...born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad

Blind, batty Babsy embraces sharia: Here’s another “gem” retrieved from the interior of my “Combating Hatred” binder—Barbara Hall’s truly terrifying explication of “human rights” that appeared in the Globe and Mail in October, '07 (scroll down to #11 in the link to read it all; my emphasis):

The values embodied in human-rights laws hold a special place in the minds of Canadians, who believe that tolerance, mutual respect, and diversity are fundamental to the nature and success of this country.

Looking at some of the recent debate in Ontario about funding for religious schools and the ongoing consultation in Quebec on reasonable accommodation, I believe that this is a time to remember and promote those values. It is certainly not time to turn away from them.

There has been recurring public discussion about the relationship between human rights and religious faith. Many religions include detailed codes of conduct prescribing what followers can eat and wear, for example. In an ever more diverse society, we will inevitably face challenging questions. What is the role of religion in the public sphere? Are there limits to accommodation? And how can we reconcile the sometimes competing demands of various groups?

Sadly, I believe that some of the recent public discussion has been motivated by stereotypes, discriminatory attitudes and fear of the unknown. Prejudices and stereotypes should never be the basis for making fundamental changes to human-rights laws. There are real and legitimate issues at stake, but we must remember that it is dangerous to react in haste on the basis of fear and anger. It is sobering to remember that the wartime internment of Japanese Canadians and the establishment of residential schools for native Canadians were perceived as necessary actions in their time. In seeking solutions, it is important to remember, on the one hand, the real, serious and ongoing oppression and marginalization experienced by members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. There are deeply felt concerns that hard-won advances towards equality could be reversed, and that discrimination against these groups could be legitimized. On the other hand, it is equally important to recognize the very difficult experiences of many faith-based communities in Canada, and particularly those of the Muslim community, which since Sept. 11, 2001, has suffered from high levels of open and covert hatred, fear and discrimination.

Human-rights laws exist to protect us all equally from discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, creed, race and other grounds, and these protections remain vital.

Some have suggested that the tension between religious rights and other rights can be resolved by creating a formal, legal hierarchy of rights, with religious rights subordinated to the rights of others. This would be a mistake. I think a better approach is to recognize that all rights are equally important, and that a balancing of rights may be necessary in some circumstances. To adopt a hierarchy of rights would certainly be a radical departure from fundamental international human-rights principles, which have recognized individual rights as indivisible and interdependent.

If I read her correctly, she’s making a pitch for sharia to be accorded equal weight under Canadian law. No wonder she’s the darling of Canadian Islamists from coast to coast. She’s their kind of gal: a useful idiot in a powerful position who has absolutely no awareness of how she’s helping them advance their agenda. When her term of office as head of the Ontario wing of the Inquisition comes up for renewal this fall, I suggest we point that out to those who might otherwise be so foolish as to allow her to continue.

As for those “fundamental international human-rights principles,” apparently Babsy hasn’t heard that the OIC hews to some other “fundamental principles,” ones inimical to the ones she’s referencing.

Posted by: scaramouche at 15:08 | link | comments

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