I agree, but....

Submitted by Daniel Sklar (Canada), Feb 1, 2006 at 13:28

I agree with you with regards to the media and it's nothing new specifically with regards to the CBC, however, the ultimate culpability lies with the folks of Mississauga-Erindale, and to a certain degree the Liberal party (I put the blame squarely with Paul "Mr. Dithers" Martin and his folks because he had the right to refuse the nomination) and he also has made quite strange statements that exude brokerage politics.

On the one hand, he states, "Israeli and Canadian values are the same...." but then again he also stated, "Muslim and Canadian values are the same." Thank God he relinquished the leadership. Given the fact that prior to the Islamist, Carolyn Parrish was their MP, I think its fair to say that there is much virulent anti-American, anti-Israel, terrorist-apologist sentiment in this constituency. That being said, we are still a democratic nation and while I feel that stronger measures should be taken to fight terrorism, islamic radicalism and limit its permeability in our politics, a government cannot reject a candidate merely because he/she is of a certain faith and/or if his/her supporters or whatever say stupid things.

It's a slippery slope. This parliament will likely last no more than 3 years, and if Prime Minister Harper does well enough, this riding could change hands. And I do believe that even if the liberals form a government at one time and the Islamist remains an MP, he will be an ordinary backbencher with little if any power. I think that people like the disgraced Svend Robinson are in fact more of a threat than is the Islamist because for one, his is not a Muslim, two, he is very popular for some reason, three, any criticism of him or his policies will be condemned as gay bashing, and four, Robinson has made a career of grandstanding and saying stupid things. He is a lot more vocal even out of politics than the Islamist will be IN politics.

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