I think we all need to calm the @#$% down about this Islamophobia motion

Why the Islamophobia motion is a necessary but misguided chorus of Kumbaya

A quick Google is enough to highlight the fear and panic that some outlets are fomenting, calling the motion an Islamic blasphemy law and sounding the death bell on freedom of speech.

Officially entitled private member's motion M-103, the Islamophobia motion is set to be debated in Canada's parliament later this month and calls for the government of Canada to... 

 "recognize the need to quell the increasing public climate of hate and fear; (b) condemn Islamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination and take note of House of Commons’ petition e-411 and the issues raised by it..."

Before going any further, I encourage you to check out the text of the motion for yourself. And, in the spirit of being fully informed, here's a link to petition e-411. I call this the "Not all Muslims are terrorists and not all terrorists are Muslims" petition.

First, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Criminal Code are not about to be over-written by a non-binding motion. By my understanding, a motion simply shines a light on a perceived need and may set the ball in motion for further study. It is not binding, which means that, at worst (or best, depending on where you stand) it may come to nothing  and at best (or worst) it is an expression of Canadian values that may eventually, sometime down the road, be reflected in the Canadian Charter or Criminal Code. It's more like a suggestion, a statement, MAYBE a guideline. In short, a motion is DEFINITELY NOT a law.

Now that we've calmed down a little, let's debate the issue. I feel like I represent much of Canada (not just the Internet) when I say that I am deeply divided on motion M-103. So, while I am ultimately for the motion, I will focus on my list of concerns.

Here's quick summary of my list. Feel free to "read more" for greater depth, analysis and illustration.

CONCERNS

• Redundant: Islam, along with all other religions is already protected by the Charter and the Criminal Code.
• What about the rest of the Minorities?: Why Islamophobia and not also antisemitism, racism against visible minoroties, etc.
• Does it sound like a harbinger of Sharia law?: What is holistic community-based policy making?
• Don't trample on my freedom of speech: I truly believe that the best defense against hate speech is more speech, not censorship.
• Fear cannot be legislated into submission: I cannot be ordered out of fearing the unknown unless I am shown why I need not fear it.
• Human rights come first: We need to be able to ensure that the laws of Canada are enforced regardless. Citing one's religion cannot be an excuse to break the law. 

Click "Read more" for greater depth, analysis and illustration and to find out why I ultimately support the motion.

Why I might be opposed to the Islamophobia motion, in greater detail. 

• Redundant: This was definitely my first reaction. Why do we need a special motion condemning Islamophobia when freedom of religion, belief, assembly and association are entrenched in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom? (a.k.a. the Constitution) In addition, we have the hate laws, which effectively criminalize hate speech and that enhance the penalties for any crimes deemed to be hate motivated. I think the purveyors of the blasphemy panic might find their argument here, i.e. why does Islamophobia require a special kind of consideration when the rest of us are covered by Section 319 of the Criminal Code. 

• Where are the Rest of the Minorities?: This is probably the weakest "con" argument, especially when the motion does include...

"...all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination..."

Nonetheless, I get twitchy whenever a particular group is singled out. I think it threatens the other groups who are fighting their own systemic bigotry, such as antisemitism, racism against visible minorities, the native Canadian issues, and so on. It can be viewed in a very reductive way, meaning that since we are herein defining religious discrimination as Islamophobia then the other forms of religious hatred are not so defined, so feel free to go to town on the Jews, the Sikhs, Bahai, and so on. It requires a tunnel-visioned misreading of the text, but nonetheless it happens. My Facebook feed is full of "what about us" posts.

• A Holistic What Now?: Can someone who has more recent parliamentary experience and perhaps a degree in doublespeak please explain what the following section of the motion means. Seriously!

"develop a whole-of-government approach to reducing or eliminating systemic racism and religious discrimination including Islamophobia, in Canada, while ensuring a community-centered focus with a holistic response through evidence-based policy-making" 

I will admit right now that this section makes me a bit nervous because this is the part where they start talking about making laws and I'm not sure that the community-centred, holistic process implied is likely to benefit all Canadians or be applicable across the board and, as I mentioned before, that makes me a little twitchy. I think this section is worthy of a call to my local M.P. I will update with more information as I receive it. I think this might be the section most concerning to those worried about the adoption of Sharia law in Canada.

• Freedom of Speech: I will confess right now that I am not a fan of the hate speech laws mentioned in the first bullet point. While I will cover this with greater depth in a future post about the pillars of democracy, suffice it to say that I truly believe that the best response to hate speech is more speech, not censorship. The latter drives the haters underground and I feel we are better off fighting the devil we know rather than the one who is forced into back rooms and the back alleys of the internet. 

• Fear Cannot be Legislated Into Submission: I don't think I am being particularly controversial when I say that there is a great deal of fear out here in the World. In fact, the resolution says it right upfront for me. And I don't think I am being controversial when I say that a great deal of this fear is directed toward Islam, or more specifically to radical Jihadists acting in the name of Islam, i.e. ISIS. I don't think I am being hateful when I say that ISIS is bloody frightening. And passing a resolution is not going to help the majority of non-Muslims understand the difference between ISIS and the Islamic communities in Canada. I truly believe that the only thing that will dispel this fear is knowledge. I truly believe that we need a space to question our fellow Canadians, respectfully and with a constructive purpose, without the fear of being demonized. I believe that it is only when we share our diversity and the things that make us different are we able to grow as a nation and fight the forces that frighten us all.

Toronto Star

It was remarked to me that when Holy Blossom organized the rings of peace at 7 mosques in the GTA in response to the Quebec shootings, the people gathered were not really greeting or talking to the people coming to the mosques to pray. While this takes nothing away from the wonderful feelings of community, diversity and love that this event generated, I believe it definitely highlights a gap between our communities, a lack of comfort and an inability to bridge these gaps at a personal level. 

This year we invited some of my son's friends from school to our Hannukah party. My son is 5 and in S.K. french immersion at a wonderfully multiculturally diverse school. A couple of days before the party, the mother of one of his friends called me, concerned about what kind of religious content would be part of the celebration. They were concerned about what their children would be exposed to and maybe even a little concerned that we might try to convert them. I was able to quash their concerns and everyone had a great time lighting our menorasaurus and decorating dreidel-shaped cookies. And a greater degree of understanding grew between ourselves as individuals and as members of our divergent communities.

In other words, this resolution is not likely to "quell the increasing public climate of hate and fear" unless it includes a whole lot of public education, access, open dialogue and shared experiences.

•  Human Rights are Paramount: This one definitely builds on the previous argument and is likely to be the most controversial, but here it goes. All kinds of crazy things are done in the name of religions. All kinds of crazy things that might not have anything to do with the actual religion may be done, nonetheless, in its name. And these things may be in direct contravention of individuals' human rights, their right to life, physical integrity, their right to an education and their freedom of movement and so on. I truly believe that we need a space where we can defend these human rights without being labeled as islamophobes, or antisemites, or racists or bicycle riders. And I think it stands repeating that the best way to ensure that these rights abuses are not wrongfully being blamed on a particular religion is through education, understanding, access and openness. And here comes the controversial part, if these rights abuses are in fact part of the religion, then they have no place in Canada and we need to be able to apply the laws of Canada regardless.

Why I am ultimately for the Islamophobia motion

 

I understand the horror and uncertainty that has prompted this motion and the feelings of helplessness that provoke good-hearted Canadians of conscience to want to do something, anything to provide solace to a grieving community. I also joined hundreds of Canadians, primarily Jewish, who gathered at mosques around the GTA to form rings of peace in the wake of the Quebec shootings. It was cold, it was uncomfortable and it exposed me to things I had never seen before, but hopefully it served the same purpose as this motion - to send a message to the Muslim community in Canada that we see you, we respect you as law-abiding Canadians, just like ourselves, and you are defended, as peace-loving Canadians, just like ourselves.

Hatred has no place in our lives and anything that can shine a light on hate and help to reduce fear is a good thing.

In conclusion, I understand if we fear the unknown. I understand if we fear powerful global forces that seems beyond conprehension. I don't think we need fear a non-binding motion that sends a message of inclusion and peace to a frightened community.