From June 26, 2014- Let me share a story of a trudeaumania gal from the late 60s and 70s...- from a fierce tory household - but who loved us so much that we still played cards on Sat. nite and church on Sunday.
Changed to NDP and then back to Liberal..... and living in the valley- Pat Nowlan terrority and we admired him- still do; and adored John Murphy a liberal who was a Social and Mental Health worker and we just respected the man and his incredible work with disadvantaged folks
.... previously had voted tory Pat Nowlan (an incredible tory and a hero to many of us - he never once missed a meeting with youth and aged ever) ... but, eventually, we wanted change..... and Liberal John Murphy won.... and , of course, liberals went to hell.... in a basket.... sold out the everyday folks of Canada and stole our Unemployment Insurance $$$$ in the billions and cut the rate back to the mid-50%...... and of course we knew -- and so did they- lost huge....
by that time a young Tory Scott Brison (WHO BEAT OUT OUR LIBERAL JOHN MURPHY) was the new youngblood Tory and we really didn't have a lot of news about him- young, beautiful and brilliant- that's about it!!
..... and was curious as an aging Unionist and Human Rights (with the f**king scars and wounds to prove it) worker .... how this young upstart would do for our communities and the working poor and disadvangaged-
WELLLLLL... TORY- SCOTT BRISON.... stood in the House and brought Pay Equity to the floor of Parliament.... DARRYL BEAN (PSAC PRES ) WAS 2 BUSY WITH HIS LICENSE PLATE #1 ...and NDP PARTY just didn't bother...
(NDP love to trade victories folks.... and too often they sold us out and those hard won victories very badly).....
then SCOTT BRISON brought child abuse to the house..... and the homeless and abused women and kids..... and we adored him..... SCOTT BRISON CAME TO OUR MEETINGS... AND PAY EQUITY AND MARCHES.... - the only one who did.... u could not find another political party......
even when Tory Joe Clark took our Scott Brison's seat.... and we walked the talk and circled our Scott Brison....
and then he walked the floor to the Liberal party .... and we stood up and marched again..... loud loud loud.... from all corners of the County...... and we stayed.....
the only time of change was THE UPPITY MICHAEL..... which was just toooo ugly for our troops..... and millions of us stepped away..... from that horror show......
and this year.... although PM Harper did well by us in the communities across Canada.... we wanted change.... and younger, fresh, new, invigorating and a better reflection of us old red tories and diehard liberals of yesteryear.....
so we underground 'golden voters' changed and decided on our beloved Pierre's son and in our communities our homegrown son.... Scott Brison..... the story is folks.... LIKE SIDNEY CROSBY SAYS.... kids born after the 70s in Canada just have a different view of Canadians and our ways and culture.... that's my story... oh yeah... Scott is proudly gay.... and it's just never mattered.... but that's Nova Scotia for ya... and Canada folks.
honour our troops- they are why u are free Canada... and we know it
-----------------
BLOGSPOT:
CANADA MILITARY NEWS: Disabled have great sex lives folks and always have/CHINA teaching disabled children and youth about embracing their sexuality and it's healthy/ SEXTING- what it means global articles/ PLATO - Asexual- Platonic love and friendships work and millions and millions like the honesty of asexality/ MASTERBATION is healthy folks- get used 2 it
-------------------------------
...sigh the world is despising the arrogance and absolute ignorance of all politicians.... TODAY... IN OUR NOVA SCOTIA... HERE'S F**KING WHY...
LIBERAL PREMIER, NDP PREMIER, TORY PREMIER- poor Nova Scotia- same black hats... same hijacking the people supposed 2 b serving-Lib MacNeil,NDP Dexter, Tory MacDonald .... Mr. MacNeil.... 'the night of a thousand knives'.... we trusted u.... we trusted u..... LESSONS LEARNED ... u break our hearts.... like u broke our unions making it even harder 4 persons ill and with disabilities.... and Sea Lice inbred salmon farms... and the horrific pollution of a $$$trillionaire owned Northern Pulp that is poisoning our children- air and environment.... 2 stealing from our precious University students... who $$$ have it so hard 4 an education... 2 ignoring our seniors and dumping tourism projects.... that were and are the lifeblood of a beautiful and still... unbreakable province.
Nova Scotia deserves better than all these three parties did/do ... and frankly on this day... looking at the political arena that is a travesty 2 this great nation from lib justin bieber 2 ndp union owned 4gotten teddybear tom mulcair 2 tory (why did u let reform party join this precious and glorious party?) PM harper- I ain't a gonna change and that's my story....
Well Canada.... it's time we raised ourselves up.... at the grassroots and make this election truly ours... and not the big city slickers and Ottawa sandbox that wouldn't have a clue about Canadians if they fell on one... God loves our Canada... and so do we... let's get out there... and make steal the election ensuring it's about Canadians and not about the losers of all these parties who are a disgrace...imho.... God bless our children... and God bless our troops.... let's kick up some Grade A Canadian Arse
We live in a Canada that we bled and died 2 ensure women equal men by law... which trumps any religion..... abortions are legal 1988 so move on.... same gender love became law in 1969.... Canada's Bill of Rights 1960 ensured all people are equal- race creed etc... in our Canada.... Pay Equity was won in Supreme Court by women fighting in our unions (when they actually gave a sheeet) by federal government in the mid 1990s..... ask Scott Brison who was a Tory MP at the time.... who stood against the evil liberals of the day and fancy smancy 'we're no 1' NDP Darryl Bean.... and brought Pay Equity in2 the house.... and I was liberal folks so don't go there.... and despised the hypocracy of the NDP party ... and the tory look the other way.... Brison was just a new kid on the block... and he did that.... AS A TORY... Canada deserves that old caring type of folks back representing us and our Canada... and NOT the lawyers... and creeps pushing the rights of monsters over victims...
and...
Hozier - Take Me To Church
and...
IN CANADA- NOVA SCOTIA -Nouvelle-Écosse -THE MAJORITY OF CANADIANS R COLOUR BLIND- GENDER PREFERENCE ILLITERATE AND EMBRACING A RELIGION IN R CANADA FOUNDED ON THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE - DEFINES US 36 Million strong... imho-
-i'll die Roman Catholic and adore my gay brothers and gay best friends over the years... especially those robbed of their beautiful life by AIDS..... and fight the good fight against paedophiles and predators of babies, children, teens and youth.... and abuses with 2 manys excuses- and 2day this is 4 my gay brothers and sisters- who watch my back like 4 over 45 years I have watched theirs... and many of us paid a dear price... but ya know what.... I'd rather live free and die standing than living in fear on my knees.... cause what we do in Canada 2 change our world- helps our children... and r kids matter.... :-)
many of us 'golden oldies' have walked the talk since the 60s fighting 4 equality, pay equity, safety, and anti-discrimination against all things in a good world where folks truly matter over the $$$$... and never waivered in our human dignity, rights;especially, 4 children who r powerless because of NO VOTES, and union that used to be about the trodden and squashed with no voices- until unions sold out honour, equality and dignity of the elders who built this union country- imho
AND..
Halifax Pride Parade 2013 18 of 21
----------------
--------------------
From Berwick, 2014- July- Newbie Township and hugs 2 ya all and thx 4 including ur kiddies and oldies like us- Nova Scotia- spreading the love...
Supporting our troops 4ever and 4 always
-------------------
AN OUTSTANDING ARTICLE FROM WORDPRESS.... thx 4 the share...
LGBT RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD
Gay Russia Standard
In the past three decades, the LGBT-rights movement has undeniably made enormous advancements in nearly every possible way. In 1995, there was no such thing as “marriage equality” and the idea of an openly gay head of government seemed like a stretch.
My, how times have changed
It’s 2014 now, and if you’re gay, you can get married in 19 countries. Belgium and Iceland have both had openly gay Prime Ministers in the past decade. Jason Collins of the NBA came out last year, becoming the world’s first active professional athlete to be openly gay. And Michael Sam has officially signed with the St. Louis Rams, becoming the NFL’s first ever openly gay player.
Let’s take a moment to review some winners and losers in the movement for LGBT equality.
Winner: Canada
Gay CanadaOfficially, Canada was the third country in the world to attain marriage equality, in 2005. But technically speaking, they were actually the first. How is that possible? Well, the Supreme Court ruling that mandated marriage equality in the province of Ontario was retroactive to the year 2000, several months before the Netherlands became the world’s first country to legalize same-sex marriage.
In any event, Canada has fully embraced marriage equality, with the only possible exception being Alberta, which at first threatened to utilize the Charter of Rights and Freedom’s notwithstanding clause to get out of having marriage equality in the province.
Just last month, Ontario voters elected Kathleen Wynne to be their Premier, making her the first lesbian to hold the office of Premier in Canadian history. Ontario also has a law that requires all public high schools in the province to have a Gay-Straight Alliance.
So amazing is LGBT inclusivity in Canada that even the country’s Conservative party, which has been in government since 2006, has made absolutely no effort to repeal the marriage equality legislation passed under the previous Liberal government. Actually, there have been two Conservative Members of Parliament who have been openly gay. Of course, there have been far more from the Liberals and the NDP, but it’s still amazing that MPs for the furthest-right party can be openly gay and still get elected.
Winner: Iceland
Though Iceland didn’t get marriage equality until 2012, they were the world’s first country to have an openly gay Head of Government, when they elected Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir (I have no idea how to pronounce that) to the position in 2009. Jóhanna also holds the distinction of being the longest-serving member of Parliament in Icelandic history. Way to go, Jó.
Winner: South Africa
Gay South AfricaIn 1990, South Africa had one of the most oppressive governments in the world, deeply racist, sexist and homophobic. Just four years later, they would become one of the world’s most open and progressive. South Africa’s new constitution, written in 1994, was the first in the world to explicitly ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
In 2006, South Africa fully embraced marriage equality, making them the fifth in the world, the first in Africa, and the second outside of Europe, to do so.
Loser: Russia
Gay RussiaRussia has never been a gay haven by any stretch of the imagination, but recent moves made by the Putin administration have greatly exacerbated the plight of LGBT Russians. It’s now illegal to “distribute homosexual propaganda”, whatever that means. Pride parades have also formally been banned in the national capital and largest city of Moscow for the next 98 years. Various protesters in rainbow garb leading up to the Sochi Olympics in February were arrested or sometimes brutally beaten by Russian police, and a group of gay Dutchmen filming a documentary in March were imprisoned for a few weeks.
Loser: Uganda
To international protest, Uganda passed a law greatly extending punishments for those convicted of being homosexual (homosexuality itself had already been a crime in Uganda, like most of central Africa–thanks to their former British overlords). The Ugandan media hasn’t really been helping the problem; shortly after the new law was passed, a national tabloid published a “tell-all” revealing the identities of a number of prominent individuals in the country, claiming they were gay. Many of them have been brought to trial because of that article, and if convicted, could face years of hard labour, life imprisonment or even death.
Winner & Loser: Australia
Gay OceaniaAustralia must be a very confusing place to be LGBT. They’re frequently ranked alongside the likes of Spain and the Netherlands as the most LGBT-friendly country on the planet, so that’s good. Most of the country’s states have civil unions, and Sydney Pride is the largest of its kind in the world.
But for whatever reason, both major political parties in Australia are diametrically opposed to marriage equality. This is made even more puzzling by the fact that an overwhelming 62% of the Australian populace wants the country to have same-sex marriage, the biggest support worldwide among countries that do not yet have marriage equality.
Even more puzzling, an attempt in the Australian Capital Territory, the district including and immediately surrounding the national capital of Canberra, to legalize marriage equality was struck down by the country’s Supreme Court just a few months ago.
Winner & Loser: the United States
Nowhere (besides perhaps Australia) does the marriage equality scene get more confusing than in the United States. Just under half of the states and just over half of the population has marriage equality. Circuit courts have struck down same-sex marriage bans in a number of states, but almost all of them are on hold, being appealed in higher courts.
If you live in the northeast corridor of the U.S., LGBT people get treated fairly well, and the same goes for much of the west coast. But go to the heartland of America and you’ll see a very different story. In most U.S. states, it’s legal to be fired just for being gay. Almost no laws exist in the entire country banning discrimination based on gender identity.
http://technicolourful.wordpress.com/2014/07/10/lgbt-rights-around-the-world/
-----------------------
See folks... this is our Canada.... all those years of fighting the fight in unions and community families and human rights issues- never getting a promotion, few raises, and kids asking if theywere having name brand again.... and all those marches and talks and walking the talk since the 60s.... this is what so many of us are saying... POLITICS DOES NOT DEFINE US... HUMANITY DOES... and all those hard times and few successes... would I do it all again.... Yes! Congrats... u raise us up in our Canada... we love u.
GALLERY: Grand Pride wedding at Casa Loma in Toronto
110 same-sex couples say 'I do' at mass ceremony
Photo: Tyler Anderson/National Post
Published: June 26, 2014, 6:18 pm
Updated: 1 hour ago
Love was in the air at Toronto’s Casa Loma as 110 same-sex couples said ‘I do’ at a massive wedding ceremony in celebration of WorldPride.
http://o.canada.com/news/gallery-grand-pride-wedding-at-casa-loma-in-toronto
------------------
to all politicians who think they own 'gay'- in the real world among real everyday people-
u don't.... and u and media need 2 work on ur own prejudging.....CANADIANS LOVE OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS COMMUNITY AND COUNTRY- 1970 law about gay rights came in2 effect in Canada
imho
HERE IS A GLOBAL MAP: -
global gay rights World_homosexuality_laws_svg
Homosexuality legal
Other type of partnership (or unregistered cohabitation)
Marriages from other jurisdictions recognized
Limited federal recognition of marriage in states without same-sex marriage
Same-sex unions not recognized
|
Homosexuality criminalized/restricted
Restrictions on freedom of expression
Unenforced penalty
Imprisonment
Up to life in prison
Death penalty
|
question:
Which country (or countries) is most tolerant of homosexuality?
answer
Well, as I studied a little about homophobia and laws regarding homosexuality, I think I can answer your question. First of all, there is sure no country where people absolutely tolerate homosexuality, at least not now. The countries whose laws tolerate are shown in this picture :
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co…
(Countries in dark blue allows same-sex marriage, countries in light blue allows other types of partnerships, countries in grey do nothing about gays, countries in yellow and orange punishes gays and lesbians, countries in red and dark red just kill the homosexuals)
But people don't necessarily think what the laws say. I'd say that homosexuality gets the most tolerance in the US, Canada, Northern Europe and parts of the Western Europe (the Scandinavians are the first to recognize same-sex marriage) In Latin America, Australia, Southern Europe and parts of the Eastern Europe (Hungary and Czech Rep., perhaps ?) the people give a sympathetic look towards gays and lesbians. Homosexuals should avoid East and Southeast Asia (with the excluding of a friendly Japan and Thailand) countries such as China, Korea, Vietnam, or HongKong just vomit as they see gays. (Lesbians are, surprisingly, more tolerated than gays. Perhaps it was because of the Confusianism ideology's influence ?) Lastly, you must avoid Middle East and North Africa (Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia...) at all cost if you're homosexual. There's STATE-SPONSORED HOMOPHOBIA there !
As for me, if you're not straight, then the US would be the best for you, especially in the Northeast
----------------------------
PHILLIP SPOONER'S TESTIMONY (excerpted) and TEXT
FOR WHAT DO YOU THINK I FOUGHT FOR AT OMAHA BEACH?
Good morning, committee. My name is Phillip
Spooner and I live at 5 Graham Street in Biddeford. I am 86 years old and a
lifetime Republican and an active VFW chaplain ... I was born on a potato farm
north of Caribou and Perham, where I was raised to believe that all men are
created equal, and I've never forgotten that.
I served in the U.S. Army, 1942-1945 ... I worked
with every outfit over there, including Patton's Third Army. I saw action in
all five major battles in Europe... I was in the liberation of Paris.
(I have seen much, so much blood and guts, so
much suffering, much sacrifice.)
I am here today because of a conversation I had
last June when I was voting. A woman ... asked me, "Do you believe in
equality for gay and lesbian people?" I was pretty surprised to be asked a
question like that. It made no sense to me. Finally I asked her, "What do
you think I fought for at Omaha Beach?"
For freedom and equality. These are the values
that make America a great nation, one worth dying for.
My wife and I did not raise four sons with the
idea that our gay son would be left out. We raised them all to be hard-working,
proud, and loyal Americans and they all did good.
NOTE:Melissa Dunphy's new composition "What
do you think I fought for at Omaha Beach?" was selected as the winning
work for the 2010 Simon Carrington Chamber Singers Composition Competition. The
Philadelphia-based composer's choral work sets excerpts of public testimony
given by a WWII veteran before the Maine Senate in a hearing to discuss the
Marriage Equality Bill.
"What do you think I fought for at Omaha
Beach?" was performed on May 29, 2010, at Grace and Holy Trinity in Kansas
City, MO and First Presbyterian Church in Lawrence, KS. This video is taken
from initial footage of the recording session on May 30, 2010, at Blessed
Sacrament Church in Kansas City, KS.
The piece was selected from a pool of over 100
submissions, from over 70 composers, hailing from 10 different countries. In
choosing the work from a narrowed-down, committee-selected pool of nine
finalists, music director and conductor Simon Carrington gave his reasoning
behind selecting Dunphy's work as the winner. "There were plenty of
excellent pieces in the sweet-sounding modern idiom which SCCS would make very
beautiful, but the strongest (and most individual) piece was Melissa Dunphy's
What do you think I fought for at Omaha Beach? -- a bold and highly effective
setting of a thought-provoking text."
What do you think I fought for at Omaha Beach?
(recording footage)
------------------------
John Kerry/Jane Fonda the Vietnam Westboro Baptist Church of their times- they cost a lot of our troops their lives.... We Will Remember ... always
O Canada- merci
NOBODY ASKED THEM IF THEY WERE GAY..... ON SEPTEMBER 11 2001- Canada's Broken Heart
SO....YOU'RE GAY.... We love u and ur part of our
whole culture- - THAT IS SO CANADA ....1970s- that's when we made
Canada's law of equality.....
PERSONAL:
PLeassssseeeeeeee.... get this- constant media
over and over and over whining about it... over with... it is just soooo old
and tired. Like who cares- Trudeau and
Canada passed legislation in 1979?
Canada's Equal Opportunity Military Turned over 20 years- the US of A
lags.... October 27: way back inYesterday marked 20 some-years
since the reversal of CFAO 19-20, Canada’s shameful equivalent of the United
State’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Before October 27, 1992, members
of Canada’s armed forces suspected of being gay were put through internal
investigations and fired, even if their service records were exemplary. Millions of Canadians just don't give a rat's
behind- we have over 200 different cultures; almost as many religions and allowed draft dodgers during JFK's Vietnam
war as well as Canadian Military, Militia and Reservists fighting along sided
their brothers and sisters on the call to war.
Do u get it... please get it and help us make our world better for our
children and the future of our world.
COME ON...
With dire poverty,
loss of jobs, children homeless, helpless and abused and no power- CHILDREN
HAVE NO VOTE; seniors mistreated after giving us our way of life; disabled;
weak and troubled; the poor, poor.... some damn tired of being poor, poor ...
and again... dirt country music radio way of life poor; and no free education
for each and every child citizen of our free world- what the He** is going on.
Who gives a horse puckey about what your
personal life partner choices any more -
get a life everybody.... you are not the centre of our universe- children and our future is. If we love you... as family, friends,
neighbours, volunteers etc. and so on- we love you because of you and who you
actually are. Period.
Save the planet's environment ... and any
damn fool knows unless we kill the snake of terrorists- they will continue to
control and destroy our universe within the next 10 years anyway... perhaps
even 5- do you think these kill and run
cowards tip toe around all the environmental saving grounds???? Are u for
real??? Do you even see their agenda of world destruction- like most of the world does and feels and
sees in the real deal world of living?
We; as people, all
have lives to live and try to take comfort in and live a decent way as best we can. I could care less what your race, creed,
religion, sexual orientation or
whatever is- and proved it by spending
well over 40 years defending and paying
dearly for all the equal rights and freedoms we have on this day- I never got a
promotion (unionists and human rights activists - the real ones who live and
walk the talk right there in their own communities); never got nice things and
rice, bread and water was an often more than comfort food in our homes.
I personally believe, we; as individuals, are self absorbed to an extent of trying to maintain the course of surviving
each day and protecting the ones we love and our love of our Faith, our
country, our communities, our men and women troops and all who wear a uniform
and serve our environments- what we; personally, treasure and what we value and
what we have been given and earned to be who we are as a person.
Please move on to
important things... that matter to all the population. We don't need these dumb polls and calling
the Prime Minister of Canada crap words; he's our Canadian Prime Minister-
warts and all; and quite frankly in this messed up; crapped up; bungled up
media upped to a ridiculous level beyond reality... prejudicial world- even us diehards of other parties of our
beloved Canada ... prefer him to what is out there today at this time in our
world's history- and that includes political parties and countries. We're
Canadian. Come on... by badgering and
whining and crapping on and on and on-
you insult our intelligence... and your own. And you are way better than
that and you owe us- your brothers and sisters who are Canadian citizens more
respect... and you know it.
Get over yourselves and enjoy your life. In this world, one this day- we are each and
all "a superstar" ... oh yes we are (my personal view). Now God bless and move along and help our
children and our todays be better for those who truly need our care and
love. Any by the by- how about taking
the time to thank those troops who are living and dying to protect your
freedoms ... and mine- each and every day.
This is the
blog.... actually quite a good one...
ANTI-GAY
CANADIANS ARE A FRINGE MINORITY
Last week, I said
that people who hold anti-gay views were a small and shrinking minority. Behind
their loud and obnoxious rally cries, there just isn’t any real support.
I’ve cited polls
before, but most were conducted around the time of the same-sex marriage
debate. I didn’t cite anything in my last post to back up my claim that Stephen
Harper’s new speech writer (who believes that same-sex couples shouldn’t even
be able to share each others benefits let alone get married) is part of a
fringe group, so let’s see if we can put this to rest once and for all.
As it turns out, the
most recent poll about equal marriage rights was conducted just five weeks ago
by Angus Reid Strategies. They polled over 4000 people across three countries,
including 1,006 Canadians. The result: 84% of Canadians believe that same-sex
couples should have the same legal rights as straight couples. Of those, 73%
support full-on same-sex marriage and the remaining 27% support civil unions
with all the same legal rights.
The anti-gay
side—Canadians who believe that gay couples should have no legal rights
whatsoever—polled at 11%, a segment rapidly approaching the single digits. The
remaining 4% were “not sure.”
Basically, Canada is
leading both the United States and Britain in support for equality for gay
people. It just looks like the staffers with which our Prime Minister surrounds
himself aren’t among those supporters.
--------------
AND... IN
CANADA...
AND.... see... we told u gay brothers and sisters...
back in the 60s and 70s..... in Canada... we would change our world..... and we
have.... as long as people care about people....equally.....
LIKE POPE
FRANCIS- IT'S ABOUT ACCEPTANCE- WHO ARE
WE 2 JUDGE- Am Roman Catholic... my father's family left Ireland in 1100's for
France and came 2 Canada- Lawn, Placentia Bay- Newfoundland in 1632 as fishers
of the sea..... not a darn thing but bare hands, raw courage, a Bible and a
work ethic 2 inspire and be grateful of what we have 2da. We hunted paedophiles back in the 80s... we
also moved on knowing that our Catholic Faith is our life and EVIL was not
going 2 ruin the purity that is our Christian Faith..... and have had laws in
place since 1969.... Canada is about the oldest country on the planet with such
cultures and embraceing 200 cultures and 2 official languages..... our military
has been accepted 4 over 20 years... we walk, fight and die 4 each other on the
battlefields.... r kids matter folks.... Like Sidney Crosby says.... on
stepping up so honestly and honourably.... I am Canadian... it's just who we
are..... as kids we grew up accepting everybody.... as ... equal.
Proud
day....
Canadian
bishop explains attendance at installation of new openly gay military Chaplain
General
by Peter
Baklinski-Thu Oct 03, 2013 19:54 EST
OTTAWA,
October 2, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Canadian Bishop Donald Thériault, Bishop
of the Military Ordinariate of Canada, says that, whatever his personal
reservations about his openly homosexual lifestyle, Brigadier General John
Fletcher, the newly installed Chaplain General of the Canadian Armed Forces,
was the right man for the job.
“He was the
only one with the experience at all levels, and, as they say, crossing all the
T’s, as he went along. And so there’s no question about his being the one
person in the Canadian Forces in the Chaplaincy who was ready for that
position,” said Thériault.
----------
this is the Reid Poll:
Canada
More Open to Same-Sex Marriage than U.S., UK
Angus Reid Global
Monitor) – Canadians are generally more tolerant to the idea of same-sex
marriages than Americans and Britons, according to a poll by Angus Reid
Strategies. 61 per cent of Canadians say couples of the same gender should
continue to be allowed to legally marry in their country.
In contrast, only 33
per cent of Americans and 41 per cent of Britons say that same-sex marriage
should be made legal in their respective countries. 36 per cent of respondents
in the United States say that such couples should not be granted any type of
legal recognition, and 18 per cent of Britons agree.
Same-sex marriage is
currently legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa,
Norway and Sweden. At least 20 countries offer some form of legal recognition
to same-sex unions.
In the U.S., same-sex
marriages are currently legal in six states.
On Sept. 15, a group
of Democrat lawmakers in the House of Representatives introduced a bill seeking
to overturn a federal law denying recognition of gay marriage and giving states
the right to deny recognition to same-sex marriages performed in other states.
Jane Harman, a
Democrat representative from California, said that, "This bill is yet
another chapter in the nation's ongoing quest to live up to the ideals of
equality and freedom embodies in the Constitution. (…) Fairness, tolerance, and
social justice are principles that we must practice as well as preach."
--------------------------
Canadian Forces: A
lesson in gay inclusion
MONTREAL — While Barack Obama plunges his country into a controversial debate about gays in the U.S. military, he could perhaps find comfort in the Canadian experience which celebrates an anniversary milestone next week.
The U.S. president
has promised to repeal America’s policy of, ’Don’t ask, don’t tell,’ reviving a
heated debate in his country that has not made a ripple in Canada since Oct.
27, 1992.
On that day Canada’s
Federal Court ruled that barring homosexuals from military service violated the
Charter of Rights and Freedoms in a landmark verdict that prompted more openly
gay men and women to join the ranks of the army, air force and navy.
In the last 17 years,
many have risen to the top in their respective fields — an otherwise impossible
feat under rules that once barred the promotion of enlisted individuals who’d
been outed.
Luc Cassivi is one of
them.
He certainly didn’t
talk about his sexual orientation when he joined the Canadian Navy in 1983.
He’s now the highest-ranking sailor aboard HMCS Ville de Quebec, a commander in
the navy, and he’s no longer shy about who he is.
"I’ve been
openly gay for a number of years. My friends and my co-workers know it and it
surely has not been an impediment for me progressing," Cassivi said in an
interview aboard his Halifax-based frigate.
"I’m not saying
that things have always been rosy. There were periods when things were
difficult for a lot of people. . . . But I think we’re well past that at this
point."
According to the Palm
Centre, a California-based think-tank focused on research related to gender,
sexuality and the military, Canada is a leader among the 25 countries that now
permit military service by openly gay people. Canadian Forces chaplains have
been blessing same-sex weddings on military bases since 2005.
Cassivi spent 15
years in tight quarters as a submariner. He said he’s experienced his share of
awkward moments and uncomfortable jokes. There were even times he considered
leaving the military.
But once the rules
changed, he says, so did the culture. Opportunities began to surface. These
days, Cassivi says, success is dictated by performance.
"It’s not
colour, cultural background, gender or the like. It’s (whether) you are
competent at what you do," he said. "If you’re competent at what you
do, then the team will take you in and fully integrate you."
Cassivi said coming
out with his colleagues merely simplified his life. He doesn’t see himself as a
champion for gay rights and says this is the first time he’s ever spoken in the
media about his sexuality. What he’s most concerned about, he says, is getting
the best out of his crew.
"I try to do the
best job I can and if somebody sees me as a role model, good for them. If what
I do inspires them to carry on and achieve their full potential, that’s great,
but that’s for them to judge, not me."
Michelle Douglas is
heartened to learn just how much things have changed for her fellow
homosexuals.
The 45-year-old
public servant was inadvertently thrust into the spotlight when she was
discharged from the military police in 1989 because she was — in their words —
"not advantageously employable due to homosexuality."
She had no idea at
the time the historic impact her legal challenge would have, but as the
anniversary of that fateful victory approaches, Douglas said she’s thrilled to
have played a "small part" in the rights movement.
"It was a real
turning point for equality rights for gay and lesbian people in Canada,"
she said.
"To have such an
institution as the military now be open to gay and lesbian service members was
an important victory."
While she didn’t
return to the Canadian Forces, she was pleased to see service members marching
for the first time at Toronto’s pride festival in 2008.
Megan MacLean, a
spokeswoman for Canada’s Department of National Defence, said the military
keeps no statistics regarding homosexual members but says gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgendered people serve in all three branches of the military.
Since the rules
changed in 1992, she said, incidents of discrimination and harassment have been
"extremely rare."
She touted Canada as
a global leader when it comes to inclusiveness. She noted, however, that the
Obama administration had not sought any Canadian advice on how to tackle the
thorny subject.
R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts
-----------------
BLOGGED
CANADA
MILITARY NEWS: Oct 2013-POPE FRANCIS-cover of Rolling Stone-Time-The Advocate
winning the hearts of billions Jan 2014- Our Catholic-Christian Faith in
Canada/Pope Francis and Canada's love of our CANADA GAY MILITARY CHAPLAIN
GENERAL and our military/love of our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters and
our Canadian history/Dr.Lockeridge 1976/Latin/Rosary - we are Canadian -God is
Angry- WATER MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD- Pope Francis
Ave Maria
Hallelujah- Leonard Cohen
That's my King - Do u Know Him? Dr. S.M. Lockridge- Baptist Church 1964- U Can't Live With Him ... and u Can't Live Without Him
-----------------------
BLOGGED:-
Aug 23
CANADA
MILITARY NEWS: UPDATED AUG 23- luv u gay bros and sistas-but DO NOT HIJACK
winter olympics/paralympics- we'll NEV'A 4give ya/Nova Scotia News/AGAHANISTAN
UP2DATE NEWS/BULLYCIDE N BULLYS GET LAW NOVA SCOTIA STYLE
-----------------
Desiderata- U Are a Child of The Universe- u matter
------------------
blogged:
-Aug 7
STEPHEN
FRY- is right- this is a civilized world- take away Sochi Winter Olympics- move
them 2 Vancouver, Utah- where free actually means free- where colour blind,
gender illiterate, and religious comfort lives prominently and with dignity-
it's just not right- nor is FIFA's choices
--------------
BLOGGED:
LISTEN UP
WORLD- GOD'S NOT DEAD- God see the Movie- be reminded and proud of your
Christian roots born 2 u - that your forefathers built ur nations on- their
bare hands, the Bible and a dream- Catholic and Dr. SM Lockeridge 1976 - that's
our King- Do u Know Him
---------------------
BLOGGED:
CANADA
MILITARY NEWS: Nov 25- Canada welcomes Gay Iranian couple 2 live permanently in
Nova Scotia- Whilst Globe and Mail News calls Canada Shameful 4 not kneeling at
the feet of Iran??? WTF???
------------------------------
blogged:
CANADA
MILITARY NEWS: Sep 12- Canada's stepping up - no more abuses or excuses of
rape, abuse of children and women/photos/videos/ wake up Canada- One Billion
Rising/St. Mary's steps up/UBC steps up/ Canada
----------------------
Walk a Mile in My Shoes- Joe South
--------------
BLOGGED
CANADA
MILITARY NEWS: DON'T BE AFRAID -Scott Jones- JUNE2014-Shane gets 10 years-
Don't Be Afraid Campaign speaks out against homophobia- We have been gender
illiterate since 1969 BUT STILL NEED 2 REMIND FOLKS- EQUALITY RULES IN CANADA
AND NOVA SCOTIA. Peace and love Scott Jones-Shane gets 10 years
---------------
BLOGGED:
CANADA
MILITARY NEWS: Nov 27- WE-day Nova Scotia- youth of Canada changing the world-
FREE THE CHILDREN-tune in2 Chronicle Herald Live Telecast and Watch this day as
one
------------------
talking
about persecution - try God's First Peoples.... the Israelites- or the Planet's First Peoples- in Canada- First Nations, Metis, Inuit or
Non-Status Indian... then come talk to us... especially in a world where women
don't even equal men on this day. Basically we all have family, friends and
those we love and admire who happen 2 be gay.... it's time now 2 focus on
people with disabilities, the poorest of the poor and homeless, aged, weak and
children don't u think... imho.
GOD BLESS
ISRAEL.... JESUS CHRIST THE GALALEAN WAS BORN A JEW- and as Christians we love
our Israel- a tiny country of 8 million people - only country of the Jews on
the planet surrounded by 1.5 billion Muslims...
THIS IS
CRUCIAL BECAUSE OVER 6 MILLION JEWS BUTCHERED- CATHOLICS, GAYS, GYPSIES AND
PEOPLE OF COLOUR...... IT MATTERS.... United Nations was built on the ashes of
the disgrace that became League of Nations-
United Nations WAS BORN ON THE ASHES OF THE JEWISH HOLOCAUST...
PROMISING HUMANITY FIRST..... and on this day women are NOT equal 2 men...
children have no power and gays are considered stains on the world outside of
legitimate countries who have made legal rights matter- and women equal 2
men...
meanwhile....
ABOUT BASHING OUR HOLY LAND... ISRAEL AND OUR JEWS.... HERE IS HOW IT
STARTED.... and we cannot get the documents made transparent to the public and/
or who the authors are.... of this organization called ICRC or one darn piece
of evidence of what this truly is . This is the RED CROSS for goodness sake...
and we should look closer at this organization...... really! I mean... The Red
Cross.... like how ugly is this!
THE ICRC
(SWISS... INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS).... AND THEIR WAR AGAINST
ISRAEL...
For nearly
four decades many in the international community have insisted that Jews are
forbidden to live in Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha), 'eastern Jerusalem,' and
the Golan - areas conquered by Israel in 1967. Leading this fight was and is a
private Swiss organization, the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC).
The ICRC
was the first international organization to charge that "the presence of
Israeli settlements in the occupied territories is contrary to the Geneva
Convention," and therefore "unlawful."
"Any
measure designed to expand or consolidate settlements is also illegal.
Confiscation of land to build or expand settlements is similarly
prohibited." (ICRC, 2009)
And the
world listens, because the ICRC isn't just another NGO; it is the official
recognized authority on the Fourth Geneva Convention (GC IV). Its decisions,
therefore, were and are crucial in determining international law and vilifying
Israel. Every judicial condemnation of Israel cites the GC and follows ICRC's
interpretation.
This
explains why the international community and courts have accepted ICRC's
decisions that "Israeli (Jewish) settlements violate international
law" without question.
Based on
The Hague Convention, GC IV was drawn up after WWII to protect innocent
civilians and restrict brutal occupations. Unilaterally, the ICRC turned it
into a weapon to delegitimize and demonize Israel. Meeting secretly in the
early 1970's in Geneva, the ICRC determined that Israel was in violation of the
GC IV. That's been "the law" ever since.
And there's
no appeal, because all decisions and protocols of the ICRC are closed, even the
identities of the people involved are secret. Without transparency or due
process, ICRC rulings became "international law." Their condemnations
of Israel provide the sole basis for accusing Israel of "illegal
occupation" of all territory conquered in 1967.
It's a
legal fraud.
Article 49
of GC IV says: "The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of
its own civilian population into the territory it occupies."
According
to the ICRC, this forbids Jews from living in Judea, Samaria, Golan and eastern
Jerusalem - areas conquered by Israel in 1967 - even though they moved there
voluntarily, and prohibits any form of government assistance to them, including
roads, utilities, schools and clinics.
The ICRC's
position contradicts all written agreements which confirm the right of Jews to
live in their ancestral homeland - League of Nations and British Mandate -
including the Oslo Accords.
Article 49
obviously refers to the territory of another country, or sovereign power;
Judea, Samaria and Gaza don't fit this definition. These areas were illegally
occupied by Jordan and Egypt between 1948 and 1967; the ICRC, of course,
differs, but has never satisfactorily answered the question to which State this
territory belongs.
Holding
these territories in limbo for a future Palestinian state, which may never come
to fruition, whose borders are undefined and whose intentions are openly
hostile is absurd. Such ICRC antagonism to Israel, however, is pervasive.
During WW
II the ICRC visited concentration camps and gave the Nazis a pass. After the
war, they provided false passports to escaping Nazi war criminals.
Their
website demonstrates their humanitarian efforts around the world, but when it
comes to the Middle East, their story is one-sided. During two decades of
constant terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians, the ICRC said nothing.
They have written several stories about the suffering of "Palestinians"
in Gaza and Lebanon as a result of Israeli actions, without mentioning
terrorist attacks that prompted a response.
The ICRC
condemned IDF actions to stop terrorism in Jenin, Lebanon and Gaza as
"massacres." They have consistently condemned Israel for 'violations
of Palestinian civil and human rights,' and accused Israel of "war
crimes." Sometimes, when these lies were exposed, the ICRC has recanted -
but not often and never with full disclosure.
Because the
ICRC lacks transparency, there's no way to find out how and why they made their
decisions, or who made them. If they have nothing to hide, why the secrecy?
The Red
Cross should stick to helping people in need, not waste resources in bashing Israel.
?
and
heeeeeeeeeeeeeereeeeeeeeeeee's their website:
...
OMG!!!!!
By the
by... hasn't Switzerland been taken to task for their actions against the
Jews... the war where over 6 MILLION JEWS WERE MURDERED... along with
Catholics, Gypsies and persons because of race, colour, creed and sexual
orientation.... that war? No more hiding.... let's " get r done!"
Animation
of Anne Frank, the graphic biography
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