The federal government of Canada has infuriated me once again. A reminder here that I equal opportunity dubious about political parties, and I am disappointed in the recent inexplicable antics of Green Party leader Elizabeth May. But the feds and Mr. Harper have entirely lost my respect.
The latest is the proposed legislation to make boycotting Israel by any group a hate crime, surely one of the most absurd notions the government has floated, although one which must be taken seriously in its execution. It would affect many organizations and groups in Canada, including the Quakers. The Quakers for God's sake! Don't we all associate the Quakers with hate crimes!
Of course the United Church is lumped in here as well, even though we have been careful to point out that our membership has been encouraged to boycott the products of illegal communities established in the Occupied Territories, not Israel itself. It is intimidation and bullying by the feds who have lined up behind the aggressive approach of the Israeli government toward Palestinians unlike any other nation. Now they are threatening any group which dares to disagree with this controversial policy.
When CBC News inquired about statements by federal ministers of a "zero tolerance" approach to groups participating in a loose coalition called Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS), which was begun in 2006 at the request of Palestinian non-governmental organizations it was reiterated that the government is opposed to this new "anti-Semitism."
I'll stop now before I go all "Elizabeth May" on the government. Actually I am an admirer of May, but you get the idea. Here is the info from the United Church. http://www.united-church.ca/getinvolved/unsettling-goods
What is your reaction to this?
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