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The Times Advocate, 2008-10-22, Page 66 Times -Advocate Wednesday, October 22, 2008 OPINION&FORUM&NEWS The rise of the thought police Now that the election is over we can turn our attention to other important issues like the various Human Rights Commissions throughout Canada. There is a very large number of Canadians and even at least one political party calling for the total abolishment of these commissions. These commissions have their place in non -free societies to stifle intelligent opinions, which can not be stopped with intelligent argument. So what purpose do they have in our society, here in Canada? Well, obviously the same purpose. They are not only preventing intelligent argument on many issues, but are making the desire to argue certain points a thing, which must be feared. These commissions brag about their 100 per cent convic- tion rates on certain kinds of complaints. Hard to believe they exist in what is supposed to be a free society. Consider a Toronto restaurateur who asked a pot smoking individual to not smoke in the doorway of his restaurant. For so doing, this restaurateur was taken before the OHRC, because the pot smoker could smoke it legally for medical reasons. The restaurant owner was forced by the commission to hire a lawyer, while our tax dollars covered the expenses of the pot smoker, and all these expenses for an argument, predis- posed to lose. So even if one was to win, which they won t, they lose by reason of the multiple thousands spent in legal fees. Where in a free society is there room for quasi-judicial powers such as these? Or the Alberta lawyer Ezra Levant, who was taken be - Panther Profile EXETER Well, fall is cer- tainly upon us; there is just a lit- tle over a week until Halloween and there is lots going on. This week at school is our Ag- ricultural Week and I believe we have some sort of agricul- tural activity going on every day. These activities include a harvest lunch in the cafeteria yesterday, a hay bale toss today, a redneck fash- ion show and the dance on Thursday. Friday is tractor day, where students can drive their trac- tors to school. Thursday s dance is the second dance of the year and I encourage all students to come out. Also this week are Ring Days where students can order a customized school ring. In music, students are getting ready for the an- nual Huron Musicfest in early November. As well, the White Jazz band played for a fundraiser at the Exeter Legion last Saturday. Also in the arts, students who went on the an- nual art trip to New York left last week. This Thursday is Parent-Teacher interview night from 3-4 p.m. and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. For graduat- ing students, university and college presentations continued last week and there are lots of scholar- ships that students can be applying for. JACE DOUGALL cooking with memories BY DEBBY WAGLER STEM f1111RIAEIDE WE DIDN'T BBQ A WHOLE LOT WHEN I WAS YOUNG BUT MY MOM STILL TENDERIZED MEAT BY MARINATING IT OR SLOW ROASTING IT. THE FOLLOWING RECIPE COMES FROM MY COLLECTION OF BASIC RECIPES FOR YOUR PANTRY! THERE IS NOTHING LIKE TAKING A CHEAPER CUT OF STEAK AND MAKING IT TENDER AND MOUTH WATERING! THE FOLLOWING RECIPE CAN BE USED TO MARINATE OR TO SLOW ROAST. THANKS TO MY MOM FOR ALL HER GREAT TECHNIQUES IN THE KITCHEN! 2 TBSP lemon or orange juice 1/2 cup vinegar 1/4 cup oil 1 tsp each garlic and onion salt Shake of soya sauce or Worcestershire sauce PUT STEAK IN A SHALLOW GLASS DISH AND SOAK FOR 1 HOUR IN THE ABOVE INGREDIENTS AFTER MIXING THEM. COOK ON THE BBQ, OTHERWISE PUT IN THE OVEN AND COOK UNDER BROILER BASTING IT REGULARLY OR BAKE AT 325 FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. fore the AHRC for daring to publish the cartoon caricatures to comment, even from the pulpit, about your beliefs where which some radical Islamists took exception to. His paper, they conflict with certain issues and again you 11 be before the Western Standard, now defunct, was the only paper the commission. in all of Canada brave enough to show Canadians what Back to b) above, freedom of thought, belief, opinion and all the fuss was about. The proverbial tail is expression, no way do you have the freedom of any wagging the dog in this country? And why are our provincial and federal politicians doing nothing to 4 to tters stop this gross erosion of our free- othe doms? These are freedoms sup- posedly guaranteed by our very frit d1 for own Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; the highest law of this land and yet the various HRCs are grossly violating these freedoms. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms says under the heading of Fundamental Freedoms, ev- eryone has the following fundamental freedoms: a) freedom of conscience and religion; b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of com- munication; c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and d) freedom of association. There is no way the press has freedom due to the various HRCs. They would not dare to publish anything, which was even remotely disparaging towards gays or radical Is- lam, because they could not afford the expense of fighting a complaint they already know they will lose. None of us have freedom of conscience and religion ei- ther, unless your religion is the state religion of secular hu- manism. Exercise your freedom of conscience and religion of these. The HRCs are now being touted as the thought police. As silly as that sounds they convict on determining the intents of a person s actions without any evidence the actions were meant to harm or even did any harm. All that is required for a con- viction, is for some person to claim they were offended. Since when is it unlawful to be offensive? My mom was offended by the crudeness of a person belching or flatulating out loud. I am offended by cer- tain jokes as most of us are. Why do the thought police entertain complaints regarding an emotion? The answer to me is obvious persons who can not put forward an intel- ligent argument to counteract the so called offensive views, which goes along with the secular humanist agenda, must resort to the flagrantly freedom hating HRCs. So what is free speech, if it only applies to inoffensive verbalizations? We already have laws which cover things like inciting riots or yelling, bomb, in a public place or communication to commit fraud, etc. The protections are there to protect us using the real courts, who operate under proper rules of law as recognized in a free society. They are not infallible, but they are much superior to the freedom deniers of the various HRCs throughout Canada. IAN J TUCK, EXETER Update from South Huron mayor SOUTH HURON Approximately a month ago, I was walking on the MacNaughton-Morrison Trail to Exeter when I came upon a family from Dorchester using the trail. They told me they come up to Exeter often to walk this trail as they enjoy it so much. As we approached the old Riverview section of the MacNaughton Park, they said we must be really proud of this park as it is so beautiful. They even asked if we put lights on the trees at Christmas time. I asked them to take a look at the mill pond and questioned if they thought it would en- hance the area if the dam was removed and the pond was reverted back to a river. I was told don t be silly. I explained that council had passed a motion to study the area and one of the items up for discussion was returning the area back to a natural state meaning the removal of the dam and the mill pond. Their reaction to the idea was negative and the actual conversation could not even be printed in this paper. It is no secret how I feel about the idea of removing the dam and turning the area back to a natural state. Some members of council feel I should not try to influence resi- dents. I am requesting residents to make up their own minds and not be influenced by my love of the existing situation in that area. I am asking the residents to come out to the public meeting Thursday at the South Huron Rec Centre from 6:30 to 9 p.m. We would like the hall filled and to hear your ideas for that area. I feel the area can be improved and with your ideas and a little professional help, we might even make a beautiful area an even better area. Repair work might even have to be done to the dam. Public meetings should be used to exchange ideas and to give council direction on how the public is feeling. Organized and calm meetings can be constructive and well worthwhile. If you don t agree with something that is going on, a simple no is all that is needed. If you can make the meeting, we would appreciate hear- ing from you. See you there. KEN OKE Shoeboxes open doors of compassion to children CALGARY What do tiny mountain Andean villages and windswept desert communities have in common with ur- ban and rural Canada? They have all experienced the power of a simple gift. Once again this year, Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan s Purse, is partnering with caring Canadians to bring hope and joy to needy children — all over the world. Already, thousands of in- dividuals, churches, busi- nesses and community groups all across Canada are packing empty shoe - boxes with toys, school supplies and hygiene items which will be sent to needy children in South and Central America and West Africa. The shoebox is just the beginning. As caring individuals in Canada pack shoe - box gifts for Operation Christmas Child, they open a door for Samaritan s Purse to provide further physical and spiritual aid to needy children, families and com- munities all over the globe through edu- cation, health and building programs. Since 1993, individuals, groups and churches in 11 participating countries have donated more than 61 million shoe - boxes and Operation Christmas Child has delivered the gifts to children in 138 nations around the world. Last year, Ca- nadians generously donated 661,530 of the 7.6 million gift -filled shoeboxes col- lected worldwide. Get involved today. Touch the hearts of children, families, and communities around the world by packing a shoebox gift and encouraging your friends, family and co-workers to pack boxes. Fill empty shoe - boxes with toys, hygiene items, school supplies, wrapped hard candy and an encouraging letter. Drop off your gift -filled shoeboxes between Nov 24 and 29 at one of 1,400 drop-off locations across Canada. To find the nearest location near you visit www.samaritanspurse.ca or by calling 1-800-303-1269. Volunteer at one of three Canadian processing centers in December. To vol- unteer, call 1-800-303-1269. Now in its 16th season, Operation Christmas Child continues to support children around the world all year round through the ongoing projects of Samari- 4,100 tan s Purse. Operation Christmas Child brings hope for today, and Samaritan s Purse through its relief and develop- ment work provides resources to se- cure a better tomorrow. POLICE BRIEF Liquor stolen LAMBTON SHORES Sometime between Oct. 11 and Oct. 15. thieves entered a seasonal cottage on Har- bour Park Court in Grand Bend by forcing a sliding patio door. Once inside, they stole a television set, a quantity of liquor and miscel- laneous items. There are no suspects. Seasonal cottage owners are asked to remove all items of value at the conclusion of the vacation season. They should also leave window coverings open so that thieves real- ize there is nothing of value to give them reason to break in. Owners should also arrange for a key -holder to routinely check the property for any forced entry or sus- picious activity.