Baffled Canadian Writes To U.S. Voters After Midterm: ‘You Don’t Know How Good You Have It With Obama’

As an American, I’ve found myself dizzied by the hypocrisy of the midterm election: a majority of people reported that the economy was their number one concern, and yet they overwhelmingly voted against the president who has been bringing the economy back on track and instead gave the reins back to a political party which was almost entirely responsible for derailing it in the first place. So if I was confused, imagine how it must look to the outside observer. Americans must look nuts.

To get a sense of just how baffled the rest of the world is at how Americans voted this year, we find a Letter to the Editor of a Detroit newspaper, written by a Canadian who just doesn’t get it. First noticed by Rick Strandlof who tweeted a picture of it, the piece, published by the Detroit Free Press, is devastating. Titled “You Americans have no idea just how good you have it with Obama,” the author, Victoria, British Columbia resident Richard Brunt, goes on to list an impressive array of accomplishments under Obama – none of which the American voter seemed the least bit interested in.

The letter reads:

Many of us Canadians are confused by the U.S. midterm elections. Consider, right now in America, corporate profits are at record highs, the country’s adding 200,000 jobs per month, unemployment is below 6%, U.S. gross national product growth is the best of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The dollar is at its strongest levels in years, the stock market is near record highs, gasoline prices are falling, there’s no inflation, interest rates are the lowest in 30 years, U.S. oil imports are declining, U.S. oil production is rapidly increasing, the deficit is rapidly declining, and the wealthy are still making astonishing amounts of money.

America is leading the world once again and respected internationally — in sharp contrast to the Bush years. Obama brought soldiers home from Iraq and killed Osama bin Laden. 

So, Americans vote for the party that got you into the mess that Obama just dug you out of? This defies reason. 

When you are done with Obama, could you send him our way?

The letter is on point in a number of ways, but for my money the most salient point is when it mentions the repaired image Obama has given to the United States after Bush killed the country’s credibility over the last decade. It may not be expressed often from within the right-wing echo chamber that dominates the American news media, but Obama is viewed very favorably on the international stage and his presidency has been a soothing touch to a very bad reputation. In one of Dick Cheney’s monthly “criticize the president” national tours, he remarked that he thought America’s image around the world was “increasingly negative.” The Atlantic decided to fact check that idea and found… well… you’ll see:

For more than a decade, the Pew Research Center has been asking people around the world about their opinion of the United States. The upshot: In every region of the globe except the Middle East (where the United States was wildly unpopular under George W. Bush and remains so), America’s favorability is way up since Obama took office. In Spain, approval of the United States is 29 percentage points higher than when Bush left office. In Italy, it’s up 23 points. In Germany and France, it’s 22. With the exception of China, where the numbers have remained flat, the trend is the same in Asia. The U.S. is 19 points more popular in Japan, 24 points more popular in Indonesia, and 28 points more popular in Malaysia.

So given that popularity (especially compared to Republicans, which the world still equates with George W. Bush), it’s easy to see why other countries scratch their heads when America makes bashing Obama the major platform of the Republican Party and Democrats are seen actively trying to avoid him so as to not taint their campaigns. Richard Brunt clearly thinks that we are nuts. And, frankly, it’s hard to disagree with him.

‘Take your best shot’ says man claiming to be former Marine at War Memorial

A man claiming to be a former U.S. Marine stood guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Friday to pay tribute to Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, a reservist from Hamilton, Ont. who was shot dead while guarding the monument last week.

“That young corporal was a comrade in arms,” said the man, who identified himself as “Fox” Sinke and claimed he was a former Marine Major.

“That’s how I see it. So I’m paying tribute to him, as best I can. We are not intimidated. Take your best shot.”

Sinke was wearing a Marine uniform as he marched around the National War Memorial.

“There are those of us who understand what’s happening and we’re not gonna lie down for it,” he said. “Not gonna happen. That’s basically why I’m here. I’m just here to make my own little personal damn statement.”

Lawyers Vote Against Trinity Western University Accreditation Over School's Anti-gay Pledge

A substantial block of lawyers working in British Columbia are moving to petition the provincial law society to withdraw accreditation at a proposed law school at Trinity Western University. A poll conducted throughout the province found that 75 percent of practicing lawyers agreed that the law school should not be given accreditation due to the University’s policy of asking its faculty, staff, and students sign a Community Covenant pledge. Within the pledge are a set of beliefs including the forbidding of all sexual conduct outside of marriage between a man and a woman.

“Trinity Western believes in diversity and the rights of all Canadians to their personal beliefs and values,” University spokesperson Guy Saffold told the Vancouver Sun.“A person’s ability to study and practice the law should not be restricted by their faith.”

Saffold insisted that moving forward with the decision to remove TWU’s accreditation would ultimately hurt the university’s LGBT students by robbing their legal educations of their prestige.

“I thought it was a fantastic showing, for the second time, by the legal profession,” said Michael Mulligan, a Victoria-based lawyer and proponent of the proposal.

“The large return and clear result sends an important message about the core values of the legal profession that include upholding the legal rights of all persons. The clear message to TWU is this: if you wish approval from the legal profession in B.C. you will need to cease your discriminatory practices. The discipline or expulsion of students and staff for private sexual activity is unacceptable.”

Canadian Teacher Suspended After Putting 'I'm Gay' Sticker on Student's Back

It's one of the oldest student pranks in the book: stick a sign on another kid's back that says "kick me" or some other phrase meant to humiliate.

But in a 2013 incident at Aldergrove Community Secondary School in Langley, British Columbia, the prank was played by a teacher. Daniel Mark Ogloff, a metal and machine shop teacher, placed a piece of masking tape on a student's back with the words "I'm gay" written on it, clearly intending to mock the student, The Province reports:

“Ogloff placed a piece of masking tape on the back of the jacket of a male Grade 11 student” with the words ‘I’m gay’ written on it, according to the report. 

“Ogloff then gestured ‘shhh’ to the students after putting the tape on and pointed at another student and mouthed words to the effect, ‘It was him.’ ” 

Students were laughing and taking photos. 

“Ogloff considered this to be horseplay,” said the report. 

Ogloff was suspended for 10 weeks for that incident and was ordered to participate in a “restorative action” with the student. He was also ordered to participate in mandatory mentorship with another teacher and to complete courses required by the district. 

“Ogloff disputes the appropriateness of this discipline,” according to the report. 

In the other incident, Ogloff in December 2012 “spoke inappropriately and disrespectfully” to a Grade 12 student who approached him in class to ask why she was the only student failing.

“Ogloff responded by saying words to the effect of ‘she wants to know why you’re passing and she’s not,’ in a loud voice,” adding, “‘you are never here and you don’t do anything in this class.’”

The incident is coming to light now because The B.C. Commissioner of Teacher Regulation has just slapped him with a two week suspension of his teaching certificate. The school district suspended him for 10 weeks last November.

Should this bully even be teaching kids?

Canada Denies Visas for 10 Ugandan Gay Activists Invited to Toronto's World Pride Conference

Concerned that they would seek asylum upon arrival, Canada has denied visas for 10 Ugandan gay activists hoping to attend the World Pride human rights conference in June, the Star reports:

Gay rights advocates say the decisions by the Canadian visa posts in Nairobi and London speak to the hypocrisy of the Stephen Harper government, which, in February, joined other Western nations in condemning Uganda for passing one of the world’s harshest anti-homosexuality laws.
“We are shocked and appalled. These individuals from Uganda are some of the most courageous heroes,” said Andrea Houston of #ENDhatelaws, a coalition founded in response to homophobia/transphobia across the globe, amid the controversy over anti-gay laws passed in Russia prior to the Winter Olympics.
“They are here to share their stories and have every intention to go home after the conference, because they all have work to do in Uganda. The assumption is they are here to claim asylum. The question is: Why can’t they, coming from the most hostile place in the world to LGBTQ people?”

The visa denials began in April.

Well-known Ugandan activist Frank Mugisha is the only one who will come to the conference, and has a multi-entry visa according to the paper.

A review of the visa decisions showed the Ugandan’s applications were rejected for a combination of reasons: lack of travel history, family ties in Canada and in Uganda, and insufficient funds for the trip.
In eight of the applications, officials concluded they did not believe the applicants had a legitimate business purpose in Canada. In six, the officers said the applicants did not have the money to “carry out your stated purpose in going to Canada or to maintain yourself while in Canada and to effect your departure.”

Porno Pete Arrested At Canadian College After Refusing To Leave The Campus

Canadian radio station CJME has the story: 

An American anti-gay activist and a Canadian abortion activist have been arrested at the University of Regina. Peter LaBarbera, the controversial head of an American lobby group that has been labelled a hate group by the South Poverty Law Center, and Bill Whatcott, an abortion activist who has a history of legal troubles in Saskatchewan, were taken into custody by the Regina Police Service. News Talk Radio's Kevin Martel observed police officers tell the two to leave the school's campus or risk being arrested; after some discussion the men refused to move and were arrested for trespassing. LaBarbera and Whatcott were in Weyburn over the weekend to speak at a pro-life conference. They were at the school attempting to hand out anti-abortion and anti-gay pamphlets, flanked by large placards depicting aborted fetuses.

I have no doubt that LaBarbera deliberately provoked his arrest in order to win martyrdom points with his fellow Christianists back home. And now come the "outraged" appearances on Fox News and websites across Teabagistan.

Watch What Happens When An Anti-Obamacare Senator Gets Ripped By This Canadian Doctor!

When Senator Richard Burr attended the debate on health care on Tuesday, he was probably not expecting to get schooled by Canadian doctor and vice president at the Women’s College Hospital, Danielle Martin.

Senator Burr attempted to denigrate the “socialist” Canadian National Healthcare system with some nonsense he probably heard on Fox ‘News.’  when he questioned Dr. Martin if she knew, on average, how many Canadian patients die each year on a waiting list. Martin did not have this number; she did, however, totally obliterate  the Senator by saying, “I don’t, sir, but I know that there are 45,000 in America who die waiting because they don’t have insurance at all.”

Boom. Roasted.  

Watch the full exchange below:

Canada Threatens to Cut Ties with Uganda Over Anti-Gay Bill

Canada has threatened to cut ties with Uganda over the anti-gay bill, which penalizes anyone who aids or abets a known homosexual, and punishes homosexuality with life imprisonment. Uganda's President Museveni told lawmakers over the weekend that he planned to sign the bill.

President Obama condemned the bill and warned that it would "complicate our valued relationship" with the country. Ugandan officials subsequently accused Obama of "blackmail" for the warnings.

The WSJ reports that it may strain relations with other countries as well, including Canada, which has expressed its displeasure:

Alintuma Nsambu, Uganda's envoy to Canada, said in an interview Wednesday that he had been summoned by the Canadian Foreign Ministry to explain why Canada shouldn't sever diplomatic ties with Uganda over the antigay bill. He said he had communicated Canada's concerns to the Ugandan government. The Canadian consulate in Kampala didn't immediately respond to calls and emails seeking to confirm the meeting.

Canadian Government Cancels Nigerian President's State Visit

The Canadian government has canceled a planned state visit by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan reportedly in response to his signing earlier this month of an oppressive anti-gay law, under which dozens of suspected gay men have been arrested and detained.

The Nigerian Monitor reports:

The nation was expected to receive Nigeria’s president on a state visit slated for February but is said to have cancelled the visit in a bid to show its displeasure at the new law...

...Sources in Abuja told Saharareporters that the Nigerian Ambassador to Canada, Ojo Madueke, was told to inform President Jonathan that the state visit to Canada scheduled for February 13 and 14th 2014 has now been canceled.

 AHT: I say let him come and arrest him for crimes against humanity

Canadian Foreign Minister Denounces 'Gay Propaganda' Law In Letter To Russia

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird recently mentioned his country's opposition to Russia's "gay propaganda" law in a letter to Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Federation's Minister of Foreign Affairs. Baird wrote: 

“In the lead-up to Sochi, Canada remains concerned about the legislation passed in June 2013 that places a ban on the ‘propagandizing of non-traditional sexual relations among minors.'"

“We encourage the Russian Federation to extend to all of its citizens – as well as foreign visitors – full human rights protections, including freedom from violence, harassment or discrimination based on sexual orientation.”

Baird also wrote that Canada would appreciate Russia's cooperation in allowing its consulate quick and consistent "access any Canadian citizen, should the need arise.”

In early August, Baird spoke against Russia's law and urged the International Olympic Committee to do more to ensure the safety of everyone attending the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Canada's city of Vancouver has taken an outspoken role in criticizing Russia's anti-gay law in the run-up to the winter games. Two Canadian winter Olympians marched in protest of the law at Vancouver Pride and the city's openly gay deputy mayor visited Sochi and petitioned the IOC to add an LGBT non-discrimination clause to its charter.

Meanwhile, the French, German and American presidents have all announced plans to skip the games, as has the European Union commissioner and the British Prime Minister (though he contends that his absence has nothing to do with protesting Russia's anti-gay law).

Canada To Offer Asylum To Gay Russians Facing Persecution

Our neighbors to the north have recently announced they will offer refuge to gay Russians suffering under the yolk of Putin's anti-gay regime. According to The Globe and Mail:

Canada’s refugee board is likely to look favourably on claims of persecution by gay asylum-seekers from Russia, the Immigration Minister says.

Chris Alexander said Monday in Surrey, B.C., that Russia has taken the wrong path in restricting the fundamental rights of its gay community, and that any refugee claims “related to this particular issue will of course be looked at very seriously by our very generous system.”

Rob Hughes, a lawyer representing two Russian gay men currently seeking refuge in Canada, called the Canadian government's decision "quite encouraging." And though he believes many in Russia would be interested in seeking safety in Canada, for others it might not be possible due to the financial burdens faced with coming to America:

“On the other hand, because of the cost and visa requirements to get here, I don’t think it will be floodgates,” he said. “And certainly with my experience with LGBT refugee claimants … it’s never been like a boat load of people coming here to Canada. It’s always singly, or possibly a couple.”

LGBT people seeking asylum in Canada due to persecution abroad historically have applied for refugee status the same as other asylum-seekers. In fact, Canada has a history of offering safe-haven to LGBT persons who reside in states unsympathetic even hostile towards them:

Canada also resettles refugees living in [refugee] camps abroad, and former immigration minister Jason Kenney, now the [Canadian] Employment and Social Development Minister, adopted a policy of trying to resettle gay refugees fleeing Iran and Iraq. Mr. Kenney said in January he “cannot think of a more obvious case of persecution.”

The Canadian government has also recently voiced concern over the anti-gay laws in Russia. For their part, two Canadian Olympians showed their solidarity with LGBT Russians by marching in Vancouver Pride.

Though it is unclear how many people have already fled the country due to that nation's aversion to LGBT individuals,  according to The Globe and Mail, approximately 140-225 Russians arrive in Canada every year claiming refugee status. It is also uncertain at this time whether the Canadian government will now begin tracking the number of individuals seeking asylum due to their sexual orientation.

Happy Canada Day!

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