But Harper said it was becoming old hat to hear Liberals say only they hold the key to what it means to be Canadian. "The greater message in his speech is that if we do not accept his particular views on this piece of legislation then we are not truly Canadian, and that, Mr. Speaker, is something that this party will never accept."
Harper said the Liberal party drapes itself in the Charter of Rights like it drapes itself in the flag and is in a poor position to boast about its human rights record.
From the U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.htmlloveasian said:Ultimately it distracting from his main thesis that marriage isn't a "human right". Interestingly, I've yet to hear from one commentator or Liberal politician stand up and say that it is.
*cough*Cardinal Fang said:From the U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
Article 1.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
The point still remains that if you don't believe that gay marriage is a right than there is no way anyone can convince you otherwise just as you will never convince me it isn't a right.
You're welcome.Cardinal Fang said:Thank you.
Traditionally, a man/woman and optional kids.Cardinal Fang said:What defines a family?
Ah yes....traditionally.Goober Mcfly said:You're welcome.
Traditionally, a man/woman and optional kids.
I think you bring up an important point. Marriage is not a human right. It can't be a human right as I think we'd all agree that there are some marriages that not every human being in the world has the right to enter into - marriage of one's sister or of minors, for example.loveasian said:Ultimately it distracting from his main thesis that marriage isn't a "human right". Interestingly, I've yet to hear from one commentator or Liberal politician stand up and say that it is.
yychobbyist said:The issue here is whether one identifiable and recognizable group in our society should have the legal right to marry. And that is a very different thing than saying it is a human right.
I doubt that Harper has been sincere in the Conservative Party's position on this issue either. I'm sure you will find more than a few MP's that are pressuring Harper based on the "morality" of homosexuality and nothing more. He too is trying to sell the position that they are not intolerant to the needs of the gay community. In the end politicians do what they do best. Try and sell ideas. You can debate the minutia of how those ideas are delivered but in the end the general public knows exactly what the intent in as it pertains TO THIS ISSUE.loveasian said:I agree. But the Liberal government props this up as a Charter right, by extension a Human Right. It's a smokescreen.
Paul Martin would be much more geniune if he said "I beleive that gays and lesbians should marry because it's the proper thing to do." But he's never said that. Harper also pointed out this distinction, the Liberals cannot (he believes) hang their hat on the "right issue" but refuses to candidly say "We Liberals believe in gay marriage." Rights vs. Policy. Listen to when Martin speaks. He rarely says the words "gays", "lesbians" or "homosexuals". I don't think he's convinced himself yet!
Since it's a dreery Friday afternoon and I'm bored, I'll quibble. The Charter is not, in my view, a document outlining Human Rights as such - it details the legal rights of Canadian citizens and the section 15 guarantees provided are spelled out in a section entitled "Equality Rights". And, in my view, there is no issue that it is a Charter right that gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry.loveasian said:I agree. But the Liberal government props this up as a Charter right, by extension a Human Right.
I'm not against their being able to get married. However, I don't see where in the charter it includes sexual oreination as a protected group. When they wrote the charter they purposely did not deal that that issue.yychobbyist said:Since it's a dreery Friday afternoon and I'm bored, I'll quibble. The Charter is not, in my view, a document outlining Human Rights as such - it details the legal rights of Canadian citizens and the section 15 guarantees provided are spelled out in a section entitled "Equality Rights". And, in my view, there is no issue that it is a Charter right that gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry.
see my thread in this section entitled 'a question for those opposed to gay marriage". It's in s. 15 of the charter "every individual" is entitled to equal protection against the law. Yeah, sure the section goes on to enumerate the specific areas which are protected but it still starts off "every individual" that's pretty self evident to me and the courts are agreeing with me.someone said:I'm not against their being able to get married. However, I don't see where in the charter it includes sexual oreination as a protected group. When they wrote the charter they purposely did not deal that that issue.