Archive for: September 2006

Whilst poking around over at Daimnation today, I stumbled across the audio of the Steve Madely interview of Ottawa Imam Gamal Solaiman who was once quoted as saying:

“It’s very upsetting the way people allow the voices of a few Muslims speak for all of us,”

Well, Gamal gets the chance to speak for himself this time, and I don’t like what I’m hearing. Neither will you, I suspect. It’s some creepy, apologist shit, boys and girls. He makes one thing after another for the Islamofascist crap happening anywhere in the world, topping it off with a refusal to believe Osama bin Hidin was behind 9/11! This asshole has a “but” for everything. I’m not making this up.

Parts 1 and 2 of the interview are below:

part 1

part 2

The cries of outrage have been coming from all the predictable quarters and suspects. Multicultists, Islamofascist apologists, and a host of others have called the Pope’s remarks during a lecture at Regensburg everything from “intolerant” to “bigoted” to “a prelude to a new Crusade” to God knows what else.

Only one thing seems to have escaped their notice: His Holiness is right. Benedict has always stated he is against any use of violence in the name of religion, so why should Islam be immune to scrutiny? As William Rees-Mogg points out in the Times:

Benedict did give offence — but no great religion should be immune from difficult questions.

This is true of any faith, whether it be Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or any one of the host of others. But where criticism of Christianity is outright celebrated in some quarters, any critique of Islam, no matter how minor or legitimate, is instantly labeled as proof of Western, racist, Islamophobic, etc, etc, etc, ad nauseum.

This double standard is getting very, very old. And, it’s bullshit to begin with. As one writer points out:

But also like the Danish cartoon scandal, the real reason for the supposed worldwide Muslim “anger” isn’t the perceived slight to Islam. Rather, Muslim leaders have malevolently distorted Benedict XVI’s words and intentions, speaking of blasphemy and slander, as they see in the Pope’s comments a ready-made opportunity to subordinate Christendom’s highest and most important representative to Muslim demands. In other words, they want to turn him into a “dhimmi,” a person of another religion in an Islamic country who holds a second-class existence. Such Muslim leaders had a trial run with Denmark nine months ago, intimidating that small European country and showing the precariousness of liberal freedom in Europe, which has probably emboldened them now to go after bigger game.

Which begs the question: after Salmon Rushdie, Denmark, and Pope Benedict XVI, who is next?

Well, it was nice while it lasted, wasn’t it? A whole summer with no parliamentary shenanegans. But all good things must end and today, the orchestra of scorched cats tunes back up in Ottawa. It’ll be a doozy, too.

From Afghanistan to gun control to softwood to dozens of other issues that have had time to simmer for the last couple of months, the Tories are definitely going to have their hands full.

Anybody out there care to give odds on a spring election?

As most of you already know, Canada’s calls for more troops from our NATO “allies” to reinforce the ISAF in Afghanistan have, so far, been met with nothing but a chorus of crickets. It’s disgusting in its moral cowardice.

The Americans can be excused, as can the British, being entangled in Iraq as they are. And let’s face it, the only time the French ever want someone to go to war is when the German army is busy knocking up mademoiselles left and right and buggering off with all the croisants, so you really can’t expect a damn thing from them. Speaking of Germans: historically, Krauts and Canucks on the same battlefield has been, shall we say, problematic (for the Germans); so they’re off the hook too.

But the deafening silence from other NATO nations, particularly some who owe their very freedom to the blood price paid by our courageous fighting men (yes Holland, I’m looking at YOU), just leaves me shaking my head. For God’s sakes, even the Polish are kicking in some more help.

So just what the hell are we going to do? That’s a no-brainer: we dig in our heels and keep on getting the damned job done ourselves. That’s right, we’re beefing up the Afghanistan deployment, with the first injection announced today:

The reinforcements include an infantry company from Quebec’s Royal 22nd Regiment, a squadron of Leopard tanks from Edmonton, some military engineers to bolster Canada’s provincial reconstruction team, and a special anti-mortar unit.

NATO/Europe wants to sit on their sorry arses and let us do the work yet again? Fine. Just don’t call us the next time Germany goes apeshit.

I would like to begin today by saying, on behalf of all of us here, that our most heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to the family and friends of Anastasia DeSouza, whose life was ended so tragically yesterday in Montreal. We also maintain our highest hopes for those still struggling to live through the ordeal. May their families get good news, and get it soon.

Out of respect for the sensitivities of those so deeply affected by this event, it has been decided that there will be no posting of opinions about the social implications (or anything else) regarding this matter until after the families have had the chance to come to grips with their loss and say their final farewells to their loved ones, after whatever fashion they follow.

There will be NO capitalizing on this issue here. Any commentary to that affect will be deleted immediately and the poster will be banned.

Again, our best wishes to the families. If there is anything at all that we can do, please do not hesitate to contact any of us.

If you’re like me, you’ve been waiting to see these. The Canadian Armed Forces have released their latest Rectuiting ads today in Atlantic Canada.

“But what if I don’t live in the Maritimes,” you ask? No problem at all. You can watch them right here (be patient, though; the first 15 seconds or so are blank screen for some reason):

Click here to see the videos