Ottawa threatening hate charges against those who boycott Israel

[ZedMan]

http://warrenkinsella.com/2015/05/th...klessly-false/

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by peter12

Boycotting Israel is idiotic, and probably a little bit anti-semitic.

100% agreed.

Trying to make it illegal is also idiotic though.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

100% agreed.

Trying to make it illegal is also idiotic though.

Serious question, why is it anti-semitic?

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Serious question, why is it anti-semitic?

What an insane decision to make. I'm not interested in boycotting Israel, but I'm also equally if not less interested in making people criminals for suggesting to do so.

[Nyah]

What an embarrassment this government has become. I sincerely hope they're destroyed in the election this year.

[FlamesAddiction]

Not everyone who supports a boycott on Israel is an anti-Semite, but everyone who is anti-semetic supports a boycott on Israel. Israel's complicated situation is often used as a platform to promote hate by anti-Semites, and it isn't always easy to separate those intetions.

I agree that making a law against being against Israeli policy is ridiculous though. Even in Israel, there are fairly powerful opposition groups that dissent against certain policy issues, and it is perfectly legal there to do so. Making it illegal in Canada would be bizarre.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by nik-

Actually, a lot of people can talk about it objectively. It's just that there's a handful of people on both sides of these threads that aren't objective, insist they are, and cause insane lines to be drawn in the sand and then the thread spirals into the #### abyss.

Maybe, but it's just so exhausting. And immediately, as if to make your point for you,

Originally Posted by peter12

Boycotting Israel is idiotic, and probably a little bit anti-semitic.

Bam.

If I post my basic position, which boils down to, "The Israeli goal appears to be survival in the face of being surrounded by people who would prefer they cease to exist, while the goal of Hamas appears to be and is stated to be precisely that same genocide", I can't imagine I'll get measured responses.

[flylock shox]

It would probably be better if this thread didn't go down the road of discussing Israeli politics.

This story is about Canadian politics, and a Canadian government suggesting - it would seem - the suppression and criminalization of political free speech in Canada.

It's actually very dangerous stuff: the criminalization of dissent combined with increased domestic monitoring and enforcement powers.

Canadians, regardless of their take on Israeli politics, should be upset about the suggestion their government would even consider such a step.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

It would probably be better if this thread didn't go down the road of discussing Israeli politics.

I'm with you, but I think most everyone is on the same side of that issue here, so I doubt the other topic can be avoided.

Canadians, regardless of their take on Israeli politics, should be upset about the suggestion their government would even consider such a step

Eh, don't get too dramatic until something actually happens. The threat is dumb, but it's probably idle. Still worthy of rebuke but let's not start with the fear of fascism speech because of a quote.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Serious question, why is it anti-semitic?

This is gonna be boring ...

Because there are a lot more valid and serious reasons to boycott many other nations/countries and there are no calls to boycott them from those same people calling to boycott Israel. Thus; the conclusion about motivations.

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I'm with you, but I think most everyone is on the same side of that issue here, so I doubt the other topic can be avoided.

Eh, don't get too dramatic until something actually happens. The threat is dumb, but it's probably idle. Still worthy of rebuke but let's not start with the fear of fascism speech because of a quote.

I agree: nothing has happened yet - just a suggestion. Which is likely political pandering but could also be fearmongering (i.e., they may not act on it, but the fact it's out there could chill free speech among those who feel vulnerable).

CP has had some pretty good conversations about Israel in the past (ultimately they devolve, but they can be pretty interesting before that happens). The focus here though should be what's going on in Canada rather than Israel. Heck, maybe it's a springboard of common ground for those on either side of the Israel debate.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

I agree with the fearmongering. I just think "you guys are stupid", more than anything. Well, actually, mostly I'm thinking "stop wasting time with this nonsense and get on with governing the country". But honestly, I think this is a lot of bravado and big talk intended to demonstrate to Israel in a public fashion that the Canadian government has their backs, and none of it is likely to be acted on.

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

This is gonna be boring ...

Because there are a lot more valid and serious reasons to boycott many other nations/countries and there are no calls to boycott them from those same people calling to boycott Israel. Thus; the conclusion about motivations.

The notion that "other countries are just as bad" is pretty silly. There are plenty of human rights violators whose relative moral culpability is debatable, if you want to waste time on that sort of debate. Are falun gong protestors racist against Asians because they're not splitting their time protesting the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia?

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

...
The notion that "other countries are just as bad" is pretty silly. There are plenty of human rights violators whose relative moral culpability is debatable, if you want to waste time on that sort of debate. ...

You are missing the point of the argument. For example, if you call to boycott a country based on illegal occupation issues - you have to be consistent and call to boycott other countries involved in illegal occupation issues (e.g. Russia/Japan, Armenia/Azerbaijan, Turkey/Greece, UK/Argentina etc.). Same principle goes for women equality, population oppression, sexual orientation persecution etc. Pick an issue, any issue – and then be consistent in calling to boycott all countries based on this issue. Then your public position is consistent and respected. If you narrow your boycott on a wide-spread issue to only one country – chances are, your motivation is questionable.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

You are missing the point of the argument. For example, if you call to boycott a country based on illegal occupation issues - you have to be consistent and call to boycott other countries involved in illegal occupation issues (e.g. Russia/Japan, Armenia/Azerbaijan, Turkey/Greece, UK/Argentina etc.). Same principle goes for women equality, population oppression, sexual orientation persecution etc. Pick an issue, any issue – and then be consistent in calling to boycott all countries based on this issue. Then your public position is consistent and respected. If you narrow your boycott on a wide-spread issue to only one country – chances are, your motivation is questionable.

No. You don't. With that type of reasoning... why bother trying to fix anything?

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Hold the phone, are you drawing some sort of moral equivalence between Israel and Apartheid South Africa?

Nelson Mandela called Israel an Apartheid state. He, of all people, should know what an Apartheid state is..

[_Q_]

I know people that boycott purchasing American products (as difficult as it is) or Chinese made products or whatever. As a citizen of a free country, I have the right to purchase or not purchase whatever the hell I want for whatever reason I want.

Hell, during the first round of the playoffs, I told my friends that no BC beers were allowed in my house on game day. Is that going to be illegal now too?

This is absolutely deplorable.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

Nelson Mandela called Israel an Apartheid state. He, of all people, should know what an Apartheid state is..

He probably just hates Jews. Didn't Rob Anders call him a terrorist?

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by ZedMan

http://warrenkinsella.com/2015/05/th...klessly-false/

People in this thread should actually read this. I assumed since the story was from CBC that is was probably at least a little bit of BS. CBC has changed the headline by the way.

As linked in Kinsella's post the email exchange is here.
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2...-prosecutions/

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Kelekin

And then once C-51 passes, the government can specifically watch and target anyone who has an unfavourable view the government dislikes. Hooray!

As someone born into Jewish faith, I am appalled at the notion that it is anti-Semitic to disagree with Israel, just as much as it is not Islamophobic to disagree with Muslim countries. Everyone deserves the right to question a government, no matter who they are.

Exact same family scenario here, and I have the exact same thoughts.

I'll judge a Country on their actions, not what fairy tale character they cheer for TYVM.

[Matata]

[tinfoil hat]

with the end of a Canadian PC govt seeming inevitable, the new world order is without motivation to disguise their intentions and are now shamelessly pushing their pro-war, pro-surveillance, pro-Isreal agenda.

[\tinfoil hat]