The Logical Progression of Political Correctness and Multiculturalism

Continuing with the theme of religion on this Easter weekend, George Jonas has a very thought-provoking column in today's Post (Throwing the Holocaust down a memory hole).

It actually ties in very nicely with yesterday's discussion about Michael Smith's essay, Religion in a Secular Society. If I can simply Smith's argument, it is that a true secular society allows the free discussion of all viewpoints; not the exclusion of faith itself.

This is all related to political-correctness and multiculturalism, which George Jonas seems to feel has gone way over board trying to appease the ever-increasing influence of Muslim immigration and population growth. And if we look to Britain, we can see the writing on the wall for Canada.

Jonas points to a recent Daily Mail article citing a study that shows that British schools are "dropping the Holocaust from history lessons to avoid offending Muslim pupils".

It found some teachers are reluctant to cover the atrocity for fear of upsetting students whose beliefs include Holocaust denial.

There is also resistance to tackling the 11th century Crusades - where Christians fought Muslim armies for control of Jerusalem - because lessons often contradict what is taught in local mosques.

Jonas likens this situation to Orwell's famous novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, where "past events that didn't sit well with Big Brother went into a memory hole".


Michael Smith notes:

The trend in our country and elsewhere to consign religious communities to the private realm is, in fact, a drift toward intolerance, despite claims to the contrary.

Religious communities must continue to speak and act in the public realm and to propose policies for the common good.

Will Britain's problems become ours someday?

If we allow ourselves to be goaded into silence, I fear that may well be the case.

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Related: Dr. Roy - CBC mocks Christians on Good Friday.

Update: More at Fox News.

-Just picked up a copy of George Jonas' "Reflections on Islam", which was highly recommended by Lorrie Goldstein. Looking forward to catching up on my reading.

Have a great weekend, whatever you are celebrating.

Great Good Friday Essay

The Star surprised me with this excellent essay (Religion in a Secular Society - by Michael Smith).

Lots of food for thought. I am heartened by his argument that secularism does not necessarily mean that religion must be excluded from society. Indeed, quite the opposite, as long as everyone has the freedom to discuss their viewpoint.

Confession of a Doubting Thomas

Well, the David Suzuki-mobile rolled into town yesterday. The adulatory masses at the breeding ground of environmental activism were duly awed.

The prophet Suzuki was extolling the faithful to hold the politicians' feet to the global-warming fire:

Require governments to consider the impact of policy on future generations. "Tax the hell out of things we don't want." Force businesses to recycle packaging.

The Wise Bearded One was especially skeptical of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's recent conversion:

"There isn't a green bone in his body"

Oh, Hallowed Saint, how does one exactly test for that on an empirical basis to order to prove that revelation?

Or is it thy all-knowing, supernatural 'oneness with the universe' that gives you this power?

Please forgive my recent occasions of doubt.

Amen.

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Thursday Update: Check this out! The fruit fly guy implodes.

More Kyotology

The Blogging Tories have done a great job today highlighting the articles in MSM that are poking holes at Kyoto.

One of my favourites is the Post's front page exposé on the religious fervour of Kyoto. I had noted this myself several weeks ago:

...The second reason why I believe this is such a hot topic today is that there is a huge spiritual void that the worship of the environment and earth serves to fill; especially by those who have abandoned traditional religion.

Today Joseph Brean of the Post discusses Davil Orrell's new book 'Apollo's Arrow', which exposes the "religious nature of modern environmentalism." David Suzuki and Al Gore are likened to saints or prophets. As PTBC notes, the article is well worth the read.

Contrast this with a Second Opinion piece in today's Record, which was written in response to the Record's anti-Kyoto stand from a few days ago. The writer cites Gore right on cue. The whole piece is written as a Churchhillesque call to environmental arms:

Let us remember what previous generations did when collectively they turned the impossible into the possible.

Another convert for Kyotology.

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Semi-related tidbit: From the Star - Is Susan Delacourt now becoming a Dion denier?

This is totally awesome!!! (H/T Neo Conservative in comments).

This is really funny!!!