Religion vs. Human Rights?

The last time I looked at the calendar, it read 2013.

The year of our lord, 2013?

No. It can’t be.

But it is.

When I wake up with my morning coffee and read news headlines about racism, sexism, bigotry, and prejudice, I get confused. Sometimes I get angry.

What kind of a newt minded individual in this day and age feels the need to lash out against their fellow man for thinking their own innocent beliefs? How can they live with these feelings of resentment? Have some people really become completely indoctrinated with these hateful beliefs? In all seriousness, the people with ethnic/racial issues need to give their head a shake, and while they’re at it, a good kick in the ass, too.

Anti-bullying bill like ‘persecution’ in Steinbach

 

 

 

What? Did I read that right? Was this published on April Fools day? Does heavy irony not obey today’s common practice?

Guess not.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, persecute means “to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict;  to cause to suffer because of belief.”

To call an anti-bullying bill an act of persecution is blasphemy. It completely contradicts itself. Call me obtuse, but when I read this headline, it gives me the impression that the people of Steinbach have something to hide.

Something ugly.

City councillors in Steinbach passed a motion to ask the province to review Bill 18 because they feel it infringes on their religious beliefs. Bill 18, also known as The Public Schools Amendment Act was basically put into legislation to help combat against bullying, which is undeniably a major problem to those affected by this intolerable and inexcusable enigma.

Upon reading Bill 18, we can see that the bill is vague in itself and doesn’t really explain the punishments for belligerents.

But that’s not the point. What’s important about this bill, is it’s giving the victims of bullying a voice. It’s a start to confront this societal problem which has run virtually rampant for decades, from 1960s racism, up to same-sex marriages today.

The main problem here isn’t an infringement of beliefs, it’s common sense. Sure, in today’s society there are different levels of class, income, and living standards, but there should never be different levels of human rights. I don’t care who you are or what you know, everybody deserves to be treated equally.

So when some religious folks in Steinbach argue that they want to be able to practice their own beliefs while denying others theirs, it doesn’t sit well with me. No sympathy for the devil, I guess.

I hope Bill 18 passes just so these people have to re-evaluate their system, because it just doesn’t seem right.

Because I’ve always been taught that when someone starts to push you, you start pushing back.