Masthead graphic based on a painting by Gudrun Thriemer.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

"Prime Minister Harper receives international human rights award," Ottawa, June 27, 2008.

[Suddenly Stephen Harper is a human rights superstar--alongside Mark Steyn and Ezra Levant, no doubt. Admittedly, Harper is the first of these new, instant heroes to champion some rights other than his own, and without much recourse to hyperbole or name-calling, too. That is probably one of the benefits of having a well-paid staff to implement his iron-fisted information policy. The press release treats the Chinese Head Tax Compensation Scam as strictly unmentionable--and with good reason. It was shamefully cheap and late. Never mind the shortage of women in his cabinet, abrogation of the Kelowna Accord, his government's silence on the Omar Khadr affair. Praise of the PM's courage, sacrifice, great personal risk, or even dedication was noticeably absent from the report. In fact, the his celebrated "actions" appear to fall mainly into the comfy "words, not deeds" category. Add water and serve. Much remains to be seen. -jlt]

from The Galloping Beaver by Alison
Prime Minister Harper receives international human rights award :

"the B’nai Brith International President’s Gold Medallion, in recognition of the Government’s efforts to fight discrimination and uphold human rights in Canada and around the world."

In presenting the award, the B'nai Brith international president cited four "actions the Prime Minister and the Government have taken to advance human rights and oppose discrimination".

Of the four, two concern support for Israel, one is "unequivocally supporting Canada’s role in the UN-sanctioned mission in Afghanistan", and the fourth is ... the fourth is "delivering a heartfelt apology" to the First Nations.


Irony is not available for comment at this time.

=====The full list added by World Report

"...the first non-American president of the organization, cited a number of actions the Prime Minister and the Government have taken to advance human rights and oppose discrimination, including:

# Unequivocally supporting Canada’s role in the UN-sanctioned mission in Afghanistan;

# Refusing to sign a resolution denouncing Israel’s right to self-defence at the 2006 Francophonie Summit;

# Suspending relations with the then Hamas-led government in Palestine, for its refusal to renounce terrorism; and

# Delivering a heartfelt apology acknowledging the overtly discriminatory Indian Residential Schools program."

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