This phony b*tch is nothing more than an ex-CBC hack whose ticket on the taxpayer gravy train expired long ago. Her "intellectual" husband is both a smelly fart and a tosser.
Posted on 02/17/2005 8:28:24 AM PST by CanadianRepublican
Suspension following Rideau Hall tour angers teen
CTV.ca News Staff
An Ontario teen whose class was hustled out of a tour of Rideau Hall after he asked a tough question is angry about how he's been treated by both the Governor-General's staff and by his own school.
Jeremy Patfield, 15, was touring the Governor General's official residence on Tuesday when he spotted Adrienne Clarkson -- and wondered aloud about her spending habits.
"I said, 'Is that the woman that spends the money on the Queen when she comes?'" Patfield told CTV News.
According to the Governor General's press secretary, Randy Mylek, while the Governor General was within earshot, she didn't hear the comment. Nevertheless, the remark was not well-received by Rideau Hall staff and a tour guide took swift action.
"Our group got kicked out for my comment towards the Governor General," Patfield explained. "It was supposedly my fault that we got kicked out."
Now, Patfield has been suspended from his school for three days. The teen says he can't decide who he's more angry with: Rideau Hall staff, or his school.
"Probably more the way the school -- probably both. Because either way, I was getting in trouble for using a right as a Canadian citizen," Patfield told Canada AM Thursday.
Patfield says he wants his suspension revoked "because that goes on my permanent record and with me for the rest of my life."
Patfield says he was taught in school to learn about current affairs. He says he's heard lots of new reports about the Governor General.
"That she's spending our tax dollars on things that aren't really that necessary, like carpets, and spending money on her and her friends and spending too much money when the Queen comes. That's our tax money and I'm probably going to have to pay for it soon and you're paying for it, my father's paying for it," the teen explained.
Now, he says his school is teaching him a different lesson.
"Basically, what happened was I was penalized for using freedom of speech and that's something that we have as Canadian citizens: freedom of speech."
Jeremy's father, Dan, says he doesn't see a problem with his son questioning how public tax dollars are spent.
"The Governor General is the lady who spends our tax money," he said. "To me, I don't see a real problem with that."
He adds that he believes the Rideau Hall staff overreacted.
"I'm just really frustrated with the fact that it was blown so out of proportion, the way it was handled by the school and the way it was handled by the Governor-General's staff.
"He's only a child. To make a statement which was said to a second party and a statement of that nature, I think that somebody made a mistake along the way and other people jumped on the bandwagon and unfortunately he paid the price."
The Governor General's office says it will be offering Patfield an apology. It will come from the tour guide's supervisor and will be accompanied by an invitation to return to Rideau Hall.
"People definitely have a right to their opinion -- wherever they might be in this country -- and that includes at Rideau Hall," Mylek told CTV News, characterizing the decision as "the type of judgment call Rideau Hall employees must make every day."
"Our bottom line here always is keeping the house open, but being respectful and courteous," he said, noting that thousands of members of the public visit the Governor General's official residence each year.
Rideau Hall remains the most welcoming place in the country, he said.
Dan Patfield is also furious with the school's decision to suspend his son, saying he feels "there should have been more support given to Jeremy throughout the whole situation."
He says he warned the school's principal that he would take his son's story to the news media if they didn't change their minds.
"I did give the principal plenty of opportunity to withdraw the three-day suspension or the threat of the three-day suspension. And it never occurred."
With files from CTV News in Toronto and Ottawa
But the list of exceptions to free speech is quite long.
Liberals, regardless of country, just can not stand up to open and honest questions.
This phony b*tch is nothing more than an ex-CBC hack whose ticket on the taxpayer gravy train expired long ago. Her "intellectual" husband is both a smelly fart and a tosser.
If anyone would like to send an email in support of this boy:
johndryden_ps@durham.edu.on.ca
Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News."
Help! Help! I'm being repressed!
Bloody Peasant.
Uhmmmmm, when in someone's home, try to have some class.
Truly pathetic specimens of the Canadian Establishment - John Raulston Saul - a wheezy and banal academic toff, and GG 'I'm Adrienne Clarkson and you're not' Clarkson.
The mutual flattery society of Canadian Liberals is truly despicable.
If she wasn't squandering the taxpayers' pennies and fancying herself to be Canadian Royalty the way she has been, the kid wouldn't have had anything to question in the first place.
Someone should tell that student that while our educrats are trying to destroy the 1st Amendment, so far we still have it.
He should consider moving to the USA where his defense of what we call First Amendment rights would be welcomed.
Well, maybe not in a lot of schools - -
A very useful lesson, if he has the common sense to embrace it.
Having "rights" is one side of a three dimensional coin; the other side has responsibilities, among which is common sense restraint, appropriateness, proper time and place and, eventually, limits.
He should do well to take advantage of this experience.
In other words, keep his pie hole shut in the presence of his betters.
Amen...
Another way of putting it:
Little children should be seen and not heard.
The kid got a personal apology from the GG and no suspension... so who was in the right?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.