Special Features
The intention of adding this "Special Feature" section to this website is to have at the beginning of the website an essay or a news item or other feature which will stimulate thought and discussion about a current issue or about one which needs to be considered more deeply than it is. Those submitting comments on this section of the website should mention the title of the particular feature they are commenting on, since the special feature may be expected to be changed from time to time.
Links to News and Comments of Interest on External sites:
(Inclusion of these news items and comments does not indicate approval or disapproval.)
"Martin Amis Calls for Euthanasia Booths on Streetcorners" (See essay in response to this below: "English Novelist Proposes Euthanasia Booths for the Old.")
"Bulletin of Christian Persecution, Dec. 13, 2009-Jan. 14, 2010"
"Video Friday Five: Former Planned Parenthood Director Abby Johnson"
"Was Maurice Vellacott Right About Abortion?"
"Catholic group reports death of Chinese underground bishop Leon Yao Liang at 87"
"US 'Sold its Birthright' by Ignoring China Human Rights Abuses for Economic Gain: Report"
"Barbara Kay: The end of the gender wars"
"The Status of Women Must be Abandoned: An Egregious Use of Taxpayers' Money"
"Biological Explanation: How Abortion Causes Breast Cancer"
Opposition to Obama’s Health-Care Plan: Appropriate or Misdirected?
Conservatives in the United States are generally opposed to what they believe are Obama’s health-care plans. It seems to this observer (who, admittedly has not had time to examine the matter in as much detail as he would like), that some of the opposition is definitely misdirected. As a result, from a socially-conservative point of view, the real dangers are in danger of being ignored, and an opporunity has been give to besmirch legitimate opposition to health-care measures that are objectionable.
Equating Obama’s administration to a Nazi regime and the like adds more heat than light to what should be a sharp but logical debate. Disseminating rumors which appear to be of dubious validity and treating those rumors as established facts does not help the debate either.
It seems to me that a nation with the wealth of resources of the United States should be able to ensure a reasonable level of health-care for all citizens. What is needed to achieve that level is a matter for debate: a debate that should take into account the negative tendencies of government beaurocracies to be wasteful and to accumulate inordinate power.
Whatever health-care plan the citizens of our neighbours to the south choose should take into consideration the shortfalls of national systems already in place in other countries, including the sometimes unconscionable wait-times that some Canadians with painful conditions such as broken hips have had to endure.
One of the things that pro-life groups in the United States need to do is to make sure that abortion is not one of the procedures paid for by the nation. Another thing to insist on is that absolutely no health-care money go to counselling for or providing euthanasia.
A coalition of a very large number of groups in the U.S. is concentrating on ensuring that abortion is not promoted by any new health-care plan. The coalition has taken the name “Stop the Abortion Mandate.”
Credit Where Credit is Due
If we have been critical of the apparent dismissal of certain concerns, it is only right and fair that we draw attention to evidence we see of the present Conservative government's attention to other concerns of socially-conservative Canadians.
Of course, the emphasis on allowing parents a freer choice as to the care of their children is one policy which was evident from the beginning of this government's mandate, and contrasts favourably to other parties' advocacy of a one-size-fits all take-it-or-leave it day-care plan.
The raising of the age of sexual consent, a long-overdue measure to make it more difficult to exploit the young, is one accomplishment that is a great credit to this government.
The measures I have mentioned point to one hopeful fact: The present Conservative government in Canada is more favourable to socially conservative issues than is any other party represented in the House of Commons (though we recognize that some individual non-Conservative members deserve credit also).
Latest Action of BC College of Teachers Against Chris Kempling Highlights the Perilous State of Freedom in Canada
February, 2008
The British Columbia College of Teachers, in its latest act of harassment, has again cited Dr. Chris Kempling for conduct unbecoming a teacher. Their list of complaints is a revelation, not of Chris's wrongdoing, but of the totalitarian attitude this body, which like the human rights commissions and tribunals which have lately come into prominence, functions as a kind of court without having the limitations placed on it which a "real" court would have.
Chris writes: They have cited me for participating in a CBC radio interview where I quoted the Bible saying that homosexual behaviour is a barrier to salvation, for contributing an essay discussing the philosophical differences between social liberals and social conservatives (published in the Calgary Herald on December 29, 2003), for publishing a scholarly article in a German family journal on the topic of homosexuality, for offering orientation change therapy as part of my private counselling practice and mentioning this in a radio interview, and, incredibly, for "knowing" that an article written by Christian Heritage Party leader Ron Gray in support of me was posted on the party's website. They also cited me for being "the local representative of the Christian Heritage Party.
As we have said before, the action taken against Chris Kempling is significant because it represents a threat to freedom of speech, freedom of religion, political freedom, and the freedom of the educational system. It should be a warning to Canadians of all stripes who value our national heritage.
Please read Chris Kempling's letter on the BC Parents and Teachers for Life webpage entitled "Standing Up for the Threatened Rights of a Free Society. Then consider what you can do to help. Right now, we can think of at least two things we can all do. Write on behalf of Chris and talk up his case with friends and acquaintances likely to be supportive of him when they know his story. And, to the extent that you are able, donate to the fund which has been set up primarily to help him. To encourage this, we reproduce immediately below the directions for sending him financial help:
I Don't Have to Respect Your Viewpoint
By Ted Hewlett
More mischief is wrought by the inaccurate use of words than we can easily imagine. Take, for example, the little phrase "I respect you viewpoint, but . . . ," when the speaker or writer goes on to make it clear that he actually disagrees with the viewpoint because it is founded on false premises or results from false reasoning. How is it possible to respect such a viewpoint? What most rationally-thinking people really mean when they use that phrase is that they respect the person apart from his viewpoint.
The words "I respect your viewpoint, but. . ." have become so common that they have almost become an obligatory means of expressing goodwill towards an opponent in an argument. Yet the careless use of the phrase probably reflects one of the most basic flaws in today's thinking. Those who want to repress all moral judgments are wont to accuse those making such judgements of not respecting those who differ from them, and they can make this accusation plausibly because of society's habit of equating respect for a person with respecting his viewpoint.
The sloppy thinking implied in the phrase in question is responsible for the fact that those engaging in homosexual behaviour are so easly able to get away with accusing those who disagree with such behaviour with hating them. The perhaps unstated argument goes, "You do not respect my viewpoint, therefore you do not respect me. Therefore you hate me." The thinking is about as logical as saying that because one disapproves of behaviour associated with alcoholism one hates alcoholics.
One way to clarify discussions in our society is to clarify our words and therefore to clarify thinking. Since clear thinking helps the thinker to arrive at truth, those who value truth should, of all people, be champions of clear expression.
Orville the Outcast
By Stephen J. Gray
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The Myth of Trade Union Democracy
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posted by Ted Hewlett | Post Page
8 comments
8 Comments:
This guys just weak. Read the Charter it allows for "affirmative action", "reverse discrimination", whatever you want to call it, to help correct the inequities that exist because of past discriminations. It occasioanlly costs people like me and probably him (white, male, british decent)on a rare occaision, but never in a way comarable to the discriminations faced by women, people of colour, etc. in the past. Depite any of these policies white men get most of the jobs, most of the positions in parliament, most of the positions in all places of power in this country. Stop whining.
Yes union dues are mandatory. It's called democracy. I've been a member of four unions in my life. Some are more transparent than others but all of them could be challenged and stopped if the membership wanted. You don't like how they spend your money, organize and fight it. If the members are to apathetic or just don't agree with you too bad. If you don't like working in a union shop work somewhere else. If you wonder why the pay and benefits aren't as good it's because they aren't unionized. Pay your dues or don't expect the benefits a union brings. You want indentured workers service let's go back to the pre-union days.
Wayne Fowler
I don't understand why Trade Unions support liberal-minded governments that support abortion.
Abortion has killed millions of potential union members.
With our work-force aging fast this has been self defeating. Why don't our union leaders listen to our advice when we tell them not to spend our dues on supporting governments that kill our young? Stats Canada gives the numbers of those we have killed.
This also says alot about most of us union members!
Wayne, it seems that, in spite of some benevolent instincts, you were a loyal trade union member for so long that your ideas of democracy were subverted by the collectivist mentality that seems to dominate such organizations.
The Charter allowing for reverse discrimination does not keep that discrimination from being unjust. But according to the collectivist mentality that promotes such affirmative action, the individual, no matter how personally disadvantaged, must suffer for the perceived sins of his fathers. "Stop whining, you're white, and a male, and to top it off, of British descent, so suffer discrimination in silence and compensate for the collective sins of your forebears."
So mandatory union dues are called democracy? I guess they are imposed by the will of the majority, but does that make it right to ride rough-shod over the rights of the individual? An affirmative answer to my mind betrays what I would call a "collectivist" mentality.
As I said Ted any minor discrimination I might face will pale in comparison to the very real discrimination that has occured against people of color and women. Since most of those discriminations continue to exist I will benefit at other times when employers covertly hire me because I am a white male.
True story. My first teaching job was as a special needs teacher. I worked with the tough kids in the building who were struggling. When I went to a conference of teachers who did the same type of work. As soon as we sat down in a circle and looked at each other something became obvious. We were all white. We were all male. We were all over 6ft tall. We were all over 200 lbs. So much for being hired on merit.
I can't believe you can possibly refer to past discrimination as percieved. Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.
And since I'm a first generation born Canadian my father didn't commit those crimes. I didn't commit those crimes. But as a member of the privileged class I benefit from them every day. A few reverse discriminations are perfectly reasonable.
WF
As for trade unions is expecting me to follow the laws of the land not a violation of my individual rights too? Of course not. You want to be part of the society there are a few rules to follow. If I don't like them I work to change them.
Collective bargaining was arrived at democratically and instituted legally by the federal government. The internal rules of the Union are arrived at democratically. The courts have supported these laws. When you work in a group you don't get everything your own way Ted. There are lots of companies of all kinds that don't have unions if you don't like it.
And don't assume I believe unions are perfect. I've worked in them for years. I know how stupid they can be and how people can act in a herd mentality. However until you change the nature of employers, who always want more for less, unions will be a necessity.
WF
I feel we should have elected and supported Tom Landers and the BC Unity Party with its popular democracy system of government before the time for a true peoples democracy is legislated and judged away!
The Swiss have a popular government system entrenched in their country's constitution like Tom Landers wanted to have here in BC. The Swiss people keep the politicians accountable by their peoples referendums on all important government issues. The Swiss force their politicians to serve the people instead of politicians forcing the people to do what the government dictates once the election is over. Switzerland has few natural resources, a harsh climate,one quarter of the land is covered with mountains, has four official language groups. the Swiss have enjoyed the highest standard of living in the world for over fifty years. This popular democracy ought to be entrenched in The B.C.Constitution for future generations to enjoy.
Now as a union member I am sick and tired of the apsthy of most of our members who don't show up at meetings except when our in house leaders call for a stike vote. As 800+ people only the same 9 the elected local officials attend regularly. When I put may name in to run the 9 club was very happy untill I told them I was a Conservative or Canadian Alliance as it was at that time,and I hoped I could change their minds about "imposing" their liberal views all the time on their union brothers and sisters. Then came the election at our local union hall. The 9 club was there with me and two others we were 12. The same 9 were elected as they always appoint themselves. The election was a sham. I was very upset so I asked my fellow comrades at work why they didn't come. They all had the same story that they were to occupied with their families and the 9 club had time on their hands to bother about union matters. Untill this changes the unions will back with our money governments that "impose"their unhealthy policies on us and our children. It is up to the citizens to change this as the consequences of this apathy on Western Society are dire! The citizens are in charge of their own destiny. We ought to make the important changes for our own good in government, work,and home. Social Darwinism used by Companies on their workers to keep wages low has been harsh throughout history. Apathy will send us back to this even in our unions if we don't wake up. Western Companies are now moving to China in droves where workers have little or no rights at all. Perhaps we ought to ask our comrades that are China's leaders why this is so? Lets come out of our apathy because in a democracy the citizens get the government they desearve.
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Keep posting stuff like this i really like it
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