Caution - Stop The Propaganda Machine

Canadians uphold moral values of fairness, justice and equality. The language used by our PM today, may cause very irresponsible generalizations connecting these individuals to a global community. While the atmosphere becomes more confused with hate rhetoric against this group of individuals, the facts may become lost but the hate will linger. Did any of the accused make a statement suggesting that they were guilty? Did any accept responsibility for a plot to cause a terrorist act? Were they motivated to target ‘us’ because of our freedom, values, democracy or other listed reasons? Or could they be people who see Canada as a friend of their enemy, due to our new posturing? These are assumptions which could cause spiral negative actions to the Muslim community in Canada and around the world. Every time a group of white men in suits plots to steal from their fellow Canadians, we do not begin to suspect all white men in suits. Anyone who does suspect white men in suits acting in illegal activities is condemned as a conspiracy theorist. Why is there such a discrepancy in our reactions? Part of the PM’s statement: OTTAWA (CP) - Statement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper regarding terrorism-related arrests of 12 men and five youths, all from Ontario:…. "As at other times in our history, we are a target because of who we are and how we live, our society, our diversity and our values. Values such as freedom, democracy and the rule of law; the values that make Canada great; values that Canadians cherish; values that citizens like you are willing to defend. I'd like to commend the work of the RCMP, CSIS and local police authorities in conducting this operation." What is the historical reference for his statement? What other times in our history has Canada been targeted because of who we are and how we live? Is he referring to the First Nations people who were targeted because they lived in harmony with the environment, rejected occupation, preferred to share the land? Or is he referring to the way our governments treated immigrants to Canada in the past, because of the way they lived, or their values, or the way they looked? When he states these values are the values Canadians are willing to defend, does he mean defend the rights of the accused to a fair trial, fair treatment in the media also? Canada has won universal respect in the past. That opinion will continue to erode if we do not return to our real moral values. The values of peace seeking, peace-making, our global commitments to end the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, our commitments to the world court, our commitments and treaties are the values Canadians are rightfully proud. Our commitment to democracy and freedom at home first, must be paramount. All of these accomplishments are being undermined. If we continue to allow our military to be submissive to U.S. command and our government to act as puppets to the U.S. administration, we shall not be free, sovereign or democratic! Canadians need to be vigilant to ensure we do not get caught up in the hysteria of ethnic prejudices due to irresponsible language by our elected officials. The media used statements like, ‘The majority (of those arrested) sported the traditional Muslim male beard.’ Why? What image are they attempting to convey? There are many men in Canada who are not Muslim and also wear beards. There are many criminals who don’t look like criminals. There are many Muslims who wear the traditional beard and are law-abiding, contributing citizens. So why use this language? I quote another Canadian patriot with eyes wide open who captures my thoughts precisely, “The public is waking up to the phony bogeyman abroad and our involvement in illegal wars of aggression that, of course, produce rebellions. Therefore, they need a new threat, closer to home, to galvanize the public behind more strife and decline that will serve to further erode "everyone's" liberties, not just that of the Muslim community.” Paul Barnes, CAP candidate. Canadians must demand that all Canadians receive fair, unbiased treatment in our judicial system. We must be very wary of racial profiling and generalities that do not apply. It is not us against them. Every Canadian is not a good guy, no more than every Muslim or person of Middle East descent is a bad guy! We need to demand that all people are considered innocent until proven guilty in an open court of law. The accused deserve all rights as required by Canadian law and the public needs to be fully and factually informed. We also need to get to the root of the problem. Why would a group of young Canadians want to enter into a terrorist act? Why would anyone want to attack Canada? We will not eradicate violence, bloodshed or the greed behind it, by using our own brand of violence or sharing in the invasion and occupation of other nations. The Canadian Islamic Congress issued a press release today to express their dissatisfaction with the manner in which this incident has been handled. The highlights: ISLAMIC CONGRESS CRITICIZES GOVERNMENT FOR NOT FUNDING RESEARCH ON "HOME GROWN" EFFECTS OF IMPORTED EXTREMISM -- "ZERO DOLLARS" SPENT ON PROACTIVE "SMART INTEGRATION" PROGRAMS SAYS CIC -- SPENDING ONLY ON LAW AND ORDER IS NOT ENOUGH -- PM's US AND THEM STATEMENT IS IRRESPONSIBLE http://www.canadianislamiccongress.com/fb/friday_bulletin.php?fbdate=2006-06-02#1 Canadian Action Party fully supports their statement. Too much focus on anti-terrorism legislation and militarization and not on public education, healthcare and living wage jobs, is the key to real security. Too much emphasis has been placed on taking away freedoms in order to support the export of this new democracy! It is not enough to be tolerant. We tolerate that which we do not like. Far better a country it would be if we learned to accept and understand each other than to force ourselves to tolerate! Far better to help educate new Canadians on the values and ideals we aspire to and help them to embrace them also. A better choice would be to eradicate the root of the problem. Stop the destruction of nations, which opens the doors to desperation and violent acts. In order to do so we must first stand firm on the foundations that we the people have desired to represent throughout the world and not be so intimidated by those elected to serve us, that we end up serving them. We wish to caution Canadians to be watchful and demand facts from the media and our elected officials. Canadians do not need to fear waking up alone. There is more to fear in not waking up and refusing to see the truth. It took some time but there are many of us out here awake now. We are stronger together than alone in our discoveries. -30- Contact info: Catherine Whelan Costen, Canadian Action Party President www.canadianactionparty.ca cathpublish@wildroseinternet.ca Ph: 403-660-0449 Canadian Action Party/ Parti Action Canadienne; Leader, Constance (Connie) Fogal Telephone (604) 872 2128 home; Fax: (604) 872 1504 E-mail: conniefogal@telus.net #385- 916 West Broadway, Vancouver B.C. V5Z1K7 [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on June 5, 2006]

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