Freshly minted GOP senatorial candidate Rand Paul is taking quite a beating over the last couple of days. His argument that the 1964 Civil Rights Act went too far when it legislated against discrimination by private business is earning him well-deserved ridicule (h/t to matttbastard on Twitter). Paul seems to be arguing that if government had only minded its own business, the free market would have magically eliminated the evils of Jim Crow in the American south.
At his blog, the same matttbastard quotes another convincing rebuttal to this nonsense. But I've heard Paul's argument before and quite recently. It didn't sound any more convincing when it came from Tom Flanagan.
What we seem to forget is that it is government that legislated discrimination. They are still doing so. You cannot legislate special rights for one group without removing 'rights' from other groups. It is never more obvious that it is today with the CHRC. How can anyone today believe that government legislation is still not discriminating against groups? When was the last time special rights were legislated for white, heterosexual males? And since the government usually legislates what the 'free market' wants, and pays for, we are finished.
The only people in Canada who don't have rights are those that are the normal representative of what Canadian means. The rest have all the rights the vote hungry governments can give them. That is why we have no culture or history left. We don't matter.
When was the last time special rights were legislated for white, heterosexual males?
What special rights have been given to groups other than white, heterosexual males?
Governments do not legislate or grant anybody any rights. Rights are inherent by virtue of your being a human being or, in some cases, a citizen.
What governments have had to do is spell out the ways in which the rights of specific groups that have been discriminated against historically can no longer be discriminated against on discriminatory grounds.
'Discrimination' is in the eye of the beholder. The CHRC is an 'arms length' body created by government. Government decides and legislates those 'groups'. And if those groups do not bow before government they are punished. Take the Gay Pride Parade in Toronto. Last year they got $100,000. from the government(taxpayer). This year they get nothing because they are allowing the Gays against israel apartheid' group to march in the parade. Therefore the government has dictated that israeli subservience trumps Gay Rights?
The government also legislates what is 'discrimination'. They are going to make it a 'hate crime' to speak against the atrocities committed by israel. That is government legislating 'rights' and removing rights of free speech from citizens.
None of what you've mentioned here answers my question. And none of the things that follow the mention of the CHRC have anything to do with the CHRC. I'm sorry but you're incoherent.
George, I hesitate to say anything. I've been drinking, you see.
I have agreed with your views on many things in the past. But we have to part company here. And I speak as a white, heterosexual male (although the older I get the more academic the "heterosexual" descriptor becomes. It is now a cross between a distant memory and a cruel joke. But I digress. And whine.)
Tell you what. Let's organize a White Male Heterosexual Parade Against Israel, apply for a $100,000 grant from the federal government, and see what happens.
What? No good?
Dammit. Well, see, this is what happens when I drink and blog.
Sorry you folks can't understand what I am saying. It is government that legislates discrimination. They make the laws that we must follow or pay the consequences. They allowed turbans on our Mounties even if the uniform(http://www.answers.com/topic/uniform) called for a stetson. They legislate the hiring of 'minorities'and women, they ban certain truths being spoken, the CHRC is paid for by our tax dollars, the person making the complaint is paid with our tax dollars, so therefore the CHRC is a government entity.
Our children are not taught the history and culture of Canada because that would be discriminatory. Our children are not allowed to have Christmas concerts in school, we are not allowed to say Merry Christmas, we are not allowed to have anything pertaining to Christmas on public property, but Harper made his famous statement that 'we support israel' in front of a menorrah on the Calgary city hall lawn.
If the above is not legislated discrimination then I don't know what is.
I understand, George. I just disagree.
George, Dr. Dawg has chimed in (albeit indirectly). Does this help?
Again, no mention of expertise, experience and intellect, just gender. Sadly, what is between your legs does not make what is in your head better.
The very fact that Clement is 'upset speaks volumes. Does this indicate that he thinks gender is the only criteria for hiring?
To lower standards for the police so that smaller sized women can become RCMP is ridiculous in the extreme. Those criteria were in place for a reason. Smaller men and women can not protect us and themselves against criminals. To lower standards to play the anti-discrimination game is deadly for us all. Firefighters have also had their standards lowered. The next time a small firefighter cannot get a large person out of a fire it will be the victim that suffers the idiocy of the gender garbage. The next time someone needs emergency service and the 911 dispatcher or EMS person doesn't speak the English, I hope that they die knowing that their death was worth it because we dare not discriminate.
The whole argument is ludicrous.