[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[Neil]

To be fair, celebrating Christmas isn't actually offensive to non-christians.

and who are you to decide?  Some people say they are offended.  You are intolerant of not thinking like them.

I am that which I am.  And I don't care about the sort of scum who would be offended by celebrating Christmas.

[Barrister]

As long as it isn't harming anyone else, then they're free to do it.

Lastly, the particularly silly part was what you suggested you might as well do if you consider all cultures to be equal in a country.

Not all cultures are equal in a country, I do not believe that.  When people take every step necessary to not integrate in a society, it's bound for disaster and all you see is the appearance of extreme right political parties seeking ban on all immigration.

Immigrants should integrate to their new society, not the opposite.  Minor accomodations are possible.  Teaching people our languages is fine.  Helping them survive until they are able to find themselves a job is great. 

But allowing people to express religious beliefs continually in public, especially if there are dangers to the society (having a burka on to vote or for driving being examples, the kirpan being another) is a big no-no in my case.  No prayers in political assembly either, despite the appeal court's ruling on the subject.  Rights are for everyone, not for specific individuals.  If I have the right to do something, so have you.  But the opposite is also true.

Nobody tells you how to live your life.  But in some cases, there are rules to follow, and they should be the same for everyone otherwise it's chaos.

Bullshit.

We went to the farmers market today, and bought some veggies from a local Hutterite colony.  They are a religious minority who has taken every step not to integrate into the wider society.  And despite coming to Canada about 100 years ago, they still have a very distinct language and culture.  And you know what?  As long as it isn't harming anyone else, then they're free to do it.

Did they ask for any accomodation, any specific treatment that no one else can have?

Yes.  They're pacifists, so resisted he draft.  They're Mennonites, so they would refuse to swear an oath on the Bible.

[HVC]

Anglo biased media strikes again. Just heard the mayor of Montreal was arrested for corruption

Canadian mayors: more fun then they used to be.

[Malthus]

Anglo biased media strikes again. Just heard the mayor of Montreal was arrested for corruption

Canadian mayors: more fun then they used to be.

Holy shit, you are right.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2013/06/17/montreal-michael-applebaum-taken-into-custody.html

This was the guy who was supposed to be the answer to Montreal's corruption problems ... 

Course, usual disclaimer about an accusation not being proof. But damn.

[Maximus]

Yes.  They're pacifists, so resisted he draft.  They're Mennonites, so they would refuse to swear an oath on the Bible.

Hutterites are not Mennonites, although they do share some beliefs, such as pacifism.

Also apparently no swearing of oaths. You would know that one better than I.

They both stem from the Anabaptist movement along with the Amish and others.

[Malthus]

Yes.  They're pacifists, so resisted he draft.  They're Mennonites, so they would refuse to swear an oath on the Bible.

Hutterites are not Mennonites, although they do share some beliefs, such as pacifism.

Also apparently no swearing of oaths. You would know that one better than I.

They both stem from the Anabaptist movement along with the Amish and others.

I guess having one's leaders hung in iron cages would tend to incline one towards pacifism. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%BCnster_Rebellion

What's amazing to me is that the cages are still there. Odd decoration for a church ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Muenster_Lamberti_Koerbe_6428.jpg

[Caliga]

Anglo biased media strikes again. Just heard the mayor of Montreal was arrested for corruption

Canadian mayors: more fun then they used to be.

Holy shit, you are right.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2013/06/17/montreal-michael-applebaum-taken-into-custody.html

This was the guy who was supposed to be the answer to Montreal's corruption problems ... 

Course, usual disclaimer about an accusation not being proof. But damn.

J'ACCUSE!

[Malthus]

Anglo biased media strikes again. Just heard the mayor of Montreal was arrested for corruption

Canadian mayors: more fun then they used to be.

Holy shit, you are right.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2013/06/17/montreal-michael-applebaum-taken-into-custody.html

This was the guy who was supposed to be the answer to Montreal's corruption problems ... 

Course, usual disclaimer about an accusation not being proof. But damn.

J'ACCUSE!

MAH KICKBACKS

[Maximus]

I guess having one's leaders hung in iron cages would tend to incline one towards pacifism. 

They were pacifist from the start. The Munster group was an offshoot.

[Ed Anger]

They make fantastic pies. The Amish and Mennonites that is.

[Caliga]

MAH KICKBACKS

[Caliga]

I guess having one's leaders hung in iron cages would tend to incline one towards pacifism. 

They were pacifist from the start. The Munster group was an offshoot.

My dad's ancestors were pretty much all Anabaptists.  One of them was beheaded and another one was burned alive.

[HVC]

Anglo biased media strikes again. Just heard the mayor of Montreal was arrested for corruption

Canadian mayors: more fun then they used to be.

Holy shit, you are right.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2013/06/17/montreal-michael-applebaum-taken-into-custody.html

This was the guy who was supposed to be the answer to Montreal's corruption problems ... 

Course, usual disclaimer about an accusation not being proof. But damn.

IIRC this guy was put in place because they kicked the old guy out for corruption. To the montreal poster, does your mayor have any real power, or is he like the Toronto one who can't really do anything?

[Grey Fox]

He has significant power.

[viper37]

Yes.  They're pacifists, so resisted he draft.  They're Mennonites, so they would refuse to swear an oath on the Bible.

No one is forced to swear on the Bible.  I didn't during my only time in court.