letter to Globe re Wente and Harper

Is Stephen Harper the Dear Leader in Disguise?

Look at Harper! He loves his wife and children.
He isn't even unfaithful to his wife. What kind of politician is that?
He is also a proud Christian which enables him to also respect the
faith of others. Is this normal? He objects to the killing of Christians in sharia-ruled countries and unlike Obama, does not bow down to the king of Saudi Arabia. Does
he not know that by bowing the crocodile will kill the others before it gets to him? And he is too rigid. He has taken a stand against the Danes in our north and against Chiquita Banana and the ecologists for dissing our oil. What kind of Canadian is that? Shouldn't he apologize? He has stood up for the democratic country of Israel which like Canada is fighting Islamism or fundamentalist Islam. Does he not know that Israel is made up of Jews and why is he not following the centuries old tradition of ignoring and trying to oppress them? Lastly of course, under his watch Canada is doing well financially despite the world wide recession. Surely he should follow the European example. As strange as it may seem, Harper believes in the fundamental Christan values of most Canadians, neither the fundamentalist Islam of Muslim countries nor the post-Christian lack of morals and character of Europe seems to temp him. He is certainly a strange leader, one somewhere between Kim Jong-il and Santa Claus that we should watch closely.

Toronto Sun

Rae, like his fellow liberal, Cotler, is great at expressing concern for the underdog but doing nothing about the problem when the opportunity arises. For them there is smoke screen but no internal fire.

Political correctness and expressions of surprise do not solve any problems. It's time to put the Rae days to a good use and change the system that has brought third world living conditions to our native Peoples in our north.

Globe Dec 20th re Hamas peace

Hamas is certainly showing the Christmas spirit. It is "willing" to let Israel go back to the 1967 "borders" which of course means that it is willing for Israel to give up more land. It is willing to stop indescriminate shelling of Israel as long as Israel fights back with its
own attacks. Furthermore, it is willing to move its headquarters to Egypt now that Syria is disintegrating and the potential new Egyptian Brotherhood government wants to eliminate the peace treaty with Israel. It is of course willing to have a hudna - a temporary peace, until it is strong enough to attack Israel again. It is not willing to recognize the state of Israel or to continue its efforts to obiterate it out of existence.

There, in a nutshell, is Hamas's Christmas spirit of peace. So Christians, go to Bethlehem in haste, because soon you, like Jews now, will not be able to go there in safety.

National Post, Dec 20th A17

Good old Father De Souza is expressing his hatred for Hitchens after he has died - ie doing exactly what he is accusing Hitchens of having done. Having read many of De Souza's columns I suspect that De Souza's real reason for the outburst of hatred is Hitchens criticism of Mother Teresa, the absolutely perfect Catholic and future saint. For De Souza, criticizing Catholicism is the ultimate sin. He ends his column with the hope that Hitchens now knows God's mercy. I hope so too as there is obviously no mercy, forgiveness, compassion or understanding in De Souza's cold, rigid heart.

Lawrence Solomon - Financial Post 17 Dec 17

It's always interesting to see "good" Jews like Lawrence Solomon display a bit of anti-semitic ignorance about Jews and Judaism and then hide their anti-semitism behind their religion. Although most Jews support Israel in one way or another, they never do so in conflict with their country - Canada - or in a way that would harm Canada. Most Jews, but certainly not all, support climate policy because of the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olum - the obligation to "save the world". Unfortunately in their need to save the world,by proceding on an incorrect path, like climate policy and Kyoto, they sometimes do harm. But don't we all. Perhaps Lawrence Solomon is so obsessed with Jewish guilt that he would promote a policy that favours Israel and which is contrary to Canada's interests, but most of us wouldn't.

Re: Jonathan Kay, National Post A16, Dec 16th

Jonathan Kay has again gone overboard in trying to discover the root of the American support for Israel. Americans are serious democratic Christians who are therefore supportive of a free and democratic Jewish state. In addition, America, democracy, and freedom are at war with radical Islam, an ideology that is trying to destroy both the U.S. and Israel.Contrary to what Jonathan suggests, the U.S.A is still a uniquely free country. It has not lost its stature as an icon of freedom because of Guantamamo, CIA prisons and the Patriot Act as Jonathan suggests, but has been forced to use these procedures as a way to protect its democracy and freedom. We should be sympathizing with Americans for being forced to act to protect themselves, not criticizing them. Jonathan"s psychological analysis of the American
psyche ridiculous. The root of the problem is not complex. It is self protection.

Who are the Palestinians by Ettinger

Who are the Palestinians?
Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger, "Second Thought”
"Israel Hayom” Newsletter, December 14, 2011
http://bit.ly/up8bJm
Contrary to political correctness, Palestinian Arabs have not been in the area west of the Jordan River from time immemorial; no Palestinian state ever existed, no Palestinian People was ever robbed of its land and there is no basis for the Palestinian "claim of return.”
Most Palestinian Arabs are descendants of the 1845-1947 Muslim migrants from the Sudan, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, as well as from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Yemen, Libya, Morocco, Bosnia, the Caucasus, Turkmenistan, Kurdistan, India, Afghanistan and Balochistan.
Arab migrant workers were imported by the Ottoman Empire and by the British Mandate (which defeated the Ottomans in 1917) for infrastructure projects: The port of Haifa, the Haifa-Qantara, Haifa-Edrei, Haifa-Nablus and Jerusalem-Jaffa railroads, military installations, roads, quarries, reclamation of wetlands, etc. Illegal Arab laborers were also attracted by the relative economic boom, stimulated by Jewish immigration.
According to a 1937 report by the British Peel Commission (Palestine Betrayed, Prof. Efraim Karsh, Yale University Press, 2010, p. 12), "The increase in the Arab population is most marked in urban areas, affected by Jewish development. A comparison of the census returns in 1922 and 1931 shows that, six years ago, the increase percent in Haifa was 86, in Jaffa 62, in Jerusalem 37, while in purely Arab towns such as Nab lus and Hebron it was only 7, and at Gaza there was a decrease of 2 percent.”
As a result of the substantial 1880-1947Arab immigration – and despite Arab emigration caused by domestic chaos and intra-Arab violence - the Arab population of Jaffa, Haifa and Ramla grew 17, 12 and 5 times.
The (1831-1840) conquest, by Egypt's Mohammed Ali, was solidified by a flow of Egyptian migrants settling empty spaces between Gaza and Tul-Karem up to the Hula Valley. They followed in the footsteps of thousands of Egyptian draft dodgers, who fled Egypt before 1831 and settled in Acre. The British traveler, H.B. Tristram, identified, in his 1865 The Land of Israel: a journal of travels in Palestine (p. 495), Egypti an migrants in the Beit-Shean Valley, Acre, Hadera, Netanya and Jaffa.
The British Palestine Exploration Fund documented that Egyptian neighborhoods proliferated in the Jaffa area: Saknet el-Mussariya, Abu Kebir, Abu Derwish, Sumeil, Sheikh Muwanis, Salame', Fejja, etc. In 1917, the Arabs of Jaffa represented at least 25 nationalities, including Persians, Afghanis, Hindus and Balochis. Hundreds of Egyptian families settled in Ara' Arara', Kafer Qassem, Taiyiba and Qalansawa.
Many of the Arabs who fled in 1948, reunited with their families in Egypt and other neighboring countries.
"30,000-36,000 Syrian migrants (Huranis) entered Palestine during the last few months alone" reported "La Syrie" daily on August 12, 1934. Az-ed-Din el-Qassam, the role-model of Hamas terrorism, which terrorized Jews in British Mandate Palestine, was Syrian, as were Said el-A'az, a leader of the 1936-38 anti-Jewish pogroms and Kaukji, the commander-in-chief of the Arab mercenaries terrorizing Jews in the 1930s and 1940s.
Libyan migrants settled in Gedera, south of Tel Aviv. Algerian refugees (Mugrabis) escaped the French conquest of 1830 and settled in Safed (alongside Syrians and Jordanian Bedouins), Tiberias and other parts of the Galilee. Circassian refugees, fleeing Russian oppression (1878) and Moslems from Bosnia, Turkmenistan, and Yemen (1908) diversified the Arab demography west of the Jordan River.
Mark Twain wrote in Innocents Abroad (American Publishing Company, 1969): "Of all the lands there are for dismal scenery, Palestine must be the prince…. Palestine is desolate and unlovely.” Analyzing Mark Twain's book, John Haynes Holmes, the pacifist Unitarian priest, the co-founder of the American Civil Liberties Union and the author of Palestine Today and Tomorrow – a Gentile's Survey of Zionis m (McMillan, 1929) wrote: "This is the country to which the Jews have come to rebuild their ancient homeland…. On all the surface of this earth there is no home for the Jew save in the mountains and the well-springs of his ancient kingdom…. Everywhere else the Jews is in exile…. But, Palestine is his…. Scratch Palestine anywhere and you'll find Israel…. There is not a spot which is not stamped with the footprint of some ancient [Jewish] tribesman…. Not a road, a spring, a mountain, a village, which does not awaken the name of some great [Jewish] king, or echo with the voice of some great [Jewish] prophet…. [The Jew] has a higher, nobler motive in Palestine than the economic…. This mission is to restore Zion; and Zion is Palestine.”
The Arab attempt to gain the moral high ground and to delegitimize the Jewish State - by employing the immoral reinvention of history and recreation of identity - was exposed by Arieh Avneri's The Claim of Dispossession (Herzl Press, 1982) and Joan Peters' From Time Immemorial (Harper & Row, 1986), which provide the aforementioned – and much more – data.

Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger, "Second Thought: US-Israel Initiative"
www.TheEttingerReport.com

Liege, Belgium, killings

NP A10. The Belgium killings in Liege by Nordine Amrani. Yes, for those interested, Nordine was a Muslim and this appears to be another jihadist outburst. It is too bad that the NP and most other papers didn't put in the man's religion. They would have if he were Jewish or an evangelist.

NP Dec 14th A16 re NY Times article

The statement of the NY Times that settlers have pursued a campaign they call "price tag" attacking Palestinian civilians and property is misleading. Price tag is a retaliatory measure putting a "price tag" on Palestinian attacks on Jews and Jewish property. It is the Arabs that are initiating the attacks, not the Jewish villagers. The New York Times implies that the "settlers" initiated the attacks for no reason except hatred. This is false

Some breast cancel tumours vanish on their own - NP Dec 14th

The fact that some breast cancers vanish on their own simply proves that medicine is still a lot of guess work. Doctors are not gods but gamblers with the relatively little knowledge that they have. Doctors know a little more than the average person so they are better at medical handicapping. However it is still playing the odds and some doctors are better handicappers than others.

Bullying - NP Dec 14th

I resent funding schools that teach homophobia etc under the guise of freedom of religion. Freedom of religion was not intended to mean freedom to teach barbaric customs and social attitudes. If the anti-bullying bill subverts hatred of all sorts, especially in schools, then I am all for it.

CBC support on A14 of NP Dec 13

The conclusion of the article is that we should support the broadcast of politically and socially left-wing anti-conservative, politically correct non-sense because it is spewed in both French and English. That sure makes a lot of sense

Settlements

Response to Canadian Jewish News article of Dec 8th T 51 "Settlememts an impediment to Peace." Message bodyYou can take the man out of the CBC but you can't take
the CBC out of the man. Harry Schacter, an ex-CBC employee
is still spouting the CBC's pro-Palestinian rhetoric. He knows better.
He talks about settler attacks increasing but fails to say whether Palestinian
attacks have also increased. He also fails to mention whether the attacks
by Jews were defensive in nature and whether the attacks by Arabs were
drive-by shootings or terrorists attacks. Without knowing the reasons for the
attacks his statistics are anti-Israel and without any real substance. He also
says that 10,000 olive trees have been damaged or destroyed by his hated settlers.
How many of these trees were destroyed because the Arabs were using them as shields
for indescriminate attacks on the civilian Jewish population. How many of these were
cut down by the Arabs themselves to collect insurance and then blame the settllers
as has recently been proven by the photography unit (Tazpit) of The Legal Forum for the
Land of Israel.

Schacter also assumes that there is an occupation. A little reading of Grief or BenZimra
(both available at Amazon) would indicate that Judea and Samaria are Jewish territories
in international law by the San Remi Agreement. That land is at most disputed territory
and not "occupied" territory. For that reason, among others, the Fourth Geneva Convention does
not apply and the subsequent Conference of U.N. members, not including Israel, (a group that
has been consistently anti-Israel) is quite meaningless.

Schacter then refers to "extremist" settlers. If he had ever talked to any and visited them, as I
have, he would find them mostly to simply be ordinary Jews who wish to live in the heartland of ancient
Israel, including Shiloh which is a 2500 year old Jewish town, hardly a "new" settlement. Since he
mentions Gilo he should also know that that town is effectively a suburb of Jerusalem where most
Jews live, not for religious reasons, but because the real estate prices are cheaper.

Lastly and most importantly, Schacter suggests that if only the Jews would move their 500,000
Jews out of East Jerusalem and the West Bank there would be peace. Here he is just closing his
eyes to the nature of the Palestinians. When Israel became a nation in 1948 they did not claim the
West Bank and yet there was no peace. When Israel left Gaza there was no peace. The Palestinians
could have the land if they would let Jews live there in peace as the Arabs live in peace in Israel. But
no, a condition of peace has to be that the new country be Judenrein. Then the P.A. refuses
to eliminate the clause calling for the destruction of Israel from its Constitution, and when the Palestinians
are offerred 90% of what they ask for, they refuse it and start an intefada. Why Mr. Schacter is it necessary
for the Israeli government to warn Israelis against going near Arab villages if all the Arabs want is peace?
Why must the new state be Judenrein and why must the Arabs get 100% of what they want or refuse
to negotiate? No Harry Schacter, it is not the "Settlements" that are the obstruction to peace but
the anti-Semitism of the West Bank Arabs. It is easy to go with the flow of blaming Jews and Israel
for all the worlds problems, but it is not correct. For a Jew to repeat incorrect Arab arguments against
his own people is disgraceful.

Tom Friedman on Israel. National Post Dec 5 A15

Tom Friedman of the New York Times still doesn't admit that the problem
is not Israel but the Palestinians. They are a violent, misogynous, gay-hating, anti-Semitic group who would rather die a martyr's death than compromise with Israel or see it continue to exist. They cheer on their suicide bombers and gloat at the death
of Israelis and U.S. personnel. Prime Minister Salam Fayyard of the Palestinian Authority may want to see the Palestinians better off financially but he has done nothing to
change the anti-Semitic and anti-Israel culture, and he has not taken out
of their constitution the desire and obligation to destroy Israel. Furthermore he
is only one man who will undoubtedly be ignored if there is an amalgamation with Hamas.

Friedman and the New York Times is wrong. Israel cannot afford to support such a
radical group. It must annex Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) and change
the death-wish culture themselves, That is the only way
for there to be any hope of long term peace.

Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox and signs.

It seems that the New Israel Fund has again gone overboard on its
not so secret battle against Orthodox Judaism. The solution to the
Jerusalem's ultra orthodox's defacing of signs showing women is to catch the perpetrators and charge them for defacing property or mischief. The New Israel Funds' solution of promoting signs showing women in all stages of nudity is neither reasonable nor a proper Jewish solution.

MacKay and helicopters

Although I don't agree with his excuses, let's cut MacKay some slack. He works
on our behalf at a job with huge responsibilities and 16 hour days. If he can save himself two wasted hours on a fishing boat by courageously using one of our helicopters then he should do so. It should be a perk that comes with the job.

First Nations

The National Post's coverate of Attawapiskat and the First Nations was excellent.
However although Lorne Gunter correctly attributed some of the misfortune to politcial correctness, he failed to say the specifics. In this case political correctness didn't let us tell the truth about First Nations Culture. It is partially their desire to live on beautiful lands, hunting and fishing as their ancestors did that causes their poverty. As long as we give them the choice of joining our society, and augmenting their needs when necessary, as we would for any citizen, that should be the end of our responsibility to them. It is not enough to change their name from "Indians" to "Native Canadians" to "First Nations". There is however another responsibilty. That is to insist that our laws are followed when they conflict with their culture. This includes responsibilty of their leaders for funding received by the government and enforcing all other Canadian civil and criminal laws.

The Sun, Sat Dec 3rd

The whole system of dealing with our Native peoples must be changed so that they are assimilated into Canadian culture, while of course maintaining the important (not the financial0 parts of their own culture. However this is the time that Native Americans are protesting the Keystone and similar oil agreements. Although I am against the Native Canadians' stand on this issue, fixing the funding of Native Canadians and their leaders must not be a way to solve the oil sales problem.

St. James Park, Toronto, occupation

I don't want to pay for the damage to St. James Park. Public space is meant for the use of the public, not for protesters, occupiers, or people who will disrupt the natural use of the space. In future let "occupiers" and their like, pay by the city demanding a deposit on all those who want to use public space as a place to
protest or disrupt the general use of that property. If the deposits are not forthcoming then charge the individuals with being a nuisance or public mischief or make up a new law to get rid of them.

Refuting Benny Morris

Benny Morris clearly sets out the position of the Palestinian propaganda relating to
the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) but fails completely to understand the Israeli position and the nature of the Palestinians themselves. First, the term "West Bank" refers to the west bank of the Jordan, not to ancient Israel, and so immediately begins to delegitimize Israels' rights to the area of Judea and Samaria. Next he refers to the "occupation". Many books, including "The Jewish People's Rights to the Land of Israel" by Torontonian Salomon BenZimra clearly show that under international law the land belongs to Israel and not to the Palestinians. Morris is of course correct in saying that there is an attempt by Arab countries and Europe to delegitimize Israel, but it is not the "occupation" that is responsible, but it is simply another Arab plan to destroy Israel since brute force did not work. Lastly it is pure anti-semitism that is really hindering a two-state solution. There is no reason other than anti-semitism to exclude Jews and Jewish towns and cities from a new Palestinian state. In ignoring the Arab's desire for all Islamic states to be Jew-free Morris is giving his consent to the exclusion of Jews from states and therefore to state-sponsored anti-semitism. Benny and many other post-Zionists assume that since the Palestinian Arabs are doing poorly it must be someone else's fault. But he is wrong. The reason for the Palestinians' poor situation is that they would rather produce anti-semitic propaganda than have co-operation with Israel. They would rather
have an intifada than 90% of the territory they desire. And lastly, they would rather have perpetual conflict and poverty
than renounce their anti-semitism and admit the legitimacy of the State of Israel.

Globe editorial -Nov 30th 2011

I don't understand why Canada should help pay for foreign doctors to train here and

then go back to their homelands. Should the U.S. reimburse Canada for all the trained

Canadian doctors and other professionals that we lose every year to the United States?

Does largess only go one way? Shouldn't we just tell the Sudan and other African nations

that if they want their doctors to return they have to offer them democracy, capitalism and other freedoms?

Our economy is based on a free market. If the African and other countries were to adopt our social,

economical and political freedoms, they wouldn't need our continuous support. So, especially in these

financially hard times, let's stop giving away the ship to foreign nations, especially those who do not

espouse our freedoms, democracy, and way of life

NP Nov 30th -

Double Stabdards

When Iranian students attack the British embassy , it is assumed that Iran is responsible.

When American soldiers mistakenly kill Pakistani soldiers it is assumed that America

is responsible. Why is it not assumed that Lebanon-Syria is responsible for rockets fired

at Israel by their citizens and why is it not assumed that rockets fired

from Gaza are not ultimately the responsibility of Hamas? The double standard of

total responsibility for Israel, America and other strong countries versus no responsibility

for weak Middle-Eastern governments is the same double standard that we use in the West

for excusing immigrants for some abhorrent cultural practises by saying that it is their culture

and therefore "understandable". It's time to do away with all double standards.

Teaching history and the Holocaust NP Nov 28/11

The article on the Holocaust omits why we are forgetting about teaching history. History

isn't just a series of dates and numbers. We can study the Holocaust to compare the dangers

of Islamism to the danger of fascism, our reactions to each threat, the harm done to the Germans

and the world vs. the harm being done by Islamism, the importance in each case of freeedom of

speech and other basic freedoms, and the courage shown by individuals in trying to combat all

kinds of isms and evil cultural norms. In short, teaching history and the Holocaust can teach us

how we might deal with our world and the possible results of inaction. That is important.

Lastly teachers should not apologize for mind closures that students are learning at home.

They should ask why students' minds have not been opened at school.

"occupiers"

Are they really "occupiers"?

Originally the word to occupy meant that a foreign power, through war took command over a foreign land. Within Canada the word "occupy" has come to have an interesting meaning. For Native Canadians it means to claim land that you believe you have a legal claim to and to do so by illegal means including the use of illegal force and intimidation. For protesters of our economic system it means to illegally stay in a park, preventing it from being used for normal use by other citizens. For Palestinians it refers to Israelis livin or having villages in an area in which the Palestinians have some rights, but legally, probably no political rights (see The Jewish People's Rights to the Land of Israel, Amazon on Kindle, for the argument that legally the West Bank is Samaria and belongs to Israel). So to occupy now means either to illegally live on land, or illegally stay on land, or to live on land when others don't want you to be there. I suggest your readers' question what the Canadian occupiers really meant to imply when they chose to define themselves as occupiers of a park.

Africentric schools and standing by

Standing by, and Africentric schools.

When I was studying to be an ESL teacher about 10 years ago, one of the class assignments was to chose a topic that the other students could discuss and to lead that discussion. The only Black student in the class chose the topic of "recognizing our prejudices about Black people". None of the other students, who were all white, admitted to having any prejudices or to ever having acted in any way against Black people. If I had not stood up and admitted my prejudices, the student would have failed. The other white future teachers didn't have enough courage or self-knowledge to admit their prejudices. They just stood by and would have let the Black student fail the course. With teachers like this, I suggest that an Africentric school is an excellent idea.

Anti-Semitism or Judeophobia

Anti-Semitism or Judeophobia

The word anti-Semitism is confusing as, in its usual usage, it means prejudice against Jews. Occasionally it means bigotry against those that speak a Semitic language, but this is not its common use. It would be better, if used at all, to spell it antisemitism as it is not usually meant to refer to Semites at all.

The word originated in Germany in the late 1800’s when Jews were beginning to be thought of as a race rather than a religion. The distinction is important because with the beginning of the enlightenment Jews were now considered a race. This meant that Jews could no longer simply convert to Christianity to become part of the majority and easily participate in the secular lifestyle available to Christians.
With a little research into the history of Judaism, it is impossible to define a Jew as a member of a race or as a Semite. Even the Exodus from Egypt included many slaves that were not related to Abraham, and were not necessarily Semitic, and yet were soon included in the Nation of Israel. Now of course there are Indian, Black, Chinese, Japanese and blond and blue eyed white Jews. This has developed because of conversions and intermarriage. The result is a mixture of peoples, races, and cultures all of whom are considered to be equal by Jewish law. It is therefore hard to call this group of varied people either a race or Semitic.
So it seems that we are now using the word anti-semitic to apply to a group that is not semitic. As long as everyone knew what people meant was there any harm done?
I suggest there was. By branding Jews as Semites, Christian Europe could easily say they
were culturally and socially different from themselves so make them out to be “the other”. In fact they originally were a different cultural group but more and more they were the same cultural group with a different religion and different rituals. Unless Jews were expelled from a country, as happened with Spain, Portugal and England among others, they would live in the same country for sometimes a thousand years, intermarry and pick up most of the cultural traits and ideas of that country. There was often virtually no difference between an enlightened Jew and an enlightened Christian. So to call one
a Semite made no sense except to discriminate against him. Jews may be a religious group, a cultural group, or a national group, but what they are not, as a group, is Semitic.

Recently the word Islamophobic has become common. Now phobic means that in some way the person is acting irrationally. In this case the implication is that anyone that dislikes Islam or Muslims is in some way irrational. There is no such implication
in the word anti-Semite. I therefore suggest that people that dislike Judaism or Jews should be called Judeophobic. Their dislike of Jews and Judaism is usually irrational, and originally based on the erroneous Christian idea that Jews were Christ killers or on the verses in the Koran or Hadith encouraging Muslims to kill and oppress Jews and other infidels. Today antisemitism is mostly fueled by the irrational Islamic hatred of Jews and supported by a left over Christian antisemitism. Let’s call this irrational thought by its true name, Judeophobia, as it has nothing to do with the semitic Arabs, nor is it more than simply being irrationally opposed to Jews and Judaism

Re: Mexican soldiers - Globe and Mail Nov 14th

Soldiers, including Mexican soldiers, are hired to protect a country from war, not for internal service.If they are conscripted to fight crime, then it should be understood that civil rules apply, but that soldiers will not be prosecuted when their dealings with death, drugs, and evil people prompts them to go
past the line set up for dealing with normal citizens in normal times. Proven criminals and those thatdisobey the law should have no right to benefit from the laws that they themselves have decidedto ignore and tried to destroy. Let those who live by the sword, die by the sword.

Letters to Globe re editorials Nov 12, 2011

1. No Consequences, no Justice

The case of Singh Saran indicates that our judges are two lax on sentencing. They seem to follow the current elitist philosophy that everyone is nice and it is better and easier not to punish wrongdoers. Unfortunately this philosophy has also leaked into our whole judicial system where we rarely punish cultural or religious wrongdoers who practice anything from polygamy to female circumcision. Even honour killings, although punished, seem to be prosecuted with some sympathy for the wrongdoers. Prime Minister Harper's attempt to stop some of the damage by having minimum sentences is a start. It would be better to change the lax culture of our legal system but that seems like a difficult if not impossible task.

2. Nukes on Notice

Despite dire predictions of enormous negative consequences, Israel has successfully destroyed nuclear facilities in Iraq and Syria with only positive consequences. Similarly the U.S. has successfully attacked Iraq and Afghanistan, despite warnings of dire losses. The immediate attacks were both very successful although the long-term results remain to be determined.There is no indication that an attack on Iran now will have anything but positive consequences.There are always worries and worryworts, but the consequences of doing nothing and appeasementhave always been negative and should be avoided at all costs.

Financial Post - re Keystone project

Good move America. In accordance with your political agenda, promote jihadism and Islamism by buying Saudi and Libyan oil instead of Canadian oil. That way, you will be able to be blackmailed into having anti-American books enter the U.S. and distributed by mosques and by anti-American organizations such as CAIR. In addition you will be able to be blackmailed into doing nothing to protect yourself on the political scene.

Canada meanwhile should establish its own refineries and sell to China and Russia, and the rest of Asia so that they will be less dependent on Middle Eastern, anti-anything but Islam, policy. Developing our own oil refineries and selling to Asia will make us strong and independent. It is too bad that the U.S. does not have Canadian leadership.

RE; National Post 11/11/11 - A12 Palestinian bid for UN membership

To suggest, as this article does, that the Palestinians have a "growing frustration at the deadlock in peace negotiations with Israel" is ludicrous.

They were given many opportunities for peace and their own nation. Instead they rejected the offers, started intifadas, and insisted that their peace agreement include the destruction of Israel. There is no Israeli apartheid. There are no "settlements" only peaceful Jewish villages. There is no Palestinian desire for peace, only good propaganda, anti-semitism and a desire to destroy Israel

letter to NP re racism

Sinem Ketenci, a woman of Turkish origin, claims she cannot be racist because "she, as a racialized woman, cannot be racist." It is time for the majority of Canadians to look honestly at our minorities and people of colour,and the "oppressed" people of other lands and admit that they may be racist against whites, Christians, Jews, and other races, religions, or tribes. Being "oppressed" or a minority or "people of colour" doesn't make them free from prejudice or evil. Multiculturalism does not mean giving a free pass to harmful ideas or culture of minorities, or of people with different cultures or religions who live in foreign lands. The faster we realize this, the better off Canadians will be.

letters to National Post

1. Taser assault

David Heap shouldn't complain about being tasered. Any other country would have simply
shot him as an enemy alien who was trying to promote shipments of arms to the terrorist government
of Gaza. Israel should put him in jail with the likes of Barghouti and then give him a kippot to wear and escort
him to Gaza, Bethlehem or any other Arab village or city. If he survived, hopefully he would realize that the
people he is supporting are anti-semitic, violent, and without western standards of morality.

2. We need more Christ on Campus - letter by Andrew Caruk.

We need both more Christ and more Moses on campus. We need their leadership in living a valuable,
moral life and in standing up for the best ideals in the Christian and Jewish religions. Our university students must use
Christ and Moses as mentors of how to become the enthusiastic and fervent type
of people who are the best that they can be, and who represent the best in our Bible readings.
We must teach the next generation to not only learn technical skills, but to internalize the best qualities of Christ and Moses.

David Heap and the Flotilla

What is wrong with Israel? Why don't they arrest David Heap of the Flotilla and put him in jail with Barghouti or other Palestinian "moderates" and then put a yamika on him and take him for a walk at a "friendly" Arab village, Bethlehem or Gaza City. That way he will truly know the moral character of the people he is fighting for. Instead they will probably give him pita and hummas to try to prove that Israel has some nice people and food. What a pity and waste of energy.

Re Globe editorial on UNESCO - Nov 2, 2011

Not punishing UNESCO for admitting Palestine as a member is a lofty and courageous stand that will produce gales of laughter and disrespect from those who favour Islamism and hate the West. Is that really what the Globe wants?

Unesco Nov 1 2011

This is a great opportunity for the West to stop funding parts of the U.N. that support an Islamist or anti-west agenda and to review the functions and the value of the U.N. in general. The funds we give to the U.N. can be used more effectively for good if they are controlled and directed by Canada itself.

letters to Globe re Wente and Pride parade - 1/11/

1. Wente on policing costs

Anyone who has been to court to avoid points because of a driving infraction has seen the the waste
and incompetency associated with this whole function. Most people in the courtroom have committed
some minor driving error, don't mind paying the fine, but go to court to avoid points. In most cases, they
are successful. Time and money by the citizenry, the police and the legal staff are wasted. Major city and
provincial savings are available. Despite my letters to both the city and the province, no one is interested.What a pity.

2. The Pride Parade

Despite the headline and the full one page spread, Pride Toronto's new boss, Kevin Beaulieu, avoids
all of the Globe's questions about Pride's direction and values. If Pride is to be just a good sexually
explicit parade, I don't want my money, my city's money or my province's or federal government's
money to support it. If it is to include hate groups, then it should not be allowed on Toronto's clean
streets.

Letter to Globe re Palestinians - Oct 3rd

Letter writer Conklin was moved by the number of Israelis who objected to the Israeli treatment of the Palestinians. However I am sure he would find no Palestinians who objected to the treatment of Jews by the Palestinians' continuing shelling of Jewish cities and killing their innocent citizens by suicide bombings and random killings. That should tell your readers about the difference between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples and culture.

Jewish Rights to the West Bank (Judea and Samaria)

Basel conference affirms Jews’ right to Jerusalem



By PAUL LUNGEN, Staff Reporter, Canadian Jewish News

Thursday, 15 September 2011
http://www.cjnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22057&Itemid=86



The Jewish people’s historic and religious connection to Jerusalem and Israel are widely acknowledged, but what about their legal rights?
Opponents of Israel repeatedly refer to Israel’s “illegal occupation” of territories and to “Palestinian east Jerusalem,” but are these terms accurate in law?
A group of academics and legal scholars gathered in Basel, Switzerland, two weeks ago to discuss those issues and to affirm “their support for the recognition of the international legal rights of the State of Israel and the Jewish people in respect to the whole city of Jerusalem.” They issued a declaration stating just that, along with their support of “a unified Jerusalem” as the capital of Israel.
Organized by the Alliance for International Justice in Jerusalem, the conference met on dates corresponding to the first Zionist Congress in 1897 and in the same location, the Musiksaal.


The conference issued a declaration referring to the international legal documents that form the legal basis for Jews’ contemporary claim to Israel, which according to conference participant Jacques Gauthier, includes Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).
Gauthier, an international lawyer who addressed the conference, said his legal research over 25 years led him to the conclusion that Jews had a valid legal claim to all the territory west of the Jordan River, including Jerusalem.
“I came to the conclusion that the legal answer came out of key historical events,” he said.


The Basel Conference Declaration cites the legal documents that cumulatively gives the Jewish people title to the lands, including Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, the San Remo Resolution of the Supreme Council of the Principal Allied Powers of April 25, 1920, and the Mandate for Palestine approved by the Council of the League of Nations on July 24, 1922. “These were the foundational instruments for the establishment of the modern State of Israel,” the declaration stated.


It all goes back to the World War I and the defeat of the Ottoman Empire by Britain, France, the United States, Italy and Japan, Gauthier said.
The Ottomans had controlled most of the Middle East, including today’s Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and the Palestinian territories. Historically, victorious powers simply seize the losing power’s territories, but under the influence of U.S. president Woodrow Wilson, a much different approach was taken. The five victorious powers, meeting as the Supreme Council, heard claims to the territories from Arab and Jewish representatives.


Chaim Weizmann led the Jewish delegation.
“The Zionists asked for recognition over Palestine of their historical connection and the recognition of the Jewish People as a legal entity, along with the right to reconstitute what they had once had, enough territory to cover all historical links to the Holy Land,” Gauthier said.
The Arabs, “who had not been unified and had tribal territories but no states, presented their claims in Paris,” Gauthier said. Led by the Hashemite King Faisal, the Arabs asked for a single giant state that would have included Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, but not the area known as Palestine. They had agreed with the Jewish delegation beforehand that that territory would go to the Jews and that each side would support the others’ claim.


No decision was made in Paris in 1919, but in San Remo, the Supreme Council reconvened to determine the disposition of the Ottoman territories. “They said ‘yes’ to the Arabs and gave them Mesopotamia [Iraq] under a British Mandate [trust] and Syria and Lebanon under a French Mandate.”
As to Palestine, “they adopted the policy right out of the Balfour Declaration – all the political rights were given to the Jewish People,” Gauthier said.
The treaties of Sevres and Lausanne confirmed this and three subsequent treaties created the mandates.
“Those international instruments are binding on all the parties and recognized in international law,” Gauthier said.


“The Jewish People are in the city [of Jerusalem] by right. They are not trespassers, they are not there wrongfully,” he said.
In 1921, the British severed the east bank of the Jordan and handed it to the Hashemites. “Jews accepted that partition” on the basis that “the rest of Palestine would become a Jewish state.”


Asked about Palestinian claims – at the time the Jews were called Palestinians – Gauthier said the Allies dealt with the Jewish people and wouldn’t subsequently entertain claims from Jews who said they were excluded, as well as Arab representatives.
“The issue legally involves the Arabs as a whole and they were given rights which were satisfactory, as noted in the documents,” he said.


In other words, Gauthier continued, any Palestinian claims were included in the larger Arab claims and were satisfied at that time.
The Jews’ claim to Israel is as strong, in law, as those of Syrians, Iraqis and Lebanese to their countries, since all those sovereignties arose from the same documents, Gauthier said.
Israel has annexed Jerusalem, affirming its claim, but has not done the same with the West Bank. That leaves open the possibility of negotiations and ceding by Israel of its rights to some of the land as contemplated in UN Resolution 242, he added.

Sex religious education in public schools

History tells me that the sexual curriculum and religious practices taught in the public school system will only be properly administered by a Conservative majority.The Liberals are set to include complex gender identity and sophisticated sexual training into our very young students' studies. A six year old should not be taught about the transgendered or gay life-style. These subjects should be briefly mentioned in a sex-ed class, but students should not be taught about these matters until they are 15 years old, not at 6 years old. Hopefully those few students who have problems with their sexuality can be counselled by a professional school counsellor.

Similarly, in the public schools, equal opportunity for religious practices or equal restrictions on all religious practices will only be enforced by a Conservative goverment The Liberal government has proven itself too weak to fight against
any vocal minority wanting special rights for their group. We need a strong government to ensure that sex and religious education in the school system is handled with equity and understanding.

Letters to Macleans's re Oct 10th issue

1. Obama in Canada

Letter writer Humby would like to have Obama working in Ottawa. Isn't it enough that
we have just rid ourselves of one very egotistical quasi-American elitist scholar - brought to us by the Liberal party - without bringing another here. "When will they ever learn."

2. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's consent to have women vote in the 2015 municipal elections is not good news. It is no news.It is window dressing to hide the misgynous, homophobic, anti-everything but Muslim, ideology that the Saudis are financing around the world. It is like congratualting a drunk for beginning his binging at 8:00 a.m. instead
of 7:00 a.m. It is not real progress.

Re; Globe Sept 28th - Simpson on Harper and Israel

Simpson's analysis is only a partial truth that agrees with his prior opinions and prejudices. First, it is very questionable whether anti-semitism has recently increased in Canada. the Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Anti-Semitism said it did, but their conclusion seems to have ignored many of the most important contributors to their process. This doesn't directly relate to the popularity of Israel but the proof of its growing unpopoularity is certainly not there. Secondly Simpson assumes that Harper does not take into account citizens' opinions because there are more Muslims than Jews and Muslims vote 88% against him compared to Jewish 52% for him. But Simpson here has completely left out the majority of Canadians who are Christian and other religious minorities such as Hindus. Are these two religious groups irrelevant to Harper or only to Simpson? It is possible therefore that Harper takes their important views into account; it is not a black and white situation for him; and it is driven by both personal conviction and political calculation. In any case, as usual, Simpson has negatively prejudged Harper and his ability to see more than one side of an issue. Harper is much too smart a politican and much too moral a person to do that

NP Sept 28th

Are the words headlined in today's National Post "I will not be punished if I cheat"
those of our students or of Mr. McGuinty of the Ontario Liberal Party

Saudi's are improving

Ah yes the Saudis are getting soft. First they allow women to vote in 4 years and now they have given a woman only ten lashes for driving. Women's lib and our progressive thinkers should certainly congratulate the Saudis on making some steps towards modernization. Perhaps a Noble Peace Prize would be appropriate. Do you think that they gave her ten eye lashes so she could see better while driving?

An Independent Palestine

Suppose Netanyahu was truthful and told the quartet that not only was there no chance of a negotiated Paletininian state

but if such a state came into existence the Palestinians would train Muslims who are now living inside their borders to become terrorists against their own country while preparing for terrorist attacks against Israel? Would they still support an Independent Palestine?

Saudis and women

Tasha Kheiriddin in today's National Post credits Saudi Arabia for giving women a municipal vote in 2015. Hello? That is 4 years from now, giving the Saudis lots of time to change their minds. It is such a small step. It is like applauding an alcoholic for saying he will start drinking at 8:00 a.m. instead of at 7:00 a.m. in four years. A real step forward is taking a positive step now. The Saudis have done nothing except look for sympathy. Let's not applaud them for it. Let's continue to tell them that their moral standards and customs are inferior to ours - that's right, much of their morals and culture is inferior to that of the "infidels".

Negotiations with Fatah

Reasons I believe that negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis will
not result in a peace agreement.


As long as the Palestinians believe that they should have a right of return, negotiation is senseless



As long as the Palestinians believe that Israel should not be recognized as an independent state, negotiation is senseless



As long as the Palestinians believe that a peace agreement is a hudna agreement, negotiation is senseless



As long as the Palestinians believe that "negotiating" an issue means to have the Israelis concede the issue, negotiation is senseless



As long as the Palestinians continue to teach their children to hate Israel and Jews, negotiation is senseless



As long as the Palestinian media and Palestinian imams spread hatred among Palestinians, negotiation is senseless



As long as Palestinians insist on Jerusalem as their capital and believe that Israel has no claim to Judea and Samaria, negotiation is senseless



As long as the Palestinians use the terms West Bank, settlements, occupation and border instead of armistice line, negotiation is senseless,



As long as there is a Partnership between Hamas and Fatah, negotiations are senseless



As long as it is likely that Hamas would win an election in the West Bank,negotiations are senseless

Re NP article Translator shut out of Canada Sept 27th

Although every Afghan and everyone else is a potential spy, the odds are strongly in favour of his being what he says he is - a Muslim with a strong work ethic and commitment to capitalism and democracy. He has already proven his worth by providing excellent and courageous service to Canada. He is exactly what Canada needs. I vote for allowing him and his family into Canada as very welcomed new immigrants

Ezra Levant

It seems like Ezra Levant's criticism of the Saudi's non-ethical oil has caused them to give women the vote in the municipal elections. It is amazing what a little criticism of Arab customs will do. We need much more of it. Ezra Levant has now done more for the women's movement than all those women's liberation movements have done for the past 100 years. Imagine Ezra being women's best friend. He is better than chocolate. What is the world coming to?

George Jonas, NP Sept 24/11

George Jonas in the NP of Sept 24th/11 also said that "If there's a person on Earth who thinks that the Palestinians should not have a state I haven't heard of him or her yet. "

Now he has. Me. Why should a group of people who do not differ from the people in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt etc and many of whose ancestors came from those countries have their own state especially when those people who call themselves Palestinians believe in honour killings, oppressing gays and women, suicide bombings and promoting the destuction of Israel. And for George's edification, there are many, many people who agree with me. You heard it first here George!!!

National Post - sept 24/11 - A30

George Jonas in his op-ed says "there's no Palestinian state, while the Jewish state has existed for over 60 years". Really? What about Jordan? What about the now free Gaza? What about the fact that there is one Jewish state and many Muslim Arab states - all of whom have exactly the same culture and are made up of exactly the same people as the Palestinians. It's a shame that the Palestinians' combination of "pity me" combined with widely inaccurate evil propaganda about Israel has even Jonas believing in their lies. It's a shame to see Jonas promoting a state that is known for its hatred of Israel and Jews, honour killings, oppression of women and hays and suicide bombers.

letter to National Post re veil and burka sept 24/11

If, as letter-writer Mansoora Rauf says, the veil is to prevent women in Muslim countries from molestation, then we certainly should not allow any males with that culture into Canada. Canadian women do not need veils to prevent molestation and we do not want men in Canada whose culture makes it necessary for Canadian women to wear a veil. This is a perfect example of why multiculturalism doesn't work. Our culture that respects women is better than their culture which does not respect women.

Letters to Globe re Judea and Samaria

Contrary to the opinion of Colin Proudman, the real raodblock to peace is not the word of the Bible that says that Israel will get all of the Holy Land including the West Bank, Gaza and part of Jordan, but the Islamic idea that all territory that was ever conquered by Islamic warriors forever belongs to Islam. Note that this includes Israel, Spain, and all of eastern to the gates of Vienna. According to Islamists, "After Israel, the world". Are Globe and Mail letter writers prepared for that?



John Lawrence compares the West Bank to an Island whose economy is based on harvesting seabird guano. It is a good comparison as the West Bank harvests social guano in the form of hatred of Jews and Israel, honour killings, oppression of women, suicide bombers, and the oppression of gays.

erna Paris' advice to Israel

Paris's opinion is very similar to the opinion that police used to give women - that is - if you think you will be raped, don't yell or fight back, just submit and hope the rapist doesn't kill you afterwards. That is the same as Paris's advice to Israel. However the Palestinians not only want to rape and kill Israel but they want to destroy her reputation before they do so. Paris' advice is great advice from someone who obviously doesn't care about Israel. Israed should fight back. Israel should kill the rapist before her reputation is ruined and she is attacked and destroyed.

Response to letter writer distinquishing gays and their actions

If the Catholci Church is to distinquish between gay persons and their acts they should in all fairness treat heterosexuals similarly. Sex according to Catholic tradition, is for procreation - not for pleasure. The Catholic Church should therefore restrict sexual acts of homosexual couples where the woman has passed menstration, say all couples over 40, all single persons, and of course all those who use contraception. As the church does with gay couples, the priest should enter all couples' houses to ensure that there is only one bed - and not a double bed - in each bedroom. The priest must also ensure that all reading matter found in the homes does not involve any of the above forbidden sexual actions or loving couples over 40 years old.

Jonathan Kay and Ethical Oil

Jonathan Kay of the National Post has unfortuantely done it again. One of his bad arguments is that Saudi oil, if not bought by us "will be bought by someone - every last drop of it." This is a great argument for the individual or a state to do nothing - to absolve oneself of moral responsibility. One person or one state can make a difference as is shown continually by the stands taken by Prime Minister Harper and various Canadian citizens like Ezra Levant. We Canadians should support our ethical oil - it is the moral thing to do and each of us must be responsible for our own actions or lack thereof.

Palestinian state

A Palestinian state will support wiping out Israel, oppression of women and Christians, honour killings, killing of gays, racism in the exclusion of all Jews, and of course suicide bombing against Israel and other countries. Why do we want to promote such a state?

Palestinians and UN

The Palestinians are not ready to be reasonable. They want to see what concessions they can get out of Israel before applying for state status.

Consevatives vs. Liberals

There are three major differences between the two parties

1. energy - the Liberals will kill our economy with their green energy policies. The Conservatives will look at nuclear, oil, and even our abundant coal before wasting our money on windmills and far away solar power.



2. The Conservatives won't overpay and overuse union workers to the detriment of our economy and fairness to the private sector.



3. The Conservatives believe in a multi-ethnic society based on our current values and culture - not the Liberal idea of multiculturalism that says that all cultures are equal and would allow harmful cultural practices because they were practiced in an immigrant's native country.

Fulford National Post Sept 17th, A24

As usual Robert Fulford's article is excellent. But it brings out many thoughts. The Arab lands that created Jewish refugees has now succeeded in making the Palestinians permanent refugees. They seem to be good at that. In addition there must be a realistic comparison of the culture of the Israelis who are democratic and free, with the Palestinians whose charter, school books and media calls for the destruction of Israel, who have made selling land to a Jew a capital offence, who believe in honour killings, general oppression of women and killing gays, who have forced Christians from their homes and businesses, who admire suicide bombers and who have generally acted beyond the pale in social and family matters. Why would we want to give these people their own state?

National Post - sept 15 Jonathan Kay

Uncle Tom Kay. Kay's argument is weak. First he says that the professor is Jewish - as if being Jewish means you can't be anti-semitic - a proven false statement. Then he heads his op-ed with the words Bubbie and Zeyda as if again saying - "look guys, I too am Jewish so I can't be supporting an anti-semitic professor. Lastly, what other excuse can the professor and university say other than he was using it as an example? I am not convinced of the professor's lack of anti-semitism. We all know that York has a record of allowing anti-Israel and anti-semitic activities on campus. Surely a reasonable professor would either not have thought of the example he chose or if he did, would have chosen another one. Why didn't he chose a less evil opinion? Why did he go for shock value? Why did he use an anti-semitic example that now relates to the Holocaust? Something is wrong here Mr. Kay! Suppose the same professor had gone to the Toronto Airport and yelled "Don't say, THERE IS A BOMB IN THE AIRPORT?" Would our legal system be lenient and understanding of his intent?

Uncle Tom Jonathan Kay, in an attempt to whitewash antii-semitism, has jumped on the issue without considering the facts. There was anti-semitism involved here - on one level or another - and the professor's and the university's weak excuses should not be accepted.

Globe editorial sept 13th

Glad to see that the Globe opposes Palestine (or Judea, Samaria and Gaza) being a state for UN purposes.However it is not news that someone in the NDP supports the Palestinians' aggressionand stupidity, or for that matter, other stupid, harmful, and impractical ideas.

letter re editorial of National Post Sept 13th

At a time when we are having difficulty distinquishing between immigrants who will be good Canadian citizens because they will integrate with our society, and those who will never intergrate and be detrimental to us and our culture, we are presented with Afghani refugees who have proven their dedication to our values and their support of Canadians. They will be good Canadian citizens. Surely we should let them into Canada as a thank you for their help and on humanitarian grounds. If this means that we must restrict or postpone other immigrants, then so be it. It is not a high price to pay.

Gilad Schalit

The Schalits have succumbed to the Western mindset of distinquishing between Hamas, Fatah, Islamists, and those that support them. They are one and the same. Canadian pressure should be applied, not to Israel, but to Hamas and their supporters,
Fatah, Iran, Syria and the United Nations. The latter completely funds Hamas. Without U.N. aid, often given via UNRWA, Hamas would not be able to supply its people with food or attack Israel. To have their son returned safely, the Schalits' target should therefore be the U.N., the only ones who can realistically apply pressure to Hamas. As the western world's moral leader,in protest, Canada should withdraw funds from UNRWA and the United Nations.

Jordan and the West Bank July 11th

Toronto Star readers should remember, as Mr. Harper does, that the West Bank was never an independent state but was expected to be Jewish territory under the post WW1 British mandate. It was annexed by Jordan from 1948 to 1967. The obviously solution is not to join Fatah with Hamas to form another terrorist state, but for Israel to negotiate a return of much of the territory to Jordan, a country that has a peace agreement with Israel and whose majority is already Palestinian.

Geert Wilders

I welcome Geert Wilders to Canada. Showing the problems with the usual interpretation of the Koran and the Hadith and the social customs associated with Islam does not mean that you are anti-Muslim. Canadian Muslims, Tarek Fatah, Irshad Manji and Salim Mansur show us what a fine religion Islam could be if interpreted as they interpret it. Unfortunately theirs is not the usual interpretation and we must know and deal with Islam as it is expressed and understood by the majority. That is why I welcome Wilders to let Canadians know how Islam has affected Holland and how it might affect Canada

op-ed - university or community college.

Yesterday a NP op-ed questioned the need for all Canadians to have a higher education and suggested that trade schools or community colleges were the better option for many Canadians. Universal education dates from the Roman empire. But our society has changed greatly in the last 50 years to an information based system. Perhaps we should look at the ultimate reason for education. Labourers need to be literate, to be able to understand their own finances, and to know enough of Canadian history and values to vote. Trades people need the above plus more mathematics, and technical knowledge. Professionals need the above plus training in their profession. In addition top scholars should not be limited in their education by lack of funding. It is not simply a question of choosing an university or trade school as Bill Morrison suggests, but of directing our schools towards producing people with the skills necessary to earn a living and be worthwhile members of our society.

Layton and Massage Parlour

This was an incident that happened 15 years ago.

Who cares? It has nothing to do with Jack's abilities or discretion. It is only important to sexual bigots. To "reveal" this just before an election is just a smear - something that is even below the worst of U.S. smear tactics. It should not have even been reported by a reputable media. They should report all the news that is fit to print. This isn't news and it isn't fit to print.

Exiles from Zimbabwe slaugtered by South Africans

Re: Natioanl Pots A16 - Apr. 29, To misquote somebody - You can take someone out of a culture but you can't take the culture out of a person. This is another example of South African Black culture dominating rational thought and behavior. It is a good reason to support our Conservative government's review of our immigration policy to ensure that our immigrants do not bring with them a culture which is not compatible with our society, culture and morals.

Trump adn Obama's birth certificat

The birthers ask legitimate questions since in the U.S. birth is important legally and there is no reason (supposedly) to hide Obama's marks, religion, or source of funding. Everyone knows Bush junior's place of birth, average marks at university, drinking problems, religion, and source of funding. Why should those same factors be hidden for Obama when he has a Muslim Kenyan father, a Muslim step-father, and an unknown source of funds for his university education? This is not the same thing as calling someone a communist or a fascist. The latter are baseless attempts at killing character, not serious questions to try to understand a person's potential motives and policiies. I don't like Trump but am glad he made Obama produce a birth certificate.

Office if Religion - De Souza, National Post - Apr 28th

Setting up an office about religion at Foreign Affairs is the best idea I've seen in years. In all but the West, politics is driven not by what is best for the people or the country but by religious dogma. The best example of this is Islamism, a combination of politics and religion where the religion drives the politics. If we don't understand the religious drives of our friends and enemies, then we don't understand their politics, and the reasons for their economic and political decisions. Setting up a group to understand religious idiologies of foreign lands and of internal groups is an excellent idea. Freedom of religion is the right to practice your religion in the privacy of your home as long as it is in accord with Canadian law. It is not a right to have everyone respect your religion or its practices or to have others accede to those practices.

Hamas and Fatah unite

It is quite clear. There is no difference between Fatah and Hamas about the desire to destroy Israel. The only difference is the methodology. It is also quite clear that now support of the Palestinians means support for the destruction of Israel. Luckily the Palestinians have overplayed their hand again, giving us a view of their real intentions. As for the U.N., they have been and are currently supporting the idea of an Islamist state of Palestine without regard for its terrorism or the Palestinians' desire to destroy Israel. It is time for Canada to stop supporting the U.N. - to stop supporting the idea of an Islamist Palestinian state, to stop funding the Palestinians, because the funding is really of Islamism and terrorism, and to stop supporting an organization that would make Syria a member of its human rights commission and whose orgnization, UNRWA would not support teaching Palestinian children about the holocaust because it would confuse them. As the Liberals and NDP strongly support the U.N. I strongly suggest voting Conservative.

The Killing at Nablus

Sunday, on the way home from praying at the Tomb of Joseph in Nablus in the West Bank, 5 Israelis were shot at in their vehicle. Four were injured, one was killed. So far in Canada only CTV has reported the incident.

At a time when the West Bank Palestinians are asking for an independent state, both the action and the lack of reporting in the Canadian press are highly significant.

This was not an action by a deranged person or an individual terrorist. The killer was a
Member of the P.A. police force, a representative of the Palestinian government, someone who was undoubtedly armed either directly by the U.S. or indirectly through U.N. funding.

After the murder, Joseph’s Tomb was desecrated by Palestinians. The Palestinian
Government refused to apologize, blaming the settlers for coming to pray without
authorization, something that apparently happens quite often.

There are three important points to consider. The first is how are Canadian supposed to
understand what is really happening in the West Bank if the media reports only killings
and attacks by Israelis but not the consistent mortar attacks from Gaza, and the killings by the Palestinians. The Canadian media also does not report the anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic Arabic Palestinian press releases. The answer to the question is that Canadians can’t make a proper judgement without all the facts, and like Goldstone, they assume that Israel is targeting Palestinians instead of vice-versa. They assume that Palestinians do not kill families including children, as happened only a few weeks ago to the Fogel family and do not kill people coming from their prayers as happened yesterday. Knowledge of these atrocities would help them understand the true nature of what would be a Palestinian state – a land dedicated to the destruction of Israel and Jews, and that with Gaza would promote worldwide terrorist activity. Only without knowledge of the internal and external violence of the Palestinians could one assume that a Palestinian state would be beneficial to world peace.

The second related point is the nature of the Palestinian government and its people. Both are supposed to be moderate Muslims. But do moderate Muslims kill a family that is
sleeping peacefully in their beds? Do they kill Jews returning from prayer? Do they desecrate holy places and do they excuse their actions by saying that the injured were really at fault? The answer of course is that neither the Palestinian people nor their government are moderate in any sense of the word, except that they are more moderate than the Islamists who live in Gaza and who wish to share their Palestinian state.

The third related point is, considering the nature of the Palestinians and their government,
do we really want to help them establish a state or even fund them in their ultimate pursuit of wiping out Israel and Jews and ultimately, with Gaza, promoting worldwide terrorism . I would think that the answer is no, but strangely enough there seems to be little support for that opinion.

The Arab Spring

The Arab spring has sprung
Of democracies, I see none
The rebels' real mission
Is to bring in Islamism.

Open letter to Ignatius

1. Open letter to Mr. Ignatius.
Wise up! wise up!

NP Editorial re Burkas - April 13 A12

George Jonas and the NP editorial has looked at only part of the problem. Niqabs or burkas can have one or two meanings. The first is that this is a dress code forced on a woman by her husband or family. It is a form of imprisonment, oppression, and mental violence forced on a woman. As such it should be illegal. The other alternative is that it is a dress code that the woman wants to wear. But as with all dress codes, it signifies certain thoughts. In this case it represents, not a religious requirement, but a particular religious ideological - that of the Taliban or Islamists. This includes the belief in female circumcision, that Islam should be the dominant religion in Canada and that Jews, Christians should be given inferior status, that Canadian Hindus and Buddhists should be forced to convert to Islam or be killed, that polygamy should be legal, that women should be stoned for adultery and many other ideas that would be illegal in Canada. By wearing the Burka, women are promoting hatred against other religions, illegal medical procedures and murder. If they participate in most of these ideas, their actions will be illegal.

Dressing in a burka is equivalent to walking around the streets nude or walking in the streets wearing a legally obtained gun with a sign saying" Let's kill Buddhists and oppress Christians". I don't believe that giving people that much freedom is helpful to our society. It is not only offensive but dangerous to the continued freedom of our society. Therefore the burka and the niqab should be banned.

Kuttab, Hamas, rockets

Mr. Kuttab's article in the Globe about the Arab street's opinion of the U.S., democracy, and the U.S.'s obligations towards the Palestinians is strange in that it seems so out of touch with reality. The U.S. under Obama is patently not pro-Israel. It has no obligation to right all the world's wrongs. Furthermore it seemshighly unlikely that the Arab street or leadership is pro democracy as Kuttab suggests. Yesterday's article in the Globe about an informal ceasefire between Israel and Hamas also seems unreal as it ignores the hundreds of rockets with which Hamas attacked Israel over the last year as if this is a "normal" situation and doesn't at all relate to Israel's military reaction to Hamas' attempt to murder Israeli schoolchildren.

Coren - Why Catholics are right

There are so many things wrong with this excerpt from the National Post (April 12th) that it is difficult to know where to start. If Coren says Catholicsm is right than other faiths must be wrong. The more modern view of myself, a Jew, Bishop Spong and Tom Harpur is that we don't know the truth and there are many paths to God. No path is in itself better - different paths suit different people. Coren, like many other rigid ideologues feels oppressed because everyone doesn't agree with him. It is true that Christianity is publically criticized more freely than Judaism (except in the Middle East) and Islam, but the criticism generally applies to both Catholism and Protestanism, not to Catholism alone. It is also usually criticism of specific ideas of Catholicism, not of the religion in toto. Undoubtedly he lost jobs, but not because he is a Catholic but because of his rigid ideas about abortion etc. It is not being a Catholic per se that is the problem but some of their ideas which are out of sinc with modern ideas of justice equality and forgiveness. Coren lists many things the church has doen wrong and then says they are all nonsense, instead of saying that the church was wrong and has or will make the correct. Lastly from his other writings it is clear that he loved and respected his Jewish father, but being Catholic must assume that he will burn in hell forever. I just cannot understand either the ruling or Coren's mindset that he would be able to believe that. We don't know the unknowable God, let alone which rituals will please him/her. When the Messiah comes to let us know "the truth" we will know which if any is the better religion until then, life will be better if there is no absolutely "right" religion and we all follow our respective paths to God and allow others to follow their paths to God.

African Union's Peace Agreement for Libya

No one is buying the African Union's peace agreement for Libya because one party, in this case Gaddafi, does not want peace. He wants victory and will have it when a peace agreement eliminates the no-fly zone. Why then do we buy the idea of peace for Israel and the Palestinians when the Palestinians do not want peace. Those in Gaza want the destruction of Israel by warfare and those in the West Bank want the destruction of Israel by political maneuvers. When one side wants peace and other doesn't there will be no peace, only a victory by one side. Why does the world regard the possibility of peace with the Palestinians more likely than the possibility of peace with Gaddafi?

National Post articles A2 Apr 11th

Both the article on the Canadian Shia Muslim organization using KKK tapes and the one on extremists recruiting Somali-Canadians indicate the need for changes in our immigration and citizenship procedures. First, anyone who believes in hate, whether of Jews, Gays, other religions or natioanalities must be excluded. Anyone who is not a born Canadian should have their citizenship revoked and be deported if they serve in or associate with a terrorist organization. There are millions of people in the Middle East, Asia, South America and Central America who would love to be Canadians and adopt Canadian culture and practices. We don't need immigrants who promote hate, misogyny, female circumcision, etc etc. We must amend our immigration policies to exclude these people and change our citizenship policies so that we can revoke citizenship and deport anyone who we have let into this country in error.

Attack on Israeli school bus

It is time to add up the significance of the actions of the inhuman group that call themselves Palestinians. Last week they murdered some of the Fogel family including a baby and a young child who were sleeping peacefully in their beds. The latest poll stated that 1/3 of the West bank Palestinians approved of the killing of these babies and children. The West Bank is considered to be “moderate”. If “moderate” Muslims approve of the killing of children what do the radicals of Gaza think? On Monday, they murdered Juliano Mer Khamis, a Palestinian actor and producer, because he was a peace activist, and yesterday they tried to murder a bus of Israeli students by firing an anti-tank missile at the school bus. What kind of people target babies and children? In addition they believe in polygamy, honour killings and killing gays? What does all this say about their culture? Surely it is not a culture that should be supported by Canada either independently or through the U.N. Surely it is not a group which is deserves our sympathy or the establishment of its own country. It takes at least two generations to change a cultue so I am not hopeful for any immediate cultural changes. Canada should not be funding the culture of a group of child murderers who have no respect for the rights or the lives of others. It is time to review our Middle-East policy.

Juliano Khamis, National Post, Apr 7, A17

According to Arutz Sheva, 1/3 of Palestinians approve of killing the Fogels and their children. Now a Palestinian peacenik, perhaps the only one left, Juliano Khamis, is killed in Jenin. Without any political correctness it is obvious that the Palestinians are a group who would rather kill than make peace and will even kill their own to avoid peace. Are they then a group that should get their own state? Are they a group that Israel can really make peace with? The answer is obviously "no" as they have proved twice this week and over and over again in the past. It takes a generation or two for a culture to change. A solution other than land for peace or giving them a territory from which to wage war, must be found. Their culture and therefore their group is not worthy of support from the West or any part of the civilized world.

Goldstone Report

Goldstone’s retraction is only important in that it indicates a change in trend from politically correct to politically factual. The fact is that we can destroy or support foreign dictators, we can arm them and fund them, we can kill their terrorists, and subvert foreign organizations, but we can’t change a people’s culture.
We can’t save them from themselves. Members of Hamas and Fatah who deify terrorists who kill Israeli civilians, Afghani peasants who kill woman who reject arranged marriages, and who kill U.N. workers because someone in the United States burned a Koran, Pakistanis who kill other non-Muslims and other Muslims because they are not sufficiently Islamic, and of course Saudis who legally kill gays and stone women for adultery will not be changed by not recognizing their barbarity, by our being nice to them, or by allowing them to immigrate to our country. We can help them physically but not mentally. We can’t stop them, either in their own countries, or as Canadian immigrants, from acting out the social requirements of their cultures.

Goldstone’s retraction is at best an acknowledgement of this fact and that his political
correctness blinded him to the truth.

National Post re- letters re rape and "partying" Feb 25

Letters to the editor

I was appalled by the letters to the editor about rape and women’s dress Kourtne Robinson thinks that without wearing a tube top with no bra, high heels and makeup she cannot ever have “fun” again. Larry Comeau believes that “wanting to party” has nothing to do with rape and apparently little to do with sexual activity. Both letters indicate a lack of understanding that “fun” doesn’t have to include sexual play or titillation. It is not necessary to remove your bra to have fun. A woman who dresses up without a bra etc. to have fun is saying that she wants some sexual stimulus, although certainly not unwanted attention or rape While women might “just want to party”, 50% of men go to parties “just to get laid”. They will look at these braless women and judge them not to be virgins, not to value chastity, and not to value sex only within marriage or a loving relationship. 95% of the time they will be correct. The women will get the attention that they want because they promise 50% of the men that, if they like the man, the man will get what he wants. Perhaps our society, both men and women must redefine what is “fun” and begin to understand that the object of “wanting to party” should be primarily to meet a mate for a loving, long term and committed relationship.

Siddiqui in the National Post Feb 24, A21

Isn't it bad enough that Siddiqui writes for the Star without having him in the National Post?

He hates and demonizes the United States and Israel. He justifies and supports Islamism,and the worst of Muslim cultures,except its most violent forms, by saying that all cultures brought their past with them.. He justifies Muslim violence by pointing out that at some time Chirstians and Jews were violent as well,and he justifies current Muslim exclusiveness, and social separation by saying that other immigrants did the same thing.



Siddiqui has nothing to bring to the table except his own feelings that everyone that disagrees with him or criticizes some aspect of Islam is Islamophobic. His voice is not worthy of being heard.

Letter to National Post - Feb 18th re police officer and slut

Guess what? Wearing clothes that are designed to titillate males does so. It
arouses the men the wearer wants to arouse, men who are indifferent, and men who
the wearer definitely does not want to arouse. Fifty years ago women who dressed
to show off their sexual qualities were "asking for it". Nowadays a great many
men, especially from the middle east, still believe that any girl who shows off
her virtues is "asking for it". In Toronto the good it seems that political
correctness trumps the truth. The police officer just told these students the
hard facts of life. Let's not shoot the messenger.

letters to Globe re Feb 18th - immigartion, Manji. judges,

1. Good for Jason Kenney for reviewing our immigration criterion. Single people will adapt better than married people, those who speak Englsih or French will adapt better than those who don't, the young will adapt better than the old, and the technically or reasonably educated will adapt better than extremely well educated. Adaptability should be given much more weight and many more points on our immigration assessment scale.

2. Irshad Manji is right when she says that the challenge for Arab democracy starts at home. But cultures take years to change so she is effectively saying that there is no hope for Arab democracies or perhaps Islamic democracies in the near future. However what she and your editorial forget is that the Arab world doesn't want democracy. They want more wealth, freedom and human rights. These, however, are tied together, and like Manji says, are dependent on changes to the family culture more than on democracy.

3. It is unfortunate that Jason Kenney is critical of judges. However it is the judges' duty to interpret the law, not to make creative decisions, based, not on the law, but on their own views of what is good for our society. It is this new judicial intrepretation of a judge's role that is leading to the criticism.

Christian Copts

There are 18 million Christian Copts in Egypt. If the Egyptian Brotherhood takes power in Egypt this group will be persecuted, killed and forced to emigrate from Egypt by those of the religion of peace. Canada must consider taking in our 200,000 annual immigrants from this group and excluding all other immigrants until the 18 million Copts find safety either here or elsewhere.

Globe Feb 7th A1

Patrick Martin says that the Muslim Brotherhood long ago eschewed violence and concentrates on various social functions "with religious overtones"..
Unfortunately the "religious overtones" include Sharia Law which includes the oppression of women and religious minorities, and very violent punishments for those that break any law. As well it includes submission to Allah and of course his representatives, the imams. It is amazing what violence, mysogeny, bigotry, and anti-democratic policies can be hidden in the words "with religious overtones".

National Post Feb 7th FP19 - Daniel Pipes

Pipe Dreams

Daniel Pipes is just plain wrong in aasuming that because the West could develop democracy, Islamic countries can also do so, while maintaining Islamism and Sharia law. Our democracy and prior democracies were based on the importance of individual rights and obligations - if not for everyone, at least for those who were entitiled - usually white males who were members of the state. Islam does not permit such individualism. It depends on group rights - the umma. There is absolutely no history of Islamism working with democracy, although there are some countries where most of the citizens are secular Muslims and democratic. According to Lawrence Solomon (FP19 of Feb 5) about 75% of Egyptians want to impose strict Sharia law, that is Islamism, on the country. This means the oppression of women and religious minorities and subservience to the imams. It means that individualism and self-reliance will not be celebrated and so democracy will be impossible to maintain.

Egypt's dilemma - re National Post 1/31 /2011

The Egyptian protesters are calling for a government that will give them economic benefits and fair treatment. They don't care whether this is under a democratic government or a dictatorship. Our reality should be to support the Egyptian populace in the type of government or situation they want, not what would be good for our culture and society. A democracy doesn't suit people that vote by tribe, as in Africa, nor people who want a leader they can submit to, as in the Islamic states. Something else is needed. A new government will raise many questions of alliances. One question is - if the new government disavows its 1979 peace treaty with Israel will Egypt have to transfer the Sinai back to Israel? If not, Israel exchanged 30 years of peace, which it probably would have had anyway, as it is stronger than Egypt, for the Sinai. Not a good bargain and one that obviously should not be repeated with Syria or the Palestinians.

letter to the Globe - Re "peace" talks

Shame on the Globe for printing such a one-sided story about the "peace" talks resourced from those notorious anti-semitic institutions - Al Jazeera, the Guardian and the CBC.

I like the Globe but if you continue to print non-sense -especially on the front page, I will be forced to cancel my subscription and subscribe to the Sun instead.

I won't bother to put my phone number or address because I know your letters editor just prints those letters agreeing with your general policy, except for those that are inane or grammatically incorrect.

Pakistani Christians convert to Islam

The article in Friday's Toronto Star "Pakistani Christians seek safety in Islam" could have been titled, "Christians Forced to Convert to Islam". By the use of violence and fear at least 25 Christians per week are "voluntarily" becoming Muslims in Pakistan. This same technique of violence and fear to force "volentary" conversions is being used in Egypt against the Copts and in Somalia. It is undoubtedly the same technique that changed the Middle East from a Christian to an Islamic area and forced India to accept the division of its country into Pakistian and India. It is this same procedure that caused the Crusades by Christians who wanted to retake parts of the Holy Land whose residents had been forced "voluntarily" to convert to Islam. Can a "religion of peace" use force and terror to obtain uniformity and dominance over non-Muslims or "the infidel" and still be called a religion of peace?

Iranium

Congratulation to James Moore for rescheduling the Iranium film at Library and Archives Canada. I hope his leadership will encourage universities and all others to stand up for free speech and against the threat of violence. We must stop those that would deny Canadians the right to free speech and to hear speakers on all issues. We must especially protect the free speech of those that promote freedom and come from democratic countries.

The pygmy holocause and the Canadian holocaust Museum

Perhaps this article in today's National post con the Pygmy holocaust (A14) is a fitting conclusion to the argument about the Human Rights Museum. It should not be about which holocaust is bigger or better, or which is more significant or universal in its application. It should be about galvanizing all those that are concerned about current holocausts to act on behalf of those who are being or might be killed. This includes Pygmies in the Congo area, Coptic Christians in Egypt, Bahais in Iran, gays in most Islamic countries, and I am sure, many, many others. Ideally it should be a museum to encourage our citizenship to think about, and help prevent, discrimination purely because of race or religion.

Letter to the editor - the Globe and Mail re Burka

Choices

It is time to choose priorities between religious doctrines and customs and health and civil rights. Both the Kirpan and the burka could easily make their point by using something symbolic - a rubber Kirpan and a kerchief could indicate the same respect for their religion and in the latter case their feelings about sexual purity. Despite the claims of the orthodox, religious practices can and do change when necessary.

I do not want to see some crazed jihadhist claiming the right to kill Christians because his relgion, as he understands it, requires him to do so.

We need to set up a team of ethicists to decide in each case whether religious ritual and customs should supercede the health and civil liberties and rights of our citizens.

National Post Jan12th A8 Anti Islamist group

First I would like to congratulate the National Post for printing the article and Stephen Bell for writing an excellent article. I do however have some comments. Instead of the EDL being described as "far right extremist" or anti-Islamist, wouldn't it be better and fairer to describe them as pro British values? And as long as we are describing organizations, shouldn't the Anti-Racist Action group, the Queers Against Israeli Apartheid group and the Canadian Arab Federation be described as "Islamist" groups? And shouldn't the Canadian Jewish Congress be described as being on the far left politically?

It is also interesting to note that when the JDL protests a meeting or protest held by a Muslim group, no police are injured and no one is arrested. JDL has peaceful protests, whereas this Muslim protest was not peaceful. One policeman was injured and four protesters were arrested. That is a big difference and should be noted.

Re the National Post - Jan.11th - Human Rights Museum

Why is the Canadian Museum for Human Rights important and what is its purpose? The Halton District Catholic School Board has banned gay groups. Two Nova Scotia men burned a cross on the lawn of an inter-racial couple. The purpose of the Museum is to have Canadians realize that this sort of prejudice against "the other" must be stopped immediately and not allowed to fester and proceed to become a major Canadian hate phenominum. The intent and theory is not difficult - especially when all the information is in one day's news of one paper.

Letter to National Post re Frank Diamant's letter of Jan 7th

Unwittingly, Frank Dimant makes an excellent argument for no special gallery for the Holocaust. It is true that the Holocaust was different as it was executed more scientifically and methodically than other holocausts, and was aimed at the extermination of a whole people. However, the anti-Semitism that culminated in the Holocaust was probably based on cultural and religious differences – similar differences to the competing territorial claims, opposing political viewpoints and divergent cultures that Mr. Dimant refers to as the usual causes of hatred killings. Mr. Dimant tries to make the case for having the museum emphasize an unusual cause for killings within a country, as it goes to the source of hatreds. I don’t think it does. It is just an example of a particularly horrifying case of efficient killing of “the other”. Unwittingly Mr. Dimant’s argument makes the case for warning Canadians of the dangers of the more common internal killings, those based on common differences. It is most important to warn Canadians to be wary of and to combat the usual sources of hatred – hatreds and prejudices that have in the past and may in the future, arise in Canada. The museum should therefore give equal prominence to the horrible results of the many, many ethnic,religious, territorial, ideological and other sources of hatred-killings.

Letter to National Post re editorial about "infidels"

Monday’s editorial – Peace and Pluralism - was excellent and spoke to the important immediate problem of racism within the Muslim community. However the Muslim attitude towards “infidels” is the result of a cultural attitude, not a problem that can be easily solved by suddenly becoming more liberal. Salim Mansur, in his book, Islam’s Predicament, talks about the Islamic cultural system of deference, where the citizens must show deference to their political leaders and their imams, and wives must show deference to their husbands. It is a hierarchical system where everyone is either higher or lower than someone else and everyone knows their and everyone else’s place. Unless this cultural idea of deference is changed, the infidel will always have a lower place in Muslim thought and societies. Therefore, for infidels to be equal, the whole system of deference must be changed – and cultural changes are very difficult and take a long, long time.