Racism is well and alive in the US and Canada

This is the ugly side of our countries – both US and Canada. With the election of Barack Obama the real ugly side of the US started showing: the birthers, teabaggers, KKK, and other bigots and racists started coming out of the wood works.

Some Americans, especially in the south, are terribly upset that a black man is occupying the Whitehouse. That is why you saw these morons on TV, who call themselves birthers, questioning the legitimacy of Obama to be President contending that he was born in Kenya. Tell the truth birthers, that you're upset because he is black.

Then this teabaggers stuff started. Same racist groups. Both birthers and teabaggers are becoming an embarrassment for the mainstream Republicans and others who tried to embrace them. Similar manifestations came forth with the healthcare reform raising the issue of "death panels" and "pulling the plug on granny". Fear mongering of the most repulsive kind is succeeding which shows how racists can be effective at influencing the general public and at causing damage.

The real death panel and those who pull the plug on grannies are the private health insurance companies. It is frightening that healthcare is based on profit motives where, if there is no profit, the plug is pulled and to hell with granny's health or for that matter anyone else's health. My personal belief is that healthcare must be free of any profit motive otherwise it is deadly to our health with the exception of the very rich. The only way profit motive can be removed is through public healthcare. Americans are making a stupid mistake if they do not go for meaningful reform and the public option.

Similar racism showed up when Obama planned to speak to schoolchildren. The racists came out in full force to stop him. They conveniently forgot that practically all former Presidents spoke to schoolchildren. What is different in the case of President Obama is that he is black and how dare he play a role model to the children of these racist folks. Their excuse is that Obama is going to indoctrinate these children. If he wants to indoctrinate children by telling them to work hard and stay in school then which parent will disapprove of it other than racists.

I included Canada because since Harper took over racism started showing its ugly face more blatantly. First Harper indicated that certain dress means terrorism such as the turban forgetting that there are a few Sikhs in Parliament. Then there were the positions taken on minority Canadian citizens such as Maher Arar, Suaad Haji Mohamud, Omar Khadr and many others.

Then when a white man from South Africa applied for refugee status stating that he was afraid of black men beating him up in South Africa he was given refugee status in no time – how dare black men scare this "poor" white guy. Who got the title of racist country in the world because of this incident? Canada.

What happened to the Trudeau's human rights policy, multiculturalism and Charter of Rights and Freedoms?

What is happening now are dangerous trends. I see no difference between the KKK, birthers, teabaggers and many other manifestations of the deadly diseases of racism which have plagued many societies over the centuries.

This racism is being carried out on the international level. For example when our soldiers are killed in Afghanistan (which is indeed a terrible tragedy). Our soldiers should not be there and our politicians must not use them as sacrificial lambs. Now the corrupt government of Karzai has removed any legitimacy which might have been there. The terrorists are considered bad (and rightly so) but if we kill hundreds of civilians through bombing then it is just collateral damage.

We are all humans and equal respect must be shown for all human life. As long as these discrepancies exist there is no chance for peace in the world.

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Is Canada Racist?

Can we believe this trio that Canada in not racist? It is disturbing how Canada has handled some immigration cases.

Maher Arar, a citizen of Canada, was deported to Syria (with full knowledge and approval of Canadian authorities) when he was in the US. He suffered in the jails of Syria as he was tortured there. It became an international case and after a lot of pressure Canada gave in and admitted him back into Canada.

Then there is Omar Khadr's case, Canadian-born who has been confined at Gitmo from a very young age. At worst he was a child soldier, otherwise he was an exploited young man indoctrinated by a certain environment. Even US authorities have given indications that he should go to Canada but the Harper government has fought back tooth and nail and now the Harper government is taking the case to the Supreme Court to stop Khadr's deportation to Canada. Does that not show a great amount of racism on the part of the Harper government?

The more recent case is that of Suaad Haji Mohamud who was detained in Kenya and imprisoned. The Harper government will not move on her case. She had a young son in Canada. Canadian immigration authorities asked for DNA tests before agreeing to let her back in. She languished in Kenya for over a year.

There are many other similar cases and all such cases involve a minority, mostly Muslims. What is happening to Canada, a country of multiculturalism? It is shameful.

More recently a white man from South Africa, Brandon Huntley, applied for refugee status claiming that he would be prosecuted by blacks in South Africa and that he was attacked by blacks in Africa when he was there. Jason Kenney and officials wasted no time to take him in their arms to welcome him to Canada (true the decision was made by the Immigration and Refugee Board, but the buck stops with the government and one can have little doubt that the Board have been taking cues from Stephen Harper and his cronies). South African officials are crying racism and probably rightly so. After all, one of Harper's MPs, Rob Anders, called Nelson Mandela a terrorist and asked that he not be given honorary Canadian citizenship. Shame.

As a Canadian, I feel ashamed about the actions of Harper and his cronies.

To read the Brandon Huntley story, you can click here.

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Suaad Hagi Mohamud: Too many cases now

What is going on with our foreign services? Too many cases now. It seems it is always a minority and a Muslim involved. What happened to their rights as Canadians? If minorities now accuse the Harper government of racism then they won't be very far off. The only way Harper or his Foreign Minister Cannon will learn is if they are denied entrance back into Canada and detained. Something is terribly wrong with the whole system.

The way the Harper government is dragging its feet over Omar Khadr again points to the same conclusion that it has racist policies.

Click here to read on Suaad Hagi Mohamud.

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Omar Khadr and Bush's Justice

Harper is a perfect domesticated poodle to George W. Bush. We as Canadians do not deserve this man as our Prime Minister. Even the US presidential candidates (both McCain and Obama) have indicated they will close Gitmo. They gave many hints to the Harper government that he should repatriate Khadr, but Harper is too afraid of his master George W. Bush.

Khadr was a child when he was captured in Afghanistan. He should at least be considered a child soldier and tried in an appropriate court in Canada, not in some kangroo military court at Gitmo whose sole goal is to get a conviction and hang him or put the detainees in torture chambers for life.

We Canadians believe in basic human rights. It is time we assert those rights for our citizens.

Click here to read a story about Canadians demanding action from Stephen Harper.

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Omar Khadr -- US Military Lawyer

Harper insists on remaining Bush's poodle. Gitmo trials are rigged, the PM should push for Khadr's return.

U.S. military lawyer:
"I hope that the prime minister of Canada finally decides to stand up and act like a Prime Minister of Canada and protect the rights of a Canadian citizen."

Click here to read the story.

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Omar Khadr: UPDATE

I just watched CBC News and their extended coverage of the Khadr video, it's absolutely horrible and uncivilized the way a 16 year old was being treated. He was a minor. According to reports, he was mistreated everywhere, including at Guantanamo Bay - especially by American interrogators.

Even one of the investigators from Canada there, whose a retired person, said a young person like Khadr shouldn't be in a place like that. He should be brought to Canada and treated. Now I'm totally convinced that it's immoral, unethical and wrong.

I am completely ashamed that Stephen Harper -- who is a complete poodle to Bush -- is taking no action. Our Prime Minister, our leaders and our politicians must be ashamed of themselves that a young sixteen year old was put in a horrible place like that, treated in a horrible way, and still held there in a place recognized internationally as immoral, unethical and wrong. This is a very sad day in Canadian history.

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Omar Khadr Video Released

This video may not be clearly audible, but it's obvious that Khadr is a very scared adolescent.

I should add that I care passionately about human rights and the past record of CSIS is not good. To start with, they gave false information about Maher Arar that led him to be sent by American authorities to Syria where he was tortured.

It's sad that these officials (CSIS and related agencies) have not been made accountable.

Before I go any further, I should add that there are pending allegations against Omar Khadr. But, I believe that habeas corpus is applicable not only to the Bushes and to the Cheneys of the World, but to everyone, no matter who they are or where they are on the Globe.

I strongly believe that Khadr should be tried in a civilian court and not in a military court. Also, the trial should be in Canada under Canadian law. If he's found guilty, then he should be put in a Candian jail.

Omar Khadr is the only detainee from a Western country who is still in detention at Guantanamo. The United Kingdom and Australia have already had their prisoners extradited. It's a shame that our Prime Minister is such a poodle to Bush that he hasn't done the same for Khadr as other Western countries have done for their citizens.

All I want is fairness and justice for Khadr.

Click here for the CBC story on Khadr.

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Stephen Harper: PM (Prime Minion) to George W. Bush

I thought that Harper, as our Prime Minister, had some responsibility to our citizens, rather than just sucking up to George W. Bush. A young man, a Canadian, by the name of Omar Khadr is being tortured and denied human rights at Guantanamo Bay (GITMO). There are allegations against him, but no evidence or proof.

Have we not learned from the Arar case? Why is our Prime Minister (or Bush's Prime Minion) so subservient to the Republican President? Even Republican Presidential candidate John McCain gave indication that the US is open to talking in the case of Khadr, but it has met with total silence from Harper. Apparently Harper's bosses are Bush and Cheney and Canadians are secondary, just an annoyance to deal with at election time. A sad situation indeed.

Thus people must not travel outside of Canada as long as Harper the Prime Minion is around, because you may never make it back. Prime Minion will need Bush's approval before even considering to help you.

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