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4 June, 2005
Oppression Cocktail: One Part Religion, One Part Government

Canadian tolerance is legislated in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, part of Canadian law which outlines what Canadians are allowed to do. One condition that must be fulfilled for Canada to preserve the Charter and defend the rights of Canadians is that the government must be separate from all religions.

I’m no expert, but religion seems to focus more on what people are forbidden from doing than on what people are allowed to do. I’m sure rarely-quoted parts of various religious texts outline what their various deities allow people to have, say, think, feel, and do. But I’ve only heard quoted religious passages which limit people’s lives, or support the oppression of others. I mean, the stone tablets Moses received contained "commandments" not "rights".

Also, religion is based on passion. Passion is wonderful. But when it mixes with government, it results in war. Just look at the USA right now.

Here’s what Masood Khan, of the United Front for Pakistani Canadians, had to say about gay marriage: "On behalf of over one million Muslims in Canada, I can assure you­we will not accept this crap." Christians may applaud this, but they wouldn’t welcome other restrictions resulting from a marriage between and Islam and the House of Commons. Indeed, Islamic Wahhabists have great contempt for non-Muslims and impose their will on other Muslims through violence.

When people of any faith-­be they Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Shinto, Wiccan, or Catholic­-come to Canada, they need to know before arriving that the very foundation of Canada is equality. If you want to live in North America with unequal rights for everyone or politics saturated with religion, you need to go to the USA.

According to the Globe & Mail, "Christian activists have secured Conservative nominations in clusters of ridings from Vancouver to Halifax" and "many more will be on the ballot during the next federal election, a feat achieved by persuading parishioners." So, religious leaders are now encouraging their congregations to infiltrate the Canadian government.

I am not anti-religious. I am pro-freedom. I defend my Christian neighbours’ rights to build churches, have separate school districts, and not work on Sundays. I also defend people’s rights to wear certain clothing, shave their heads, not eat pork, and not have abortions. But these are rights, not obligations.

But when one religion starts to dominate the House of Commons or Legislature or City Council, any of those rights become threatened. Because, as I said, religion is often just as concerned with forbidding others as it is with empowering the self.

I am not hate-mongering. Religion and Canada's pluralism are beautiful. To protect that very pluralism, the government must remain religiously neutral. Why do religious people want to be politicians? To ensure their own freedom, or to limit the freedom of others? The person who can best ensure equality for all sides is someone who isn’t on a side.

Secular politicians do not want to prevent Canadians from practicing their religions. You can practice your religion freely here, as long as it doesn’t limit the freedom of others. But if you can’t practice your faith without telling others what to do, you need to go back to where your religion came from.

Past results of mixing religion and law have included the Crusades and the Holocaust. Current results include the Palestine-Israel conflict and the war on Iraq.

Religious people are increasing their political activities in Canada. This cannot end well for anyone who is not of their particular religion. To keep Canada free, peaceful, and multi-religious, we need to elect non-religious politicians.

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