Ralph Klein is an Embarassment
 

Well, as I sit here in front of my computer, after reading that Newfoundland has just become the seventh (and not the last) province to legislate same-sex marriages. For thos of you unaware, the Supreme Court has just established that any law that differentiates the rights based on the gender of someones partner, INCLUDING the right to marry, are discriminatory under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

So, immediately following that, recently re-elected Alberta Premier Ralph Klein goes public with for for "traditional definitions" of marriage, being suppored by the usual right wing fanatical dip-shits.

The problem is, he says he is speaking for all Alberta, yet I know that many, many people to not share this view. I find it embrassing that our this man is doing nothing but reinforcing just how damned redneck this province can be, and I am really tired of it. Even some people who voted conservative are trying to figure out what he's doing.

Anyway, this is just a rant. I really needed to get this off my chest and maybe, if I'm really lucky, let people know that not everyone in Alberta is a gay-bashing, rodeo-loving, gun-toting, cowboy hat-wearing redneck.

Anyone else have opinions on this, Alberta or not?

Peace,

Really, peace,

Pierre

I have trouble understanding anyone's objection to same-sex marriage but I suppose Klein feels it is his job to be the voice of those who are against it.

The way the law looks like it will go, regardless of what Klein has to say about it is: Same Sex marriage will be legal across Canada.

I find Klein amusing for the most part, but this same-sex marrige debate is getting old. He's out of line on this one. They always bring up the same thing the definition of marrige. Well that definition can and should be changed. I really don't see the big deal with gay marrige, except it gives the religious right something to complain about.

I'm in Alberta and I do "tote a gun." :)

Yeah I voted against Klein in the election a few weeks ago, not really cause I think he is doing a bad job as Premier. Rather cause I think he is an arrogant prick. Nevertheless, he and his gang of cronies still won, whatever.

The thing that I have never been able to understand with regard to this whole gay marriage issue is the Churches saying they are afraid they will be forced to perform gay marriages against their will. IE: if Bob and Doug want to get married in a Catholic church the gov't will force the church to marry them.

This raises 2 questions:

1--- Why the fuck would Bob and Doug want to get married in a church that shuns them in the first place?
2---- Does that mean I can compel a Jewish church to marry me and my non-Jewish girlfriend today?

Give your head a shake, this "being forced to marry gays" is just the last nail the right wing has to hang their hats on.

Anyway, that's just the opinion of one Alberta redneck who does't give a tiny little fuck about gay marriage.

I think anyone who deftly opposes same sex marriage/relations whatever,... because of what the religious sect tells them to believe, are strictly intelligently inept to the point of embarrassment.

One of my siblings is gay, very successful, very well respected in the community and just laughs at the abound ignorance of those so almighty that they can not only judge, but also try and determine how she is to live her life.

When people , who are anti-gay go on a rant about how gays will bring about the end of the world (their world), how God says it's a sin, how the normal family unit(?) will be destroyed etc,....I sit back and revel in the sheer ignorance until,...I tell them my sister is gay. The looks of disbelief, the feeling of both feet in their mouths, the stumbling backtracking that launched such incredulous statements of intolerance are now masked with a sea of redness awash on their faces.

And all the while, I sit back and realize how some people have no identity, no opinions other than what they hear and what they want to believe, how non accepting they are to change, how for one minute they fail to realize everyone is different and how pathetic it is that people would rather follow like sheep rather than lead with integrity, pride and tolerance.

Very sad to the point of apathy I must say.

Hey, that's no problem, I know lots of hunters that I would call good friends, I just tossed that in for comic relief, even though I really hate right wing anything.

Yup, he is and yup, they won and nope, they ain't gonna change. Fuckers!

That's is the curx right there, they have lost so much of their ammunition in this fight as it becomes more and more clear that it shouldn't matter, and actually doesn't matter, to almost everyone. No one get's hurt, and this "definition" bullshit is going backfire sooner or later, as is the "force is to perform weddings" crap.

One way or the other, it's going to happen, and why anyone cares if it does is beyond me. Since when will the married gay couple down the street affect anyone else's life? And if it does, you're already screwed!

THAT I can respect, especially fom a redneck! :) :)

Peace,

Pierre

The feds have stated numerous times if the bill passes, that no religious institution will be forced to perform marriages against their will, so it's really a moot point.

What about the notwithstanding clause? Does anyone know if Klein or Harper can actually use it to their advantage?

Like I've said before, Ralph reminds me so much of Mel Lastman!!!

I remember seeing a few comments of various people, right after the Supreme Court's decision. One of them was from a representative of the Evangelist Church, he said something like "It's a sad day when you hijack marriage".

Ugh, how I wanted to knock some sense into this man.

I can see it, but only when he starts to talk about crap like this. He is actually a much better public speaker, but with his blue collar persona, his hard drinkin' in the St. Louis Hotel hotel, and his lack of education, he has a lot of those facets that Mel the laughing stock that he was (still is?).

Anyway, at least he was only a Mayor, Ralphie has much more swing, but it has generally been accepted that all his bluster will not avail him of a notwithstanding decision. The legislation will be passed federally, and Alberta will be forced to face legal challenges that they cannot back out of, and they will, reluctantly, amend some legislation ot allow limited access to civil marriage.

And THEY'LL BITCH ALL THE WAY! Meanwhile, the majority of the population will carry on as if nothing even happened. Funny that.

Peace,

Pierre

As I understand it, there is a cop-out on the Charter, which essentially allows provinces to say "sorry, we're exempt". I believe Alberta's government has already put this into practice. Even if homosexuals aren't allowed to marry in Alberta, their marriages are still recognized if they are married.