A Question About Racism
Frank Graves, founder and president of EKOS Polling, asks “Are Canadians getting more racist?” [1]. His article then presents convincing poll results that say, “Yes, we are.” This is a fact that can be exploited for political gain.
In the name of freedom of speech, Bill C-304, has repealed an important part of Canada’s hate speech laws, to the delight of White supremacists [2]. By removing hate speech from the Canadian Human Rights Act, Bill C-304 removes the authority of Canada’s human rights commissions to investigate online hate speech [3]. On the other hand, the CBC has reported the Harper Government’s intention to use hate crime laws against Canadian advocacy groups that, in response to Israel’s illegal actions against Palestinians, encourage boycotts of Israel [4]. By Israeli President Netanyahu’s own definition, Israel’s actions constitute terrorism [5]. The Harper Government’s unconditional support of Israel is not only racist, but violates its own anti-terror legislation, Bill C-51.
The Harper Government has spent $260,000 to fight against the wearing of niqabs in citizenship ceremonies. In spite of the Supreme Court ruling against the Harper Government, it is continuing the fight and rejecting the simple solution of using a gender-segregated ceremony [6]. The suggestion is that Harper wants to keep the divisive issue alive for political gain.
Just weeks ago, Harper hired Lynton Crosby, “master of the dark arts”, to help his flagging election campaign. Crosby has a reputation for engaging in racist “dog-whistle” politics [7]. A “dog-whistle” is the use of a subtle code-word that your supporters are attuned to and, it is hoped, others will not notice. Shortly after hiring Crosby, Harper used the dog-whistle “old-stock Canadians” in a leader’s debate, as a code-word to differentiate white from non-white Canadians [8]. More recently, Harper dog-whistled again, referring to our Aboriginals as “those people”. Their ears were attuned to the offensive language [9].
Now Harper’s campaign has turned around. Some people think that it is because of Crosby’s strategies [10]. Many Canadians are not so easily tricked by racist strategies. Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi calls Harper’s position on niqabs and refugees “dangerous” and “disgusting” [11]. Tom Mulcair, referring to the missing and murdered First Nations women, calls the Harper Government’s response “racism”. [12] Broadcaster and writer Rafe Mair calls the exploitation of the niqab issue and the exploitation of fear, using Bill C-51 “not only wrong, but racist” [13]. Justin Trudeau said, “…those who would use the state’s power to restrict women’s religious freedom and freedom of expression indulge the very same repressive impulse that they profess to condemn” [14]. Journalist Steven Zhou says that “Canada’s prime minister has mastered the art of xenophobic demonization” [15]. The director of the Toronto Centre Conservative Association, Samuel Getachew, writes that he is “quitting the Conservatives because of Stephen Harper’s politics”, calling them “not just wrong, but borderline xenophobic” [16].
The question is: Are there enough racist Canadians to determine the outcome of the election?
=============
[1] The EKOS poll: Are Canadians getting more racist?
By Frank Graves | Mar 12, 2015 6:00 pm
[2] Bill C-304: Hate Speech Clause’s Repeal Gives White Supremacists Rare Moment Of Glee
The Huffington Post Canada | By Daniel Tencer
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/06/08/bill-c-304-hate-speech-tories_n_1581437.html
[3] Repeal of Section 13 leaves only Criminal Code to deal with hate speech
By: Haroon Siddiqui Columnist, Published on Wed Jun 13 2012
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/2012/06/13/repeal_of_section_13_leaves_only_criminal_code_to_deal_with_hate_speech.html
[4] Ottawa cites hate crime laws when asked about its ‘zero tolerance’ for Israel boycotters
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ottawa-cites-hate-crime-laws-when-asked-about-its-zero-tolerance-for-israel-boycotters-1.3067497
[5] UN Official Breaks Down Over Shelled Gaza School
Cenk Uygur The Young Turks Published on Jul 31, 2014
[6] There’s a simple solution to niqabs and oath swearing – but Harper won’t allow it
PETER WHEELAND
Contributed to The Globe and Mail
Published Thursday, Oct. 01, 2015 9:54AM EDT
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/theres-a-simple-solution-to-niqabs-and-oath-swearing-but-harper-wont-allow-it/article26611044/
[7] Who is Lynton Crosby, the ‘master of dark arts’ now behind Harper’s campaign?
Tu Thanh Ha
The Globe and Mail
Published Friday, Sep. 11, 2015 12:07PM EDT
Last updated Friday, Sep. 11, 2015 3:45PM EDT
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/who-is-lynton-crosby-the-evil-genius-behind-harpers-campaign/article26331033/
[8] Harper’s ‘old-stock Canadians’ line is part deliberate strategy: pollster
CBC News Posted: Sep 18, 2015 11:44 AM ET Last Updated: Sep 18, 2015 1:50 PM ET
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/harper-old-stock-canadians-debate-1.3233615
[9] Harper Offends AFN Regional Chief With Inuit Debate Comment
The Huffington Post Canada | By Zi-Ann Lum
Posted: 09/29/2015 7:23 pm EDT Updated: 09/29/2015 7:59 pm EDT
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/09/29/stephen-harper-canada-inuit_n_8216710.html
[10] How Harper’s Australian enforcer pulled his campaign out of the weeds
By David Krayden | Sep 30, 2015 8:58 pm
How Harper’s Australian enforcer pulled his campaign out of the weeds
[11] Nenshi’s harsh words for Harper
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi calls the PM’s position on niqabs and refugees ‘dangerous’ and ‘disgusting’
Evan Solomon and Yael Berger
September 30, 2015
http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/nenshis-harsh-words-for-harper/
[12] Mulcair suggests Harper is racist
Canuck Politics
Published on Aug 20, 2015
[13] Harper’s Exploitation Of Fear Is Wrong And Racist
Rafe Mair Posted: 02/23/2015 2:09 pm EST Updated: 04/25/2015 5:59 am EDT
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/rafe-mair/harper-racist-bill-c51_b_6737540.html
[14] Trudeau Was Right to Call Out Racist Past
By Rafe Mair, 23 Mar 2015, TheTyee.ca
http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2015/03/23/Trudeau-Calls-Out-Racist-Past/
[15] Racism in Stephen Harper’s Canada
by Steven Zhou
https://www.jacobinmag.com/2014/12/racism-in-stephen-harpers-canada/
[16] I Am Quitting the Conservatives Because of Stephen Harper’s Politics
Samuel Getachew
Posted: 09/29/2015 5:18 pm EDT Updated: 09/29/2015 5:59 pm EDT
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/samuel-getachew/why-i-quit-the-conservative-party_b_8198508.html
Stephen Barrett