Posted on 06/09/2006 5:11:56 PM PDT by wagglebee
HALTON, ON, June 9, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) The verbal sparring match began on May 28, when Conservative MP Garth Turner appeared in a television interview, alongside pro-marriage/Christian political activist Charles McVety.
The issue at hand was homosexual marriage in the RCMP.
During what McVetywho is involved in or represents the views of groups including Defend Marriage Canada, the Canada Christian College, and the Canada Family Action Coalitioncalls a spirited debate, it came to the fore that one of the goals of Christian political activists is to work to ensure that anti-marriage, anti-life, anti-Christian Conservative MPs are defeated and replaced with more family-friendly and Christian candidates during the nomination meetings that will occur before the next election.
Turner responded, accusing McVety and those who share his beliefs of employing anti-democratic tactics. On his blog that same night Turner responded to McVetys arguments, saying I have no time for groups in our society who try to force their morals, or their culture, on the rest of us.
He concluded his remarks saying, Call it Defend Marriage Canada. Call it the Taliban. Fleurs de mal [Flowers of evil] (http://www.garth.ca/weblog/page/6/).
In a later blog entry Turner labeled those who share McVetys political and religious views as people who share his divine Kool-Aid, (http://www.garth.ca/weblog/page/5/) an apparent reference to the infamous Jonestown Massacre of 1978, during which 913 members of the Peoples Temple cult committed mass suicide by drinking grape-flavoured Kool-Aid laced with potassium cyanide. And in another post he called those who would attempt to nominate politicians whose politics is informed by their faith as religious vigilantes, (http://www.garth.ca/weblog/page/2/) and elsewhere, single-issue monochromatic militants (http://www.garth.ca/weblog/page/6/). And elsewhere, mere paragraphs after back-pedalling and saying "No, I did not call the fundamentalism Christians Taliban," he continues and compares the very same Christians to Afghan Militant Muslims, although avoiding the explicit term "Taliban," saying, "But a faith-based government? Forget it. Our brave troops in Afghanistan spend every day tracking down and squishing the freaks who tried that one" (http://www.garth.ca/weblog/page/2/).
Joseph Ben-Ami, Executive Director of the Institute for Canadian Values, expressed his confusion at Turners accusations that recruiting supporters to attend nomination meetings is anti-democratic.
When Garth Turner arranges to bring his family and friends to a nomination meeting on a bus he calls it democracy, but when a challenger who happens to be brown-skinned, or perhaps a member of the local church or synagogue, does the same thing for their family and friends, he calls them Taliban and accuses them of taking over, observed Ben-Ami.
Garth Turners behaviour is a sharp illustration of the vicious and deep-rooted bigotry lurking just below the surface of the secular-left in our society, continued Ben-Ami. People like him claim to be champions of tolerance, but when their own ideas and positions are challenged, they resort to name-calling and fear mongering, laughably invoking the principle of tolerance to justify their bigotry.
Jim Hughes, president of Campaign Life Coalition, a group that works to help elect pro-life candidates, said of Turner, We said right from the beginning that Garth Turner wasnt somebody that could be supported. A lot of people said we just have to vote Conservative regardless of the candidates. And here were paying the price.
Hughes continued, saying The Prime Minister has had this man in already and told him to clam up. Now the only thing is for his expulsion from Cabinet. That would satisfy the bulk of people who supported Mr. Harper from the life and family movement.
LifeSiteNews.com tried to contact party leader Stephen Harpers office to find out if an apology for Turners remarks was forthcoming, but was unable to speak to anyone with information on the matter prior to publishing time.
Throughout the debate Turner has alsodespite his often expressed approval of a majority-based democracyrepeatedly called into question the need for a free vote on the same-sex marriage issue in parliament.
In one post Turner admits that traditional-marriage supporters represent a large portion of the Canadian population: In a moral sense, he says, they have a huge current behind them since most churches are solidly behind traditional marriage. In a cultural sense, many ethnic communities represented in Halton [Turners riding] are massively against same-sex marriage. In a political sense, these highly-motivated voters are not going to let their views be ignored. Turner continues, admitting that he has also had strong reservations, about the wisdom of the Liberal move to change the definition of marriage, especially without a whole lot more public input and debate.
The Halton MP, however, dismisses the concern that the Liberal government side-stepped proper democratic processes in pushing through the same-sex marriage legislation, and failed to properly take into account public opinion on the redefinition of marriage.
It is behind us, says Turner about the passage of the legislation, the Right has been extended, and there seems no compelling reason to take it back. He did not say whether or not the majority of Canadians being opposed to the extension of the right would be a sufficient reason. Numerous polls have indicated that the majority of Canadians are indeed opposed to same-sex marriage. A CBC poll conducted in January of last year indicated 54% of Canadians were opposed to Bill C-38, while a National Post/Global National poll in February of the same year indicated 66% opposition.
Ill go down fighting to stop any faith-based group, Christian, Islamic or whatever, from using our precious political system to impose their value system and religious beliefs on the rest of us, Turner wrote on his blog on June 6. Theres a reason wise people decided the state and the church should be separate, and Canada proudly multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-faith and multi-hued is no d**n place to start gluing them back together.
That does not mean, he continues by way of clarification, we cant be ethical, moral, responsible, principled and virtuous. In fact, our government should be an example of humanity gone nuts with goodness.
Throughout the debate Turner has repeatedly labeled himself as a Christian, although it is unclear if he draws his beliefs of what is ethical, moral and good from his Christian faith, or from some other unnamed source.
To express your concern contact Stephen Harper at: pm@pm.gc.ca
Thanks Prout.
:-)
In your mind, cupcake.
So, you elect a new administration and you want everyone to be happy. So, you tell me what has changed.
Wanting everyone to be happy is a fool's dream.
What's changed?
For me... a renewed sense of pride in my country and hope for its future.
For the country...
A government that emphasizes personal responsibility and accountability.
That has lowered taxes and is returning money to parents that they can use for child care of their choice.
A commitment to health care centered on the need of the patient, not the bureaucracy.
Introduction of the Federal Accountability Act, a tough ethics package for politicians,
that will help renew people's trust in their government.
Proposed changes to the Criminal Code for tougher sentencing for violent, repeat or armed criminals,
for more police on the street and greater border security.
A government that stands up for Canada, at home and abroad.
That doesn't shy away from its responsibility to protect Western values and freedoms.
A leader that is articulate and intelligent.
Who has a genuine spirituality
and takes no flak from the opposition or the press.
Who respects our men and women in uniform,
backs them up with deeds and money not just cheap platitudes.
Who is secure in his political beliefs and sees Canada as reason enough to be proud,
not needing to denigrate other states to justify his patriotism or to make cheap political points.
We voted for change and we got it!
Well said!
Some times I only need 6 words to make my point.
Whats your point?
Amen brother.
But, I tell you if you go to the US Congress you will find a whole bunch of Senators and Congressman who believe Canada is soft.
After years of hard work to elect a conservative government, Canadian Freepers deserve better than this.
I am sorry, my first answer was too cryptic, I was still irritated by fanfan's lack of intellectual rigor and you deserved a better response than I gave so I went back and reread your post. After GWB was first elected the enthusiasm was exactly as you wrote. Hope is wonderful feeling, especially if you had a part in making that hope come alive. As you know GWB is being attacked from all sides, most viciously, and I think most unfairly, by many in his conservative base. So, there are not a lot of feelings around leadership that has your childlike enthusiasm, and we all need that in difficult times. Perhaps I am a little jealous. Thank you for the pep talk.
Absolutely! In this part of the world, we are polite to our neighbours. You find common ground and work with them. For example, Australia and Indonesia are co-operating in the war on terrorism. Just ask John Howard. We don't even bash Kiwis.
I think what you say applies to the Liberals but not the conservatives. I see Stephen Harper as a leader in the mould of John Howard. That has to be good for US/Canadian relations and for all of us concerned with the march of terrorism.
Then Official Opposition Leader Stephen Harper
addresses "Stand With America" Rally
(one of many held across Canada)
Toronto, April 4, 2003
Oops, I was reading another thread and mixed some of the commentary there with your post. Please ignore my first paragraph.
And don't forget Bill Clinton has been interfering in Canadian politics on behalf of the defeated Liberals.
Nations have to move on and not perpetuate old grievances. Australia fought the Turks in World War 1 and Japan in World War 2 and now has good relations with both. The same could be said for many other countries, including the US, Canada and Britain.
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