To the editor:
Re: Government bill promotes hatred, racism, a letter from Andy Thomsen from Peachland (Capital News, Feb. 22, 2017)
He contends that a government bill is going to promote hatred when it is in fact ill-informed, narrow minded people such as he who is doing the promoting.
First, the bill being referred to is neither a government bill nor if passed is it binding. It is a private member’s bill put forward by a Liberal Member of Parliament and a Muslim who has personally experienced hatred and racism. It is unlike other private member bills put forward in previous years only in that it specifically mentions Islamophobia as compared to fear and hatred of other specific groups. The passing of this bill will in no way override the Canadian Bill of Rights and Freedoms.
Second, the Islamic religion has not killed anyone as far as I know. Radical adherents to certain sects certainly have. Gross generalizations only inflame people further. Most Canadians in fact are not scared: They are informed and knowledgeable. They don’t rely on fear mongering websites and social media to get their “news.”
It is letters like Mr. Thomson’s which promote hatred and racism.
David Gunderson, Kelowna