Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Stephen Harper's War on Women


















I always knew that Stephen Harper was going to be the most sinister and authoritarian Prime Minister in Canadian history.

Because I knew that he was a cold, cruel angry man who thinks he owns the truth. That he was a religious fanatic and a homophobe. And that he was incredibly vindictive.

But I didn't start calling him a monster until he came to power, and the very first thing he did was order that the words "women's equality" be removed from every single document on the Status of Women.

I was stunned. It was such a totalitarian act, and such a cowardly one. I couldn't believe that something like that could happen here. But after that I knew we were dealing with an ideological fanatic like this country had never seen before. A man who would declare war on women. And that he was crazy dangerous.

Some of my friends said I shouldn't portray him as a monster because people wouldn't take me seriously eh? And I knew that was true. But I also knew I was right to call him that.

Because now look what the monster has done.

In the past two weeks alone, the federal government has ended funding to 14 women’s groups, including a non-governmental agency that was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for more than 30 years.

Fourteen groups in just two weeks? Talk about an ideological fanatic. Talk about a culture war:

Since 2006, Harper has cut funding for women’s advocacy by 43 per cent, shut 12 out of 16 Status of Women offices in Canada and eliminated funding of legal voices for women and minority groups, including the National Association of Women and the Law and the Courts Challenges Program

Talk about SCARY.

“It’s like moving back to the (Richard) Nixon era in a whole bunch of areas … it’s chilling to see Canada going backwards”

Talk about a vindictive bastard. Just like the first Harper.

He had risen to the post of justice of the peace by the time a judicial inquiry found him guilty of, as one historian put it, "violent and oppressive measures" - vindictive to a point beyond all reason.

Sound familiar?

Oh boy. I used to believe that Stephen Harper's bizarre views were dictated by his wacko church that preaches that women are born to be subordinate.

You know serve men, and stay at home, barefoot and pregnant. Or just shut the fuck up.

But now I think it's something even scarier.

I think it's just HIM...














I truly believe there's something deeply disturbing about Stephen Harper. Something in his angry tormented soul that commands him to treat women as less than equal. And bully them into submission. 

But he won't get away with it this time This time he has gone too far.

Now EVERYBODY knows he's a monster. And that if we believe in the equality of women. And if we love our country.

We must see it for what it is...a culture war against the Canadian people. An attempt to take us back to a dark time.

And resist, resist, RESIST...

7 comments:

ck said...

Like yourself Simon, I've been blogging about how scary Steve is, and it's not like the info backing our argument up is obscure. you can find quotes and activities from Steve's days in NCC, Reform, hell, Canadian Alliance. We have provided links and took the guess work out, so our readers wouldn't have to. But still...even progressives still didn't take it seriously.

I guess, maybe we do owe a thanks to the good senator; after reading teh progressive bloggers since she became adversarial, many more are waking up to what we have been saying all along about steve.

We even now agree that sitting in the corner quietly like good little boys 'n' girls will no longer cut it; not an option. And this time, whatever grassroots action we take, we learn from our mistakes from CAPP (and there were many that got us lambasted in the media if you recall).

As usual, good piece.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I too distrusted Harper the man, his ways, his party, and his supporters, since their Opposition days. The people who vote for themm, are among the wealthiest in Canada. That's why the Con-bots (stupidly) show their disdain for the rest of us by bragging that they have 'more donated $$$' than all the parties us combined. My belief is that MOST of the CON supporters care and vote only for the 'protection and advancement' of their wealth. They certainly believe in a serious armed presence, although newly-armed border-guards and cough syrup don't mix that well. Nor do fighter-pilots and amphetamines. Screws up one's judgement, non? And regressive justice ideology--really, thinly veiled vengeance. The facts are the facts. The dots connect that way for me, and many others, but I also believe there are some honourable people that need to distinguish themselves from the present CPC. Thanks, Simon! LK

LK said...

Like you, CK, I talk to people around me about what we, who are watching, observe. Often it comes up because due to CPC policy, they no longer recognize what this country is becoming. I know the CONs are dumping a ton of $$$, just west of T.O. straight to AB. People are being bought, left and right-- who already have some financial security, it seems to me. That's ok though. When's the last time they cared about those without?? Their reward IS their choice, really...I'd rather give away what little I have than hoarde up "earthly treasures"...LK

Omar said...

Cory Tenyke said it all on Power and Politics yesterday when he brayed, (paraphrase) "Why would government be funding lobby groups of any kind?"

It's the new tough love Canada and boy, it ain't pretty.

Simon said...

hi ck...I have to admit that even if she's a Con, I'm rather fond of Nancy Ruth.
And whatever her motives she has helped our side enormously by making the Harperites look bad. And exposing their evil plans.
As for what we can do about it, apart from not shutting the fuck up, I have to admit I don't know.
I want our leaders to mobilize us in a great campaign to save our country from these thugs. But so far they're just playing politics as usual and we're going NOWHERE...
But of course I'm an optimist so I'm not giving up. And I'll bet everything I have that you won't either... :)

Simon said...

hi Omar...I also saw that interview and I was shocked not only by what he said but how he looked. I liked him better when he was Corn Cob Bob's daddy, because now he's really UGLY...
And yeah...it is a different kind of Canada, and if I can't help change it, I shall rail against until the day I DIE !!!!
Or decide to move to Sweden... ;)

Simon said...

hi LK ...you're right there are some decent conservatives out there from the old PC party. And I'm hoping against hope that one day they will be able to take that party back.
But the whole process is complicated by regional divides and creeping Americanization, so I'm afraid I'm not optimistic...
But then I suppose it doesn't matter because we are going to destroy those HarperCons anyway. :)