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Sunday, August 03, 2008
"Jesus Sucks"=New CHRC complaint
Dean Skoreyko has done it. He's filed a human rights complaint in B.C. against Kenny Hotz and Showcase TV for the stunt they pulled to "offend as many people as possible."
That was the premise of that particular contest (the show is just two friends, Kenny and Spenny, having a stupid competition each week). Kenny decided to fly a banner over Toronto that read "Jesus Sucks."
Ezra surmises that Skoreyko isn't really offended, but that he wants to make the following point: The HRCs are biased against Christians in particular, and western culture more broadly:
"I don't know Skorekyo, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't actually believe
that he can get "justice" from the BCHRT. I don't think he wants it. I
think he wants the opposite: he wants his case to be thrown out, so
that he can prove what we all know to be true. In Canada's human rights
industry, only certain political and religious views are protected from
hurt feelings -- and Christians aren't one of them."
And from the article:
"Skoreyko, who once sought the nomination to run for the federal
Conservatives in Okanagan-Shuswap, told the National Post he filed the
complaint on behalf of the silent majority that would object to such
antics. He said he wanted to make the point that the human-rights
system applies double standards, favouring only minority interests."
I have no idea what Skoreyko's motivations are. But I'm inclined to agree with Ezra--Christians have been taking it on the chin for years in Canada and the U.S. and they've almost always turned the other cheek. Meanwhile, our "official" institutions tend to turn away from claims made by Christians and others who don't fit into politically correct categories.
It is doubtful that the BCHRT will accept Skoreyko's complaint. But consider this: If they don't accept the complaint, then those of us on the free speech side of things have yet another arrow in our quiver. If they do accept the complaint, then we may get many more allies on our side. Namely, a lot of left-wing "progressive" types who think that minority groups need protection from HRC-like institutions, while majority groups, like Christians, do not. Knowing that these kangaroo tribunals can be used against their favourite sport--mocking Christians and what they think of as the power elite--may give them pause. And that's good too.
HRC supporters: meet rock and hard place. Pick one.
Posted by P.M. Jaworski on August 3, 2008 in Current Affairs | Permalink
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Comments
Dean Skoreyko may be well-meaning, and Christians do face a double standard, but this does not seem like an honourable move to me.
Should Kenny Hotz and Showcase TV be forced to pay the emotional and financial cost of appearing before a human rights tribunal so that Skoreyko can make a political point?
Withdraw your complaint, Skoreyko. Canada’s draconian human rights laws should be used as a political weapon by no one.
Posted by: Matthew Johnston | 2008-08-03 5:37:19 PM
I'm with you, Matthew.
This is only going to benefit the HRC system, because they can pursue the complaint (for a while) and claim that this shows how objective and fair the HRC system is. I also doubt lefties, even Christian-hating lefties, will take the bait and come out against the HRCs in a principled way.
I'm sure the BCHRT will drop the complaint eventually, but in the meantime they'll gain back some of the credibility Ezra and others have demolished.
Bah!
Terrence
Posted by: Terrence Watson | 2008-08-03 6:06:43 PM
If this twit had put up a banner stating"Ahlah sucks" there would be a price on his head by now.No surprise they would rather insult Christians.
Posted by: peterj | 2008-08-03 8:36:24 PM
A couple years ago I watched the first season of Kenny Vs Spenny because my room mate liked it. I caught myself enjoying it once or twice, but it's so stupid I can't believe it's as popular as it is.I guess the complaint means Kenny won this round. I've worn a Cradle Of Filth T-shirt that says "Jesus Is A C*nt", Deicide shirts that say "F*ck Your God" and "Kill The Christian", etc., not just because I like death metal but also because I know that religion is a cancer that feeds on human decency and turns good people into psychopaths who are still, inside, good people believing they are doing a good thing. No suicide bomber thinks what they're doing is wrong, they believe they're doing charity work, like the western "missionaries" who are still at work destroying traditional cultures with help from American backed dictators. The residential schools program didn't end, they just finished the job on first nations and moved on to destroy other cultures. It's a good thing Kenny did this, because the banner was true. What bothers me is that Kenny didn't do it because it's true, but just for a stupid show. I also think it's cool that a complaint got filed against him, it makes a good point, I want the right to wear a shirt that says "Mohammed Was A Pedophile" or "F*ck Allah", maybe even "Moses = Hitler", bashing Christianity is old hat, it's a dying religion already, and Islam/Judaism are greater threats to global peace and freedom.Kenny can afford to fight the complaint by pretending to be an artist or some crap, but I think to be fair they should have to target Islam for a joke. A Salman Rushdie reading along with a free pork roast barbecue, using Koranic kindling, in a parking lot next to a mosque? If I had funding from showcase, I'd do it just to do it. Anyone got money to fund such an event?
Posted by: Daniel Johnson | 2008-08-04 8:40:07 AM
Daniel Johnson: "...bashing Christianity is old hat, it's a dying religion already..."
How misinformed you are, Mr. Johnson, and this quote is just one of the ways in which you show your mammouthly glaring ignorance.
Christianity may be going through a downturn in North America and Europe (not for the first time in its 2000 year history) but is growing by leaps and bounds in Africa and Asia, especially in Africa. Thousands of African men, women and children are being baptized and becoming new Christians EVERY DAY.
You also seem to make a moral equivalency between suicide bombers killing people in the name of Allah and Christians who are "good people believing they are doing a good thing"--but who turn into psychopaths. Does making sandwiches and spending four hours at my local Christian church every week in order to feed over 100 homeless people a good meal turn me and the other volunteers into psychopaths? Where's the logic?
You might want to look in the mirror when you use the word "psychopath." Hmm, let's see...Why don't you wear the "Kill the Christian" t-shirt that day?
Posted by: batb | 2008-08-04 9:04:48 AM
My problem with this strategy is those that will take it seriously and feel that they have a legitimate cause in silencing Holz's cowardice and free speech right to offend. Kill the HRCs yes but this could strengthen them.
Posted by: John Chittick | 2008-08-04 10:47:42 AM
Having read a range of opinions here and at Ezra Levant's blog, I think that Mr. Skoreyko should withdraw his complaint.
I'm a practising Christian and am angered by the flagrant way my faith is ridiculed and often portrayed in the public square. There's a part of me--the vindictive one!--that would love to see this guy Hotz's butt kicked.
However, I want absolutely no credibility given to the HRCs nor to the process through which they put the accused. Nor do I want to legitimize the kind of power we've given to these quasi-government gulags.
Though it's true that Christians are a group the chattering classes love to hate--and it's tiresome, maddening, and, I might add, unfair--Canadians do not need a group of patronage flunkies telling us who can say what or who can't say what.
Freedom of speech should not in any way be arbitrated through a gulag octopus whose increasing and intrusive tentacles are threatening the democratic freedoms of us all.
Posted by: batb | 2008-08-04 11:15:09 AM
Upon my retirement return to Canada after a 43-year absence, I cannot even begin to tell you the shock I experience from the barbaric, hypocritical "human rights" tribunals in Canada, particularly its BC version. They are unbelievable in their crudity.I have a hard time restraining myself from using all the F--words to describe them. It would be the only appropriate vocab, especially since that is the indigenous language of BC. But what even more confounds me is that our whimpy Christians have allowed this to develop over the years! F-words would not even do for that! I cannot think of vocab that is sufficiently degrading to give expression to that one! Liberals, Catholics, Evangelicals alike.
So, kudos to Dean Skoreyko. More Spirit to your soul!
John H. Boer, Vancouver
Posted by: John H. Boer | 2008-08-04 11:54:45 AM
All religions are the twisted concepts of men. Christians actually believe in ancient sand peoples sado-masochistic "god". Then again, they've abandoned logic and reason so they can believe any garbage served up. Seriously, they worship a dead 33 year old virgin man, a virgin at 33 born of a virgin yet somehow still related to his father's side of the family, god christians are gullable.
Posted by: chris hill | 2008-08-04 5:39:59 PM
I'm a christian and Jesus does not suck!!!!! Do not post this any more! Thank you and good bye.
Posted by: Isaiah Stonehouse | 2008-08-09 12:51:38 PM
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