June 11, 2008

• Daft as she is, I can't believe they took her kids off her for that. Do they do the same for various religious denominations with odd views and the like? Slippery slope, etc.
• This is very vague. At first it sounded like they took her away because of the swastika thing, which, of course, WTF. Then there's the "associations" and "drug and alcohol use." Then she sees the documents and throws her husband out. Then they wrap up the story by saying it was the swastika thing again.
• In the US this would be an open-and-shut free speech issue, but Canada has a hate law limiting speech when it promaotes hatred against identifiable groups. I'm pretty sure there are precedents where a swastika symbol was deemed to be a violation of that law. If so, the mother can be prosecuted under that law, but as for losing custody of her kids...that's a whole other ball of fish.
• More info, more WTF.
• that's right...'promaotes'...it's the Canadian spelling
• She wasn't just wearing a t-shirt with a swastika on it: "There were symbols written and drawn on (the girl's) arms and one leg in permanent red and blue marker pens," the summary states. The markings included a Swastika symbol on her arm, the words "Hail Victory" and "Aryan Pride" and the number "14/88," That's very fucked up...
• Falun Gong is the Chinese version, also causing persecution.
• Sure, the symbol is quite common, and spread across many cultures -- I'm always taken aback when I see it smack on the Buddha's chest -- but I don't think that the predominant association in the West is with "prosperity" or "good luck", and it's ludricrous to suggest that that's what was intended. That dominant association is only reinforced with the words "Aryan Pride" or whatnot. That's one of the things that strikes me about this story -- the woman is a self-admitted white supremacist, but not a "neo-Nazi skinhead". Presumably, it's allright to be a white supremacist, but being a neo-Nazi skinhead is somehow going too far. What could be the distinction between the two, especially when both groups are using the same Nazi symbols? Not that it matters -- the woman is arguing a distinction that is ultimately irrelevant. Whatever it is -- poor kids.
• Good points, all, Capt.
• Other concerns were expressed, including the fact the little girl had missed 39 days of school this year. She told authorities that's because her parents sleep in and don't want to get her ready or take her to school. Authorities also expressed concerns about alcohol and drug use in the home. I like how the media decides to focus entirely on the swastika.
• And by "media", I mean "The Star".
• Calling herself a "white nationalist . . . but not a neo-Nazi skinhead," the woman said she will abide by whatever conditions Child and Family Services wishes in order to regain custody of her children. "I'm a white supremacist, but I'll say whatever bullshit you want me to say so I can get my kids back."
• Stupid bitch.
• why are dogs licensed, but any moron who can get knocked up can have a kid?
• finding herself at the centre of a case that has raised questions about whether children are affected by parental views that may be extreme. Who exactly is arguing that children are not affected by parental views that are extreme? If they are not affected by extreme parental views, then clearly they are not affected by moderate or mild parental views. This, of course, would mean that children are not affected by parental views at all. Which leads to the ultimate conclusion that parents and parenting has not effect on children. Shitwhistlers.
• "He's a bigot. And I have no tolerance for bigotry or ignorance," the mother said Tuesday. Well sweetie, you seemed to be happy enough f@#$&g him until the papers were processed. Absolutely right, Cheese-boy. Need a license to own a dog, but stupids can reproduce, are ENCOURAGED to propagate rather than use a *indrawn breath of horror* condom because Jebus wouldn't like it.
• This is just the beginning. We are heading into the storm.
• THE SKY IS FALLING!
• applaudable, next we need a breeders license
• Dogs don't need a license to reproduce either.
• True, but dogs aren't sending their pups to school with swastikas drawn on them, are they?* They've earned the benefit of the doubt, right there. *So far as I know. I leave it to the internettes to prove me wrong. I'm sure there are neo-Nazi dogs out there that I have no clue about, and let's just drop this whole thing right now.
• Well, there are always the Hitler Cats.
• Shockingly appropriate: A German businessman who trained his dog to perform a Nazi salute was today sentenced to 13 months' probation for violating laws banning neo-Nazi activities.
• Sorry, additional quote from above linked story- German lawyers have been unsure as to whether yelling Nazi catch phrases at a dog constitutes an offence.
• Winnipeg 'white pride' mother regrets redrawing swastika on child's arm. I don't believe CFS had the right to take her kids away. There's no evidence they were being abused or neglected. We don't take someone's kids away because we don't like what they're teaching them; if that were the case, CFS would be knocking on a lot of Fundamentalist Christian's doors.
• "I'm willing to jump through their hoops," she said. "If they want me to deny my beliefs, I'll tell them that, but at the same time, I'm not a traitor to my politics, my beliefs. I just want my kids back." [bolding mine] I heard her say that on the radio, and I could only think "maybe they should take your kids away because you're a MORON." Way to present yourself to the Court.
• But as stated upthread, there's a lot more going on than the Swastika thing. That's the only part making this a story.