the Tamils stop blowing shit up, will the Sri Lankan government stop shooting them? If so, then they have the power to end the war peacefully.
Meanwhile I don’t like any race, or religion or culture coming to my country to get us to fight their battles for them.
Shut up and get a job, have a nice life or go home.
If that’s racist, then so be it.
One more point for Lorrie (whom I agree has been on the ball until now) Is it racist when some Canadians state that they are sick and tired of those whiny Quebecois with their Fleur de Lis national flag and never-ending complaints and demands that are grossly unfair to the rest of Canada?
If not why not?
Except for the shootings and bombings it’s pretty much the same issue. A who minority doesn’t want to live under the majority.
Go ahead, Robert. No one will be able to hear you over the din of “Kill the Jew child” being screamed.
The police should have rounded them up; and the ones that are not Canadian citzens, ship them back to where they came from tomorrow. The ones that are Canadian citzens; tell them they should return to their country of origin that they love so much. How can that be racist? I also think the government should pay a one way fare for those who wish to go.
I hate to ever be remotely close in opinion with Robert McClelland, because he’s a truly pathetic human being but . . .
I did hear Adler and Goldstein discussing this in full. I think that Goldstein erred by implying a much greater percentage of racism in people’s hearts than there is. I also think he deflected Adler’s questions about people from Norway shutting down the Gardiner Expressway.
Where I think comments the past few days did get out of hand were the cries for the protesters to “go back home” … for one simple reason: I do believe many were younger Canadians who WERE BORN HERE.
My father was born in Germany. I was born in Canada. In the future if there was some cause to [rightly or wrongly] protest what Germany was doing, I sure wouldn’t appreciate people yelling at me to “go back to Germany”.
I think that’s all Lorrie Goldstein was trying to say today.
My 2 cents!
“Maybe we haven’t seen other groups take a highway…”
Your statement and Flaggman’s are truly astonishing. What’s worse is that I can’t even mock you by saying maybe you’d hear about them if you left the rightwing echo chamber once in a while because Kate has posted stories about aboriginal protests that have shut down highways. Caledonia ring a bell? And then there’s the farmer protests organized by Ontario PC leadership candidate Randy Hillier that have shut down sections of the 401 on numerous occasions over the past few years. So even within the rightwing echo chamber you should have heard of other protests that have shut down highways.
So I honestly have to know what your excuse is? Living in a cave maybe? Born yesterday? What. Enquiring minds want to know.
Over 50% of Torontonians are foreign born. We should stop importing racists.
He’s wrong on this one. People are just fed up period with people we helped who have turned on us & made this Country a fascist State by their incessant demands with an hysterical refusal to become Canadians. Mean while trying to force is to become what they fled. By the way what the heck should we care about their ex- so called homeland. They care so much, go back & fight. Besides we all know there getting funds here to send back home to kill yet more folks.
Why are we hell bent on cultural suicide? We should stop all this malcontent immigration or those who declare they hate us. Its insane not to.
JMO
Robert,
I surely wasn’t born yesterday and might have missed it nontheless but were the farmers demonstrating in support of an organization officially designated as terrorist by the Canadian Government? I’m pretty sure regardless that a significant number of commuters probably wished they would go back to where they came from. Ontario farms, to be sure, but the sentiment holds.
Now in the case of Caledonia, from my reading of the news, sympathy for our home grown domestic terrorists is also exceedingly low.
“were the farmers demonstrating in support of an organization officially designated as terrorist by the Canadian Government?”
No and neither were the Tamils.
Robert
You can be a great communicator or a great equivocator. Drop the latter and aspire to the former.
If Lorrie doesn’t check himself, he’ll start coming across as a male Janeane Garofalo, who infamously smeared every single American patriot attending the Tea Parties as “racists”.
Even good journalists have brainfarts.
The Tamils’ behavior was illegal, plainly and simply. They deliberately caused feelings of unease and consternation in innocent people for the purpose of getting political concessions.
Now, what’s the word for that kind of behavior? It begins with a “t” and ends with an “m”. While you’re trying to figure that out, visualize a guy named William Ayers…
I’d estimate at well over a million dollars, the police presence for yesterday’s one day event alone, without adding the helicopter and extra standby Emergency Support that was everywhere.
There were at least a hundred of our men in blue, and black on horse , bike, motorcycle, swat vans, cruisers you name it, and I’m being conservative, probably 200.
The entire “hospital row” in Canada’s biggest city and it’s surrounding connectors were blocked yesterday for hours.
The York Regional police brought their own mobile command centre with a loaded lunch-truck towed behind it.
There were busses of cops arriving and departing and guarding everything by the time it wrapped up.
Mother’s Day (nice) and yesterday’s traffic around downtown has been unbelievable. This demonstration in it’s various disruptive forms has been going on in Toronto for weeks now.
Toronto could have kept all of their constantly threatened-with-closer-city pools, open for years, all winter, with the money we’ve blown by granting these terrorist flag wavers a permit to “demonstrate”.
This is nuts.
What Lorrie can’t seem to grasp is that asking the protesters expressing their right to free speech to not to violate my freedom to go about my own business is not racism.
His sleight of hand journalism reaks of a blogger who has lost an argument and pulls out the nazi reference as a way to deflect criticism. His argument is premised on the assumption that if you disagree with him (and the protesters) you must be a racist.
Lorrie:
The protesters may have a right to free speech, but that doesn’t negate their responsibility (or your’s) to use it without denying mine.
BTW
Did anyone notice how Dalton’s talking points seemed to mimick Lorries column today?
Ah Mr. Mc Clelland,the Tamil Tigers WERE designated by the Canadian govt as a terrorist organization.The farmers of this country have demonstrated to our govts over the years.The first nations people have demonstrated to our govts over the years.They both ,in a free society have a right to do this.How in Hell do you get a connection with the Tamil Tigers demonstrating in Canada over something that is happening in Sri Lanka? You are either an idiot or a Liberal.
Spike
“You are either an idiot or a Liberal”
I cast no aspersions viz a viz Robert McLelland. However, your inspired use of synonyms in the above sentence is apropos.
“Events half-a-world away in a little understood 26-year civil war between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan government and its military, aren’t a top of the mind issue to most Canadians.”
And why should they be? The war is at risk of ending, the shakedown tour for Tamil fund raising will lose its reason for being. Their universe is imploding. Too bad for them. I could care less. They should all take passage home to fight for what they believe in or stay here and STFU and STFD.
“Where I think comments the past few days did get out of hand were the cries for the protesters to “go back home” … for one simple reason: I do believe many were younger Canadians who WERE BORN HERE.”
If they were born here, then why are so concerned about Sri Lanka? They have escaped that hell hole. They should be happy to be Canadian and shut up.
The whole idea of emigrating from a horrid place is to have a new life in a better place. We don’t want to be dragged into a conflict on the other side of the world where both sides are nothing but a bunch of murderers.
“Where I think comments the past few days did get out of hand were the cries for the protesters to “go back home” … for one simple reason: I do believe many were younger Canadians who WERE BORN HERE.”
Robert W. at May 14, 2009 7:17 PM – I think you’re on to something there. I believe Lorrie Goldstein had the best of motives at heart.
However, I also think folks are getting fed up. Our patience has been tried to the extreme. We’re only asking for a little balance.
I’m wondering why no one has considered the possibility that the people who were extorting money from the Tamil community under threat of killing family back home aren’t also behind organizing these rallies using the same threats? I was under the impression that the Tigers had been terrorizing the Canadian Tamil community for years. I would have to assume with the rebels being on the ropes, their bagmen here in Canada would use all means necessary to ratchet up support.
What Lorrie can’t seem to grasp is that asking the protesters expressing their right to free speech to not to violate my freedom to go about my own business is not racism.
Of course. Leftists are always saying that we can exercise our rights, but not if we go so far as to infringe upon others’ rights.
Well, the Tamils infringed on our rights.
And we gave ’em shee-it for doing that.
That’s not “racism”, Lorrie.
It’s fair.
They brought it upon themselves by infringing on others’ right of free movement. The Tamils deliberately, unlawfully detained others, violating their right to move about freely.
And they caught hell via public condemnation due to their illegal, infringing behavior.
Nothing “racist” about criticising outlaws.
IF they were white Europeans, then what would one call those who told ’em to “go home”? “Racists”? But if the majority is “white”, then telling other “whites” to go home… is that “racist”?
See, to wave the race card whenever someone criticizes a party who happens to be “non-white”, well, isn’t that racist?
As I said earlier, even good journalists have brainfarts…
The farmers have been here for generations, payed a lot of taxes and contributed to Canada in many ways. They have been the backbone of the small towns across Canada. They have fought in wars, struggled through depression, recessions, crop failures and government interference. If they want to protest something the Canadian government is doing in Canada to Canadians buy blocking of a highway I say go ahead. Once. If a group of people from another country who have contributed almost nothing to this country want to protest something another county is doing to another countries citizens by blocking a highway I say we lock them up, deport the ones we can and prevent this from becoming a common occurrence.
What a dork! Even if they were pale tone of white, I would have reacted the same: If you are concerned about civil war back home, go home and deal with it, not terrorize foreign country where majority of you fled to become welfare supported refugees. Now call me racist.
So by Mr. Goldstein’s logic if I I criticize his column it could only be because someone of German ancestry such as myself hates Jews. The fact that his column offers not one shred of evidence that Canadians were being racists in this case and were simply upset that a bunch of retards closed a main traffic route with no advance warning on Mother’s Day is I guess besides the point. This columist should get a job at the Canadian Human Rights Commission where his ability to find racism where none exists will fit in nicely.
Why, oh why the Boer farmers don’t demonstrate on 401? Their situation is no better than Tamils, but they still do not terrorize anyone on Earth. Should they?
Pity, because Lorrie is usually pretty much on the ball.
Couldn’t agree with you more on this one Kate. I am so tired of people moving to Canada, looking for a better place to live because of the horrible living conditions in their home land and then being aloud to protest under a terrorist flag. Why, when they move here does their countries identity come first before Canada? It should be: Canadian/American, Canadian/East Indian, Canadian/Sri Lanka, I think you understand my point. There is no way if I moved to any other country I would be able to pull this crap off, especially in Sri Lanka. If this was a group of Canadian born, regarding of their heritage were protesting ei: Caledonia, they would get thrown in jail. It is time for anyone moving to Canada, that they are Canadians first. This has nothing to do with racism, it has to do with a bunch of do “gooders” that have become so political correct that we are loosing our Canadian identity and anyone that speaks out against a group that is protesting under a terrorist flag is called a racist. This country is going down the tubes quickly. If they don’t like it here go home. We need to take a tougher stand, like Australia has regarding these issues. One set of laws for everyone regardless of their race or religious beliefs, put your country Canada first.
On the ball w/o quoting single source of information to substantiate his claims? AFAIK that’s the opposite.
So Canadians have zero patience for terrorist supporters bring their bickering here so we must be racist.
Next: Canada is racist cause we didn’t help the Tutsis kill the Hutus.
Guess I am a racist then. I remember once in university many years ago, losing my temper at a group who could seemingly not let go of their religeous animosity, and saying, “This is Canada!We accept all beliefs. If you can’t stop fighting your old battles go back to Ireland!”
Cheers. Eric
Oh well..I’m a racist.I am white, multi-generational Canadian and served in the military..was it ever not thus?
We do need to take a tougher stand, STAND FOR SOMETHING. It’s impossible to do and retain the present Multiculturalism and Charter combo. Together they will ruin the country. We will be a pizza nation, standing for nothing. We can expect the same warring factions to mount ’em up and continue along the paths of some of the hell holes they left. It’s already evident in Ontario where Sharia Law was a hair’s breadth away from being enacted into law.
this country is our home….and we expect guests visitors immigrants to become attuned to the way we do things in our home….
Lorrie, am I a racist because I disagree with the Tamils killing the Prime Minister Of india, and if so, could I have it wiped from my record if I’m against the firebombing of the US Consulate in Toronto in 1999 ?
Lorrie, am I a racist because I disagree with the Tamils killing the Prime Minister Of India, and if so, could I have it wiped from my record if I’m against the firebombing of the US Consulate in Toronto in 1999 ?
As much as I disagree with him, some of the comments were very disturbing. Even trolls saying these things is just totally rude. My naivety is blatant but to quote a fine american, “Can’t we all just get along?”
As much as I disagree with him, some of the comments were very disturbing. Even trolls saying these things is just totally rude. My naivety is blatant but to quote a fine american, “Can’t we all just get along?”
My letter to Lorrie:
Dear Lorrie,
You’ve been one of my favourite columnists for years. So why are you ruining it with this shameful accusation that opposition to Tamil protestors is “racist”?
You nonsense implies that, had this group of protestors been white, there would have been no backlash. But Lorrie, no group of protestors, no matter how legitimate its cause, whether black or white in skin pigmentation, has ever resorted to the petulant displays of road occupation employed by the Tamils in Toronto – Tamils operating brazenly under the flag of a banned terrorist organization. I don’t care about their race, and for you to imply as much is absolutely insulting. There isn’t a place on earth more likely to judge you on the content of your character, rather than the colour of your skin, than Canada. And you’ll have to answer this question tomorrow: are the Tamils rallying in the streets AGAINST the Tiger-led protests racist against Tamils, too?
I hope this column is simply an overly emotional response that touched some sort of raw nerve in you, and not an insight into a shallow, confused, and cowed liberal mind.
Crap! better put me down as a racist too then! not sure why but I am sure there is someone smarter than me who can tell me why.
Lorrie is being the racist here. He has committed the all too common mistake that anyone of ‘colour’ must have a legitimate beef. The facts are that the Tamil Tigers are considered a terrorist organization in OUR country. Blocking highways and impeding the FREE movement of people and goods in this country is ILLEGAL. I don’t know much about this civil war half a world away,nor do I give a ratsass about it.BTW, I figure that the gov’t and the tigers are both ‘people of colour’,so how is it racist to let them solve their own problems. I do care about bending over for special interest groups that want to use our useful idiots to solve their problems. I hope that the next time a highway is blocked and an ambulance is delayed it has a protester’s family member inside.Canada is not a hotel,it is not a hospital,it is a country for CANADIANS. Either leave your problems at home,or don’t come to my house.
All of this is a predictable consequence of Canada’s lax refugee laws. Other countries with more sensible laws are not overrun with refugee claimants.
Good for you, Kate. We both like Lorrie as a columnist, but he needs a bit of tough love here.
I’d like to know what Canadians have done that is “racist.”
I’ve commented on the Tamil Tiger demonstrations and have voiced a deep concern that, apparently, as pointed out by a Tamil commenting on Stephen Taylor’s blog a few weeks ago, Sri Lankans living in Canada have the right to hold TWO passports, one Canadian and one Sri Lankan.
Why is this allowed? Doesn’t this indicate that these immigrants have not fully given their allegiance to Canada, even while many of them and their families are benefiting from health care, education, and housing paid for by us one-passport Canadians? Will they ever fully support Canada, will they assimilate into Canada’s way of doing things, or will they be simply Canadians of convenience, supporting Canada when it suits them and Sri Lanka when it suits them?
I certainly don’t have any options when it comes to my citizenship and I rather resent the fact that immigrants of convenience can be sometime-citizens of Canada, but only if it’s to their advantage. If saying this makes me racist then so be it — but I couldn’t disagree more. Are there “citizens” of Sri Lanka who hold two passports? I doubt it. Could I move to Sri Lanka and hang onto my Canadian passport? I doubt it.
Enough, already, with two-passport, sometime-citizen immigrants. Either pitch your tent fully in Canada or return to your country of origin. Either fully commit to being Canadian and making Canada a stronger and better country, or make a decision to do stay in your country of origin to make it stronger and better.
Please don’t ask Canadians to fight your battles and please don’t demonstrate in our streets: at Queen’s Park, OK. On Toronto sidewalks, OK. But don’t close down main thoroughfares or highways.
It’s very strange that there seems to be one law for one-passport Canadians and another one for multicultural visible-minority Canadians. I don’t get it.
Racist my ass! It’s people-bringing-their-foreign-disputes-to-Canadaist.
Maybe I should get a few Hutterites and Mennonites together and shut down some major road in Alberta. If History serves me well, my own people took a lickin’ from some retards in Europe. Maybe the result could be some big $$$ settlement by the Canadian government for not stepping in when we needed help in “Bolshevik”ville(Russia).
Ah ef it, we just moved and forgot about it.
Hint, hint, Tamils.
Why did the police set aside a lane of traffic for these demonstrators in Toronto?
And why does nobody in the national press care that this is going on in Montreal and Vancouver too. Here in Montreal we are into I don’t know how many days of screams of genocide, drum beating and at one point blocking René-Levesque Boulevard. The office workers and hotel guests around the American embassy have no rights it seems. Still practically nothing but Tiger flags.
Flag; You are right,maybe we should have “just got along” with Hitler,Tojo,Saddam,Bin Laudin and numerous other hoodlums over the years.We got along with Stalin during the war but it took the threat of atomic weapons to stop him after.SDI has ended the Russian threat for a while.
So the next time there’s a pro Israel rally–like the ones Shaidle and probably a few of your other readers attended just recently–I can scream at them, “go back to where you came from.”
Sweet.
It’s a free world Robert. Shout all you want, just don’t disturb my commute.
…or turn up the bass. That really gets me agitated. GRRRRR!!!!
Flaggman;
Your statement “But Lorrie, no group of protestors, no matter how legitimate its cause, whether black or white in skin pigmentation, has ever resorted to the petulant displays of road occupation employed by the Tamils in Toronto” isn’t entirely accurate.
Maybe we haven’t seen other groups take a highway, but we’ve seen many protests over the years every bit as bad or worse than the lawbreaking the Tamils engaged in. How about the anti-globalization protests, especially the one in Seattle a few years back.
In those protests most of what we saw were a bunch of punk white kids, a fact that strangely enough still makes your point. Although lilly white, they got precious little support from the public. The fact is that white, brown or any other colour, we just don’t sympathize much with lawbreakers. Now, if only Laurie Goldstein could understand that.
I am not sure what the race or religion of the Tamils even is. I know they are from an Island that used to be called Ceylon and is famous for it’s tea.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka’s Quebecois (the Tamils) for whatever reason don’t want to be part of the ‘rest of Sri Lanka’ so they want their own ‘solitude’ (country).
Unlike we asshole Canadians who pay our Quebecois to remain and pretend to be part of the ‘rest of Canada’ the Sri Lankin government shoots the bastards.
My question is: if the Tamils stop blowing shit up, will the Sri Lankan government stop shooting them? If so, then they have the power to end the war peacefully.
Meanwhile I don’t like any race, or religion or culture coming to my country to get us to fight their battles for them.
Shut up and get a job, have a nice life or go home.
If that’s racist, then so be it.
One more point for Lorrie (whom I agree has been on the ball until now) Is it racist when some Canadians state that they are sick and tired of those whiny Quebecois with their Fleur de Lis national flag and never-ending complaints and demands that are grossly unfair to the rest of Canada?
If not why not?
Except for the shootings and bombings it’s pretty much the same issue. A who minority doesn’t want to live under the majority.
Go ahead, Robert. No one will be able to hear you over the din of “Kill the Jew child” being screamed.
The police should have rounded them up; and the ones that are not Canadian citzens, ship them back to where they came from tomorrow. The ones that are Canadian citzens; tell them they should return to their country of origin that they love so much. How can that be racist? I also think the government should pay a one way fare for those who wish to go.
I hate to ever be remotely close in opinion with Robert McClelland, because he’s a truly pathetic human being but . . .
I did hear Adler and Goldstein discussing this in full. I think that Goldstein erred by implying a much greater percentage of racism in people’s hearts than there is. I also think he deflected Adler’s questions about people from Norway shutting down the Gardiner Expressway.
Where I think comments the past few days did get out of hand were the cries for the protesters to “go back home” … for one simple reason: I do believe many were younger Canadians who WERE BORN HERE.
My father was born in Germany. I was born in Canada. In the future if there was some cause to [rightly or wrongly] protest what Germany was doing, I sure wouldn’t appreciate people yelling at me to “go back to Germany”.
I think that’s all Lorrie Goldstein was trying to say today.
My 2 cents!
“Maybe we haven’t seen other groups take a highway…”
Your statement and Flaggman’s are truly astonishing. What’s worse is that I can’t even mock you by saying maybe you’d hear about them if you left the rightwing echo chamber once in a while because Kate has posted stories about aboriginal protests that have shut down highways. Caledonia ring a bell? And then there’s the farmer protests organized by Ontario PC leadership candidate Randy Hillier that have shut down sections of the 401 on numerous occasions over the past few years. So even within the rightwing echo chamber you should have heard of other protests that have shut down highways.
So I honestly have to know what your excuse is? Living in a cave maybe? Born yesterday? What. Enquiring minds want to know.
Over 50% of Torontonians are foreign born. We should stop importing racists.
He’s wrong on this one. People are just fed up period with people we helped who have turned on us & made this Country a fascist State by their incessant demands with an hysterical refusal to become Canadians. Mean while trying to force is to become what they fled. By the way what the heck should we care about their ex- so called homeland. They care so much, go back & fight. Besides we all know there getting funds here to send back home to kill yet more folks.
Why are we hell bent on cultural suicide? We should stop all this malcontent immigration or those who declare they hate us. Its insane not to.
JMO
Robert,
I surely wasn’t born yesterday and might have missed it nontheless but were the farmers demonstrating in support of an organization officially designated as terrorist by the Canadian Government? I’m pretty sure regardless that a significant number of commuters probably wished they would go back to where they came from. Ontario farms, to be sure, but the sentiment holds.
Now in the case of Caledonia, from my reading of the news, sympathy for our home grown domestic terrorists is also exceedingly low.
“were the farmers demonstrating in support of an organization officially designated as terrorist by the Canadian Government?”
No and neither were the Tamils.
Robert
You can be a great communicator or a great equivocator. Drop the latter and aspire to the former.
If Lorrie doesn’t check himself, he’ll start coming across as a male Janeane Garofalo, who infamously smeared every single American patriot attending the Tea Parties as “racists”.
Even good journalists have brainfarts.
The Tamils’ behavior was illegal, plainly and simply. They deliberately caused feelings of unease and consternation in innocent people for the purpose of getting political concessions.
Now, what’s the word for that kind of behavior? It begins with a “t” and ends with an “m”. While you’re trying to figure that out, visualize a guy named William Ayers…
I’d estimate at well over a million dollars, the police presence for yesterday’s one day event alone, without adding the helicopter and extra standby Emergency Support that was everywhere.
There were at least a hundred of our men in blue, and black on horse , bike, motorcycle, swat vans, cruisers you name it, and I’m being conservative, probably 200.
The entire “hospital row” in Canada’s biggest city and it’s surrounding connectors were blocked yesterday for hours.
The York Regional police brought their own mobile command centre with a loaded lunch-truck towed behind it.
There were busses of cops arriving and departing and guarding everything by the time it wrapped up.
Mother’s Day (nice) and yesterday’s traffic around downtown has been unbelievable. This demonstration in it’s various disruptive forms has been going on in Toronto for weeks now.
Toronto could have kept all of their constantly threatened-with-closer-city pools, open for years, all winter, with the money we’ve blown by granting these terrorist flag wavers a permit to “demonstrate”.
This is nuts.
What Lorrie can’t seem to grasp is that asking the protesters expressing their right to free speech to not to violate my freedom to go about my own business is not racism.
His sleight of hand journalism reaks of a blogger who has lost an argument and pulls out the nazi reference as a way to deflect criticism. His argument is premised on the assumption that if you disagree with him (and the protesters) you must be a racist.
Lorrie:
The protesters may have a right to free speech, but that doesn’t negate their responsibility (or your’s) to use it without denying mine.
BTW
Did anyone notice how Dalton’s talking points seemed to mimick Lorries column today?
Ah Mr. Mc Clelland,the Tamil Tigers WERE designated by the Canadian govt as a terrorist organization.The farmers of this country have demonstrated to our govts over the years.The first nations people have demonstrated to our govts over the years.They both ,in a free society have a right to do this.How in Hell do you get a connection with the Tamil Tigers demonstrating in Canada over something that is happening in Sri Lanka? You are either an idiot or a Liberal.
Spike
“You are either an idiot or a Liberal”
I cast no aspersions viz a viz Robert McLelland. However, your inspired use of synonyms in the above sentence is apropos.
“Events half-a-world away in a little understood 26-year civil war between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan government and its military, aren’t a top of the mind issue to most Canadians.”
And why should they be? The war is at risk of ending, the shakedown tour for Tamil fund raising will lose its reason for being. Their universe is imploding. Too bad for them. I could care less. They should all take passage home to fight for what they believe in or stay here and STFU and STFD.
“Where I think comments the past few days did get out of hand were the cries for the protesters to “go back home” … for one simple reason: I do believe many were younger Canadians who WERE BORN HERE.”
If they were born here, then why are so concerned about Sri Lanka? They have escaped that hell hole. They should be happy to be Canadian and shut up.
The whole idea of emigrating from a horrid place is to have a new life in a better place. We don’t want to be dragged into a conflict on the other side of the world where both sides are nothing but a bunch of murderers.
“Where I think comments the past few days did get out of hand were the cries for the protesters to “go back home” … for one simple reason: I do believe many were younger Canadians who WERE BORN HERE.”
Robert W. at May 14, 2009 7:17 PM – I think you’re on to something there. I believe Lorrie Goldstein had the best of motives at heart.
However, I also think folks are getting fed up. Our patience has been tried to the extreme. We’re only asking for a little balance.
I’m wondering why no one has considered the possibility that the people who were extorting money from the Tamil community under threat of killing family back home aren’t also behind organizing these rallies using the same threats? I was under the impression that the Tigers had been terrorizing the Canadian Tamil community for years. I would have to assume with the rebels being on the ropes, their bagmen here in Canada would use all means necessary to ratchet up support.
What Lorrie can’t seem to grasp is that asking the protesters expressing their right to free speech to not to violate my freedom to go about my own business is not racism.
Of course. Leftists are always saying that we can exercise our rights, but not if we go so far as to infringe upon others’ rights.
Well, the Tamils infringed on our rights.
And we gave ’em shee-it for doing that.
That’s not “racism”, Lorrie.
It’s fair.
They brought it upon themselves by infringing on others’ right of free movement. The Tamils deliberately, unlawfully detained others, violating their right to move about freely.
And they caught hell via public condemnation due to their illegal, infringing behavior.
Nothing “racist” about criticising outlaws.
IF they were white Europeans, then what would one call those who told ’em to “go home”? “Racists”? But if the majority is “white”, then telling other “whites” to go home… is that “racist”?
See, to wave the race card whenever someone criticizes a party who happens to be “non-white”, well, isn’t that racist?
As I said earlier, even good journalists have brainfarts…
The farmers have been here for generations, payed a lot of taxes and contributed to Canada in many ways. They have been the backbone of the small towns across Canada. They have fought in wars, struggled through depression, recessions, crop failures and government interference. If they want to protest something the Canadian government is doing in Canada to Canadians buy blocking of a highway I say go ahead. Once. If a group of people from another country who have contributed almost nothing to this country want to protest something another county is doing to another countries citizens by blocking a highway I say we lock them up, deport the ones we can and prevent this from becoming a common occurrence.