Minister of Truth Jason Kenney

What is going on in this country?  First we have a major campaign from the coalition of mainstream Jewish organizations, the National Post and  Immigration Minister Jason Kenney (hereafter called Minister of Truth) to shut down Israel Apartheid Week.   That failed.  So now the same triumvirate is supporting the decision of custom officials to refuse entry into Canada to British MP George Galloway, a strong critic of Israel on the absurd notion that he is a threat to national security. 

The so-called Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff joined in the chorus on IAW but wonders if Galloway really is a security threat and if not probably they should let him in.  I'm so glad this guy is around to protect our rights.  Surely if Liberals are good for anything, it is to protect basic democratic rights.  Not Ignatieff.  Remember he supported torture.

Minister of Truth Kenney also made a decision to cut the funding to the Canadian Arab Federation because of their criticism of Israel.  A government agency cutting funding to an advocacy group because of political disagreements is nothing new.  The National Action Committee on the Status of Women lost most of its federal funding because we opposed free trade under Brian Mulroney but rarely were governments so overt about it.  This time there is a massive campaign under way to deny voice to anyone seriously critical of Israel. 

Of course there is a major mobilization to let Galloway into the country.  You can sign a petition ,  or write the Minister 'kennej@parl.gc.ca'.  Here is what I wrote him:

I hope you will remember at one time in this country your views were in a small minority.  I was one who defended your right to speak.   In this spirit of freedom of speech, I ask you to re-consider your government’s ban on George Galloway and your removal of funding from the Canadian Arab Federation.  Neither one nor the other are terrorists or have done anything illegal.   Banning Galloway and removing funding from the CAF is simply a way to intimidate others from voicing their views.  You may be in a minority again, at least that’s my hope,  and you will need the protection of a strong defence of freedom of speech.

Please stop this frightening direction you are moving in.  It will cost you a lot politically and serious erodes democracy in this country.   "

In all my life of being an outspoken advocate for many initially unpopular issues, I have never seen such McCarthyite tactics of silencing as we have seen in the last couple of months.  Whether or not you agree with Galloway, please take a moment to speak out against this agregious attack on freedom of speech.