Canada's Anti-Terrorism Law Causes Worry

A similar <a href='http://www.canoe.ca/EdmontonNews/es.es-01-26-0036.html'>story </a>from the Edmonton Sun.<p> I wonder how long it will take until this word "Terrorist" gets watered down by everyday usage that it loses it's meaning; like the word 'ironic'. *hint* think of the song "Isn't it Ironic" - nothing in that song describes 'irony'. Just like most people accused of 'Terrorism' today have not used 'violence committed by groups or individuals in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands' as the meaning of the word suggests.<p> <p>---<br>"History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme" Mark Twain <br />"The greatest price of not participating in politics is being governed by your inferiors." Plato

It\'s important to remember that \"terrorism\" has never had an undisputed meaning. There has always been disagreement over whether the tactic is still terrorism when it is used by nations/states, or whether it refers to non-state individuals or groups; there has also been dispute about whether or not it is \"freedom fighting\" in some cases (remember, one person\'s terrorist is another person\'s freedom fighter).

In fact, a UN group that was supposed to define terrorism (prior to 9-11) was unable to do it due to such disagreements.

Irony, on the other hand, is a term WITH a set meaning that has simply been misunderstood by a lot of people.

Currently the word \"terrorist\" is being given a shock and fear value which to me is not in risk of being \"watered down.\" That\'s a bad metaphor. If anything the word has been \"powered up\" and made into something more than it used to be--a negative label meaning \"criminal\" \"evil\" \"enemy\" and \"against the U.S.\" A smear. Like the word \"communist\" was for a very long time.

In other words, words like \"terrorist\" and \"terrorism\" have become effective rhetoric. They are used to persuade people that they are in danger from someone or something. People might misuse the word \"irony\" but I doubt anyone would accuse that word of being rhetoric in and of itself.

Just in conversation I find people using the word 'irony' in conversation when they mean something else - just an example I pulled from my brain . . .<P> But yes, 'Terrorist' is watered down terminology. I've always thought whether 'freedom fighter' or 'terrorist' it always includes the use of force, coersion or violence. Maher Arar was labeled 'terrorist', but did none of those things. There were rumours that he 'trained at an Al Queda camp to try to press the public further into believing he's a bad man, but I don't buy that line ethier.<p> I think this is what's most worrysome for minorities - especially visible ones. All Canadian authorities have to do is have some flimsy link between you and someone else who might possibly be linked to the cousin of someone who once knew a member of the Taliban - and you get the label 'Terrorist' and shipped off to Syria for 're-education'. And no violence was committed.<p> When I think of the Arar case I think where Bush has created 'free speech zones', and anyone not participating in those zones are 'terrorists'. So now, peaceful demonstration is 'terror'. But still - no violence.<p> Perhaps as you say, 'Terrorist' is being changed to mean 'unpatriotic'. Which leads me to remember Herman Goering's famous Nuremburg Quote:<p> <blockquote>"Naturally, the common people don't want war, but after all, it is the leaders of a country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag people along whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. This is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country."</blockquote> <p>---<br>"History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme" Mark Twain <br />"The greatest price of not participating in politics is being governed by your inferiors." Plato

Irony is a rheotircal device, so I do think it is overused....most people couldn\'t name 2 types of irony, let alone 3. (i.e. verbal, situational, dramatic.)

It seems terrorist is a convenient label for the police to use on anyone they wish to use excess force against. I\'m pretty sure you know that anti-war groups, Greenpeace, Voices in the Wilderness, (NGOs) are now mostly considered terrorist groups and are under surveilance and listed. The American Enterprise Institute people, i.e. Richard Perle and David Frum types, started a website called NGOwatch so they can, in my opinion, undermine NGOs.

This terrorism thing is really interesting; I was watching \'Canada a People\'s History\' on CLT, excellent program; they were talking about the atmosphere in B.C. during WWII, an atmosphere that allowed the government to imprison Japanese Canadians, sell all their property, possessions, herd them like cattle into little shacks in the middle of nowhere, then on to trains etc. These people were Canadian citizens, who in fact had done nothing wrong, even the RCMP had told the government that the Japanese Canadian\'s posed NO threat to Canada, yet...the media went along with the program, politicians and average Canadians eventually believed the b.s. These people had all they owned rip from them and sold at bargain basement prices, they can never be compensated by anyone for this injustice!

We are almost 60 yrs later, we haven\'t learned much and I can\'t help but wonder what is really behind all these scare tactics, the manipulation of freedom loving people. If we don\'t question everything and stand up now, we will be so confused by the onslaught of propaganda we\'ll be thinking our parents and children are the enemy, family axis of evil or something equally as crazy!!!

The next family gathering, picnic and potato sack races will be raided, just in case we are thinking of discussing politics, freedom or rights of Canadians!!! Think about it, it\'s not that far fetched.

<a href="http://www.parl.gc.ca/37/1/parlbus/chambus/house/bills/government/C-36/C-36_3/C-36TOCE.html">Bill C-36 as passed by the HoC</a><p><p>---<br>JvH

ANY mechanism used to compromise or remove RIGHTS and FREEDOMS is a threat! Truth be told, the US administration IS the TERRORISTS!

---
Dave Ruston

Properties should newer been taken.This was a theft
by arbitrery law,estabilished by ignorant parlament.
By Dennis Welt BC

Democracy end with any arbitrery law even in Canada.
I only wonder,where are the voices of writers,artists,jurnalist and others??????
By Dennis Welt,inventor from BC

Anonymoust User is wrong.Antiterorist law should be made non arbitrary,so is comply with humen rights,etc.Perhaps there are to many scared and ignorant people in our Govrnements without ability to produce beter Law,so Canada
remain demokratic state!!!!
By Dennis Welt,inventor