Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Scare-Quoting Our Security

In today’s political climate, the first step in discrediting something is to scare-quote the bejayzus out of it. That’s what the Leftist/Islamist alliance is doing to our “national security” (and presumably to our “freedom”, our “culture”, and “Western Civilization” as well) this weekend in Montréal.

I apologize for the short notice, but the Center for Vigilant Freedom needs volunteer operatives to attend the event and monitor the activities. It’s billed as a “teach-in”, and takes place on Saturday from 1pm to 9pm.

If you’re in Quebec (or can be), please attend the conference and record the proceedings, if possible. Send the recordings as .wav files to CVF at info@vigilantfreedom.com, or post them at your own blogs and send us the links. If you can, take notes and post or send an action report as well, in addition to any possible recordings.

Thanks to a heads-up from Sketchy Thoughts, I have a lot of information in hand about the “Conference on Racism, Islamophobia and ‘National Security’“, sponsored by the Coalition Justice for Adil Charkaoui:

RACISM, ISLAMOPHOBIA AND “NATIONAL SECURITY”
Teach-in and strategy forum


Saturday, 26 May, 1pm to 9pm
Pavillon J.-A.-Sève, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
320 Ste-Catherine East, Montreal (Berri-UQAM metro)

Racism, Islamophobia and ‘National Security’Spies, media, corporations and politically-constructed public debates … In the name of “national security”, many forces in our society are helping to mobilize underlying racism and Islamophobia against Muslims, Arabs and others. The result is often devastating on people’s lives.

Targetted communities are marginalized and unable to participate fully in political, economic or social life. When extreme measures such as security certificates are used against individuals, communities are often too intimidated, alienated or constrained to respond effectively.

Join us on Saturday, 26 May to take an in-depth look at some of the concrete ways in which the national security agenda is being advanced in Canada. The teach-in will bring together community members, academics, NGOs, legal experts and activists in order to develop effective strategies to resist racial profiling and defend the liberty and dignity of all.

Here are some of the listed workshop topics:
- - - - - - - - - -
  • “National security” and targetting of Arab and Muslim communities
  • Racism and the debate on “reasonable accommodation”
  • Panel Discussion: Countering the instrumentalization of “national security”

And here are some extracts from the facilitators’ bios, via I. N. Daily:

Nazila Bettache is a Montreal-based organizer and member of No One is Illegal-Montreal.

Salam El Menyawi is President of the Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM). He has been an outspoken defender of human rights and against racial profiling for many years…

Helen Hudson is a Montreal activist working in solidarity with Political Prisoners, primarily in the United States, as well as on other social justice issues including immigration and feminist questions. She is also a programmer at CKUT community radio.

Faisal Kutty currently serves as general counsel for the Canadian Muslim Civil Liberties Association (CMCLA) and as vice-chair and legal counsel to the Canadian Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN). He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. His dissertation explores the impact of anti-terror laws and policies on the rule of law. In the course of his legal practice, he has also advised and acted on behalf of dozens of individuals and charities that have been directly impacted and targeted by anti-terrorism laws and policies. He is currently acting as counsel to CAIR-CAN and the CMCLA at the Iacobucci and the Air India Inquiries.

As you can see, Saturday in Montréal will see a full lineup of representatives of the Demonic Convergence, gathering to share their ideas and plans in an effort to oppose the Counterjihad on all fronts. The more light we can shine on their doings, the better off we will be.

So if you manage to get there, please let us know.

And thanks for doing your “duty”.

4 comments:

History Snark said...

"Targetted communities are marginalized and unable to participate fully in political, economic or social life."

--Yeah. I feel badly for the poor middle easterners. The Man is certainly holding them down. If I had to guess, I'd say they're one of the most well-off ethnic groups in my neck of the woods.

I'm also so impressed with ol' Helen Hudson. I mean, the way she puts her life on the line every day protesting US oppression. I can only imagine the number of times the Canadian government has kicked in her door, hauled her off to prison and beaten her senseless, all at the request of the FBI and the CIA. I'm sure Bush, Cheney, Gonzalez and the rest have hit squads tracking her every move.

And the poor woman has no way to make her voice heard. Except of course for her radio show. And likely, a very sympathetic media in the Northland.

These people make me sick.

turn said...

Not to mention threatening decapitation...

Brian H said...

In order to escape from the stereotypical assumption that North Americans have that Muslims are the source of all terrorist evil, they should work hard at getting other cultures and nationalities and religions to pitch in. Why should Islamists have all the fun? Once the action is spread around a bit, the clearly unjustified assumption that Islam is THE major source of demented mayhem in the world today will be shown up for what it is: lazy acceptance of obvious fact as obvious fact.

Of course, once the walls have all come down, and the Caliphate is in charge, all the other groups' useful idiots and child-bombers will have to be flushed out of the system. Purity will demand it.

Exile said...

"Helen Hudson is a Montreal activist..."

Strange how she's an "activist".

Anyone having an opposing opinion is doubtlessly a "right wing extremist".