No Shit, Sherlock!

Anti-Semitism on the rise at Canadian universities, committee says

"The committee recommends that police forces across Canada be better trained to deal with anti-Semitism; that universities host conferences to counter events such as “Israeli Apartheid Week”; and that there should be a clear definition of what anti-Semitism entails.

But critics have said the committee, with a couple of exceptions, shut out the voices of those who disagree with the its premise that there is a “new anti-Semitism” expressed by those who label Israel a racist state and who compare the policies of the Israeli government with those of South Africa under apartheid.

The CPCCA countered that it did not want to limit reasonable criticism of Israel. But it also explained that “anti-Semitism is being manifested in a manner which has never been dealt with before. … This problem is especially prevalent on campuses where Jewish students are ridiculed and intimidated for any deemed support for the ‘Nazi’ and ‘apartheid’ State of Israel, which is claimed to have no right to exist.” "

But mark my words. Nothing will come of it, just like nothing has come of the fight against section 13.1 of the Human Rights Act.

More here:

"Just last month, Statistics Canada released a study documenting a 42 per cent increase in hate crimes in 2009 compared to 2008, with 71 per cent of the crimes motivated by religion targeting the Jewish community."

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"“Not only did the number of hate crimes rise in general, but the role of religion as a motivating factor has become more pronounced, which is a threat to all religious minorities. This is a direct challenge to the values of our multicultural society,” Dimant said referring, to the StatsCan report.

“The 71 per cent increase in religiously-motivated hate crimes that specifically target the Jewish community should be a cause for alarm.”"

Now, how about a study of the phony issue - Islamophobia. It would be interesting to know if this committee had any observations about the source or wellspring of the 71 per cent increase. It seems to me anti-semitism and "Islamophobia" are the flip side of the same coin. The second is simply a ruse designed to cover the first with a thick fog.

I do like the fact that universities have been identified as the locus of much of the rise in this form of bigotry. The Feds do have some clout, in that regard. A good part of the funding for post-secondary institutions comes from the federal government.

And how 'bout this?!!? (Emphasis in italics mine.)

Anti-Semitism panel wants more action from Ottawa

"The report also suggests that Citizenship and Immigration Canada give special consideration to rising international anti-Semitism when making decisions about who is permitted to settle in Canada and from which countries they are coming.

The panel also recommends that education about human rights be made a bigger part of training programs offered to new Canadians.

'Canada should help reform international human rights'

The inquiry panel took a shot at the United Nations in its report and is urging Canada to step up on the international stage to reform the body's human rights council.

Reid said the panel wants the House of Commons' foreign affairs committee to do a study on the UN's "overemphasis of alleged human rights abuses by Israel while ignoring flagrant human rights abuses of other member states.""

Long, long overdue!! How 'bout it Harper! And I'll bet Canada's new Liberal Party,  under Bob Rae's leadership, would even welcome that.

AFTERTHOUGHT: Being a baby-boomer myself, I remember this. The number of universities in Canada expanded as the baby boom came of age, primarily to accommodate the big bulge.  The result seems to have been a decline in the quality of and demand for university graduates.  Too many of them have become little more than incubators of political correctness.  Perhaps it's time to reverse that. Canada has been crying for people with trades and technical skills for a long time. Maybe it's time to quit funding these organizations that simply spit out indoctrinated goons and put our money into programs that pay off - technical and trade schools.