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“Democracy is not a spectator sport.”
7-29-2015
As CBC NEWS confirmed that Prime Minister Harper is set to announce the longest campaign in modern Canadian history as early as this week, the Canadians, especially Muslim Canadians have a lot to ponder, and decide what kind of Canada do they want, the one that is inclusive and tolerant, celebrating our differences, as mark of our strength and unity. Or the one which is based on personal biases, prejudice, discrimination, intolerant of differences, divisive, creating frictions among its citizens, while weakening us by exploiting our differences. In nutshell, do we want the Canada the way it used to be in past or do we want the Canada which is intolerant – what Mr. Harper and his Conservatives want?
Based on our observations, we feel that Canadians have had enough of the conservatives and are just counting on days where they would be given the opportunity to throw them out of the parliament and restore Canadian dignity and respect it once held among international community by electing MP’s who would be able to undo the damage done by several years of Conservatives politics of hatred and divide.
An excellent example of such pathetic approach was highlighted by CBC, based on an email obtained by the CBC last week which demonstrated that the Conservative government went out of their way to make news about terrorism, and bureaucrats were expected to produce three terror related news a week.
On July 22nd, CBC reported that, “Foreign Affairs bureaucrats were told this spring to produce three terrorism-related statements for minister Rob Nicholson to make to the media each week, ahead of a fall election in which security and Canada's response to terrorism are expected to be key issues. The email, dated April 24 and obtained by CBC News Network's Power & Politics, suggests the regular ministerial statements should be crafted from an event reported by the news media, such as developments in the fight against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.”
How low can the conservatives fall? We suppose, low enough for Canadians to start barfing.
This also demonstrates the shameless length Conservatives are willing to go to ensure victory at the polls this fall, most probably, October 19th, 2015.
This brings us to the main point, that is, once the writ is dropped and election date is set, everyone would be running. The lion must outrun the slowest gazelle, or it will starve, and the gazelle must outrun the fastest lion, or it will become lion’s dinner. During this fast paced race, there will be allegations, accusations, pelted at everyone and anyone. People would be confused with two or more different polls conducted by different companies providing contradictory results.
Canadian Muslims can count on one thing with absolute certainty, any polls sponsored and paid by the Conservative party of Canada, and or Polls produced by pro-conservative pollsters will have one theme, the dangerous threat of Islamic terrorism, ISIS, the enemy within, couch cough, Canadian Muslims, etc, and how Mr. Harper and his Conservatives are at the forefront of fighting this menace, and committed to protect Canada and Canadians. Simply stated fascist style fear mongering, playing with people’s emotions, manipulating facts with their own convoluted fiction, making people fearful and hoping they fall for it, thus selecting them over others as the best defenders of Canadians and Canadian Values.
We certainly hope and pray that Canadians will see through manipulation of facts by the Conservatives, and elect responsible individuals to replace them. Individuals, who can restore and protect Canadians and Canadian Values, far better than the Conservatives.
Canadian Muslims have a real meaningful opportunity to finally demonstrate their strength, by playing an active role in the upcoming federal elections, silencing their opponents, once and for all.
Canadian Muslims also believe that Canadians in general are not naïve to fall for the Conservative antics. If Quebec and Alberta Provincial elections are any indications, it demonstrates tolerance and logic in Canada prevails over fascism and political bigotry.
On one hand Canadian Muslims are aware of the positive contribution they make towards the betterment of Canada. On the other hand realization by all Canadians the positive contribution made by Canadian Muslims in every field.
As the Canadian Muslims prepare to be bombarded by the Conservatives Negative Campaign, we leave you with some positive polls about Canadian Muslims, by Environics Research Group Polls for the Trudeau Foundation.
“Seventy-five per cent of Canadians agree that Muslim immigrants make a positive contribution to Canada. Even 57 per cent of those who report having a negative impression of Islam agree that Muslim immigrants make a positive contribution to Canada.”
“Half of Canadians (49 per cent) feel immigrants should be free to maintain their religious and cultural practices.”
This is an area where we feel Muslims are lacking and require participation by all. When the pollster asked, “Do you personally have contact with Muslims?” More than half (53 per cent) of Canadians have little to no contact with Muslims, while 46 per cent “occasionally” or “often” have contact. Twenty-two per cent say “rarely” and 31 per cent say “never”.
Despite the above, when asked, “Is your impression of Islam generally positive or negative?” Half of all Canadians (49 per cent) say their impression of the religion of Islam is “generally positive.”
When further asked, “What are the main reasons you have a negative impression of the religion of Islam?” Among those who report having a negative impression of Islam, the single most commonly stated reason was “treatment of women” (21%). Violent (19%) Association with terrorism (17%), Intolerant (11%), Extremism/fanaticism (11%).
When asked, “Do you think that Muslims are portrayed fairly in the media?” One in three Canadians (29%) say Muslims are “rarely” portrayed fairly in the media and seven per cent say Muslims are “never” portrayed fairly.
Despite all the setbacks, and constant negative campaigns by the Conservatives, Canadian Muslims can say, the glass is half full. And the only way to ensure it does not become half empty would be us going out to vote.
We urge all Canadians – Muslims and Non-Muslims to educate themselves regarding issues, and policies and how it can impact their lives, after all democracy is not a spectator sport.
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