From the ECP Centre: Don't Be Surprised

The latest email from Tristan Emmanuel and the ECP Centre:


Don't Be Surprised

Tuesday, December 12, 2006


I keep telling myself - "don't be surprised" - but I am. The brazen contempt and utter hypocrisy that has been displayed by both journalists and politicians really goes beyond the pale this time.

Where were all the pleas to "respect the democratic process" back when gay-activists were manipulating the democratic process even though they lost on two occasions?

(Need I remind us that Parliament twice ruled that marriage was an exclusive union between one man and one woman?)

Did anyone in the media, or any Member of Parliament, for that matter, tell the anti-marriage activists that "they should respect the democratic process and move on"?

Why would they? The same kind of "progressive" socialists - journalists, politicians and judges - were in bed with these anti-marriage forces, helping them dismantle a time honoured institution.

Amazing isn't it, that these purveyors of "progress" and "change" suddenly become ultra-conservative when it comes to defending Bill C-38 and keeping "gay-marriage" intact!

Clearly these "progressives" suffer from selective memory loss because, if history teaches us anything, and especially Canadian history, nothing about the political "process" is a given, or a constant, or an unchangeable reality - nothing.

But I think what really disappoints me the most - and I know I shouldn't be surprised - is our honourable Prime Minister, Mr. Harper.

For the balance I think Harper has done a good job.

But on this one issue he has committed a major blunder - he should have taken our advice and waited until he had a majority before holding a vote on such a crucial issue - there was just no logical reason why he felt he "needed to keep" his word on holding a vote on reopening the marriage question prior to Christmas when he knew that he was working from a position of political weakness.

Would he subject his other legislative commitments to the same kind of game of Russian roulette?

This one may very well come back to haunt him.

I know he's not having an easy time of it, especially with those Red Tories in the PMO, but if he would have signaled that there will be a next round when he had a majority government then last week's result would be a lot easier to stomach.

And believe me, I'm not suggesting that he needed to tell the national press about a next round - just a simple nudge, nudge, wink, wink, there'll be a next time, to those of us in the trenches.

Instead, he aggravates the loss with his statement: we need to "respect the democratic process", and adding that he does not see the need to revisit the issue, and compounding his insult to social conservatives by saying that he has no plans to introduce religious protection legislation in the face of "same-sex marriage."

How is pushing for another round disrespectful to the "democratic process," Mr. Prime Minister?

And more to the point, why would anyone want to respect the result when the "process" didn't respect democracy? Did the anti-marriage activists respect the process back when they lost their coveted vote a short five years ago?

Need I remind you, Mr. Harper, that democracy is not a commodity that belongs to pragmatic politicians who simply want an easy career in Ottawa; and neither does it belong to the various special interest groups that use intimidation and questionable tactics to manipulate the "process".

True democracy only exists when the people's representatives represent the people on principle; and a fundamental component of that process is a "respect" for the institutions that have built our country.

I can't think of a more basic institution than the natural heterosexual family and the institution of marriage - it is that institution that helped to build our great nation.

What about respecting that institution?

If I were P.M., here is what I'd say to the national press: "No conscientious Canadian should respect the result of that so-called 'free vote'."

But that's just me.

So, look, Mr. Harper: If you find it hard to convince conscientious Canadians to get behind you in the next election, here is some advice:

"Don't be surprised."

Yours for our culture,