It’s 2015. Isn’t it high time that we all gave serious consideration to our human rights? Things don’t always seem to be as progressive as they should. Case in point: the Bill 10 fiasco. It was perhaps the most telling example of how Alberta is still in the dark ages.
I think that everybody should step back for a few minutes and read the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, top to bottom. It’s not just a snazzy document, fit for framing in any house, place of worship or classroom. It also has some very important pieces of information, all of which summarizes our political and civil rights. And by “our” I mean you, me and every living, breathing citizen in the country. It doesn’t matter how old or young, whatever colour you are, or religion, or anything else … you are guaranteed these rights and freedoms.
Which rights and freedoms? The right to vote and the right to life, liberty and security of the person. There’s also freedom of conscience and religion, and freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression.
Freedom of the press … that’s in the Charter too.
There’s also freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association.
I think that all young people should get themselves their own copies of the Charter, and really look at it for what it imparts. The lessons therein are absolutely vital, and not just for social studies class.
For instance, I’m pretty sure that the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association mean that two or more people should have no lawful impediment to gather together to discuss common issues and how to express their ideas and beliefs, and generally work to make their lives better all within an atmosphere of openness and harmony.
I think that religious institutions themselves are based on this very concept. No one would bat an eye about teenagers wanting to join a church, or a chess club, or wrestling team. For some reason, the issue of gay straight alliances (better known as GSAs) had a lot of people in a tizzy last year.
I don’t get it. Well, I do understand that some religions do not like homosexuality, notwithstanding the evidence that it has been around since Christ’s time and before. Still, there’s no harm in it. It’s just people loving other people according to their natures. It’s not the end of the world.
No one can change a person’s sexuality. And no government, no school and no church should have any say about whether or not two LGBTQ+ individuals can form a group like a GSA. They would be acting in contravention of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms for such nonsense.
And they would also make themselves look like a bunch of nincompoops.
If our politicians, educators and religious leaders can’t cope with LGBTQ issues then they really need to focus on somehow pulling their heads out of the sand. If they can’t get over such fundamental human concerns as how people love each other then how can they possibly do anything else?
P.S. You can get yourself a copy of the Charter by visiting www.pch.gc.ca. It’s free! Isn’t freedom great?
Scott Hayes is a reporter at the St. Albert Gazette.
