I have been following the Tom Lukiwski story over the past couple of days and I applaud him for publicly apologizing for those derogatory comments he made against gays 16 years ago. While I believe that his comments were hurtful, I think it is time for the MSM and the HOC to accept his apology and move on.
The thing that I find distasteful is the attempt by the MSM and those on the left of the political spectrum to bash the Conservative Party as being homophobic bigots, while giving a free pass to the Liberals and NDP.
Take the following examples of comments made by MPs from other political parties
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"Homosexuality is statistically abnormal, it's physically abnormal and it's morally immoral." Liberal MP Tom Wappel - 2006
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"It's sort of corny, but a constituent phoned up and said, 'God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.’ "If it's two adults, where do we stop? What about a grandma that wants to marry her grandson or an uncle that wants to marry his niece? Where do you stop?" - Liberal MP Roy Cullen - 2005
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NDP's Tommy Douglas's Opinion on Homosexuality (link to video)
"And if we ever needed in this country to adopt a new attitude towards homosexuality, this is the time. Instead of treating it as a crime and driving it underground, we ought to recognize it for what it is. It is a mental illness. It is a psychiatric condition, which ought to be treated sympathetically. Which ought to be treated by psychiatric s and social workers"
- NDP’s Tommy Douglas - recognized of one of the greatest Canadians
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As a student, Telegdi often raised quite a stir with his emotionally charged attempts to raise student interest in issues such as housing and enumeration. His statements published in the then-student newspaper the chevron were often controversial and have contributed to Telegdi's Feds legacy.
"Students are niggers because they want to be niggers," he told the chevron in the December 6, 1974 issue, after a low student voter turnout in that year's municipal election. (University of Waterloo's Imprint Newspaper)
- Liberal MP Andrew Telegdi, while he was a student at the University of Waterloo- December 6th, 1974---------------------------------------------------------------------
My point here is not to slag political parties over comments that some of their members made years ago, but to point out that members of “ALL” political parties are guilty of politically insensitive or hurtful comments. I don’t understand why the Liberals and NDP are always given a free pass whenever this happens, but somehow the MSM and special interests groups only choose to paint the Conservative Party as bigots.
Some Liberals, NDP and their supporters in the MSM are arguing that Mr Tom Lukiwski was 40, when the video was made 16 years ago and by that time, his beliefs are set, so he cannot change. It is one of the most ridiculous arguments that I have heard. People's attitudes and beliefs change all the time and age is no restriction.
If people's beliefs are set at 40 and cannot change, no matter the circumstances, then why did the Liberals accept former NDP Premier Bob Rae, as a leadership candidate? Did they believe that his views on economic policies that deverstated Ontario in the 1990's when he was Premier had not changed, even though he was 47 when he was finally voted out as Premier? I don't think so.
What about NDP's former MP Svend Robinson who was 53 when he stepped down after admitting to stealing a ring for his lover? Did the NDP think that his views regarding stealing had not changed when they allowed him to run again as one of their candidates in the 2006 federal election?
If we don’t accept Tom Lukiwski’s apology for a comment he made 16 years ago, then how far are we prepared to go back when it comes to past comments made by our MP's? Are we going to go into every MP’s closet and drag up every politically incorrect comment or off-color joke that he or she ever made and use it against their party? I really hope not. What I, and most Canadians are interested in is good governance, fiscal responsibility, sound policies and good judgement by the government, and adequate representation by our members of parliament. Not what a MP said 16 years at a private party after he had one too many.
6 comments:
Trying to figure out if this story will "have legs" as the MSN says...I'd accept his apology, and he seems sincere in his commitment to continue to set things right. A very responsible attitude, accepting responsibility, be accountable in the next election. One item that bothered me on the news yesterday was Mike Duffy, CTV, stating that he knows of more than half a dozen gay MP's who refuse to come out of the closet because of this kind of attitude in Canadian society. Why would anyone tell Mike Duffy they were closeted gay? Why is he keeping track?
Well, I think I'll ignore Johnathon's comment there and say this: If the opposition parties find this government so offensive, would you please get off the fence and vote it down?
I agree with you Joanne. The opposition has had more than enough opportunities to do so, but have so far refused. The good thing though is that it allows the Conservatives to govern and get some of their bills passed in the HOC.
When you delete my comments, all you're doing is proving the fact that free speech is dead in Canada.
All I said was that homosexuals are no different that anyone else in the world.
And since all people's of the world are subject to jokes and ridicule, homosexuals should be no different.
Gosh-damn, you delete my comment in the same way that the muslims want to silence everyone who disagrees with them.
Grow up.
Conservatives hate gays. Get over ot.
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