Is that the price we have to pay for the Games? Loss of our freedom? Curtailing of a free press? Government control of reporting?
If so, the price Canadians are paying to host the 2010 Winter Olympics is FAR too high!
Admittedly all the facts are not yet known … because the possible culprits, federal government/immigration officials … have so far refused to explain themselves … but the allegation is that a U.S. writer/reporter was turned away from Canada because of his anti-Olympic-game beliefs.
Vancouver Olympic opponents have said Martin Macias, a leading member of the No-Games Chicago group, was interrogated for several hours after arriving at Vancouver airport from Chicago Saturday … and then turned away and placed on a flight bound for Seattle.
Now if Macias has a criminal record or immigration officials found evidence that he was coming here to carry out illegal activities, immigration officials had every right to turn him away.
BUT, if events occurred as Vancouver 2010 opponents allege .. ie he was refused entry simply because of his anti-Olympic opinions or writings .. then we are ALL paying far too high a price for the Games.
Our freedoms are far more precious than any Gold medal. Our rights are not up for auction. Our unfettered access to free writers/reporters must not be censored or controlled in advance, unless there is proof that will hold up in court that the material in question would violate Canadian law.
Canada Border Services, the federal government and, VANOC too, have a responsiblity to let the public know exactly why Macias was turned away.
And it was simply because of the fear he might write negatively about the Games or anything else … that decision MUST be reversed immediately, and Macias allowed in.
When Vancouver residents voted FOR the Olympics … they did NOT vote for a police state.
Harv Oberfeld
11 responses so far ↓
1 BC Liberals Suck // Feb 7, 2010 at 9:47 pm
This is a step beyond the questioning and harassment Amy Goodman of Democracy Now faced when she was coming to Vancouver to give a speech. Our civil rights have been strategically and structurally eroded since 9/11. Right under our noses, with most of us not even aware, or caring what is happening. Until you get to the airport and find out your name is on a watchlist, or a No Fly list, most people don’t get how scary this new world is.
We have the biggest security event in Canadian history on our door step. $900 million tax payer dollars spent on Olympic security when Bud Mercer (ISU head) told us there is a low threat risk assessment and no security threat has been identified (well, “domestic dissenters” is who they see as threats).
RCMP showing up to the homes and workplaces of citizens, questioning and asking them to be eyes & ears for them on other “domestic dissenters.” And sometimes they are intimidating and harassing activists. It’s not being reported in the mainstream media, but it’s going on.
Do we really want to live in Communist Russia, or China? How are we any different now (at least regarding the powers that have been granted to these security agents of government).
Surveillance cameras, a thousand or more. The city won’t say whether they will stay after the Big Party is over. Road closed, access cut off, thousands and thousands of police, military and ill-trained new hire security personnel. For what?
This is a major turning point in our civil society in BC and Canada. Our Charter of Rights & Freedoms and what we believe in as a democratic nation are being shut down, very strategically. Hell, our own Prime Minister has shut our Parliament down for a second time. We are in trouble and this is leading to a very, very scary place. A place other nations have gone in the darkest days of history.
“First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.”
Pastor Martin Niemöller (January 6, 1946)
(Response: I understand the need for proper security to guard against terrorism. BUT we must not abridge the freedoms of those who just disagree .. and want to peacefully say so .. even loudly. h.o.)
2 Curt // Feb 7, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Harv I agree. He should not have been deported if there were no circumstances except he was anti owelympic. These games have cost us way to much by way of cutbacks and freedoms. We will be paying for the remainder of our lifetimes. And was it worth it? To me, No, never.
3 DMJ // Feb 7, 2010 at 11:02 pm
So, let me get this clear, a reporter who doesn’t support the Olympics gets deported, yet there are thousands of foreign criminals roaming Canada’s streets and no one seems to do anything about it.
I did not vote for VANOC to run this country, but it seems the sad and intellectually defunct people that pretend that they do run the country think journalists should be deported because they might write something uncomplimentary about the two week sports fest.
I am embarrassed and if Canada’s journalist had any moral backbone, they would black list the event and report on it no more!
Will Bill Boring stop commenting on the Olympics for a moral stand?
Will CTV reporters refuse to cover Olympic Events?
Will the mainstream media boycott this shameless affair?
No, no and no. The media are sheep, dazzled with promises of Senate seats or other perks, to catapult hem into Canada’s elite class.
If they do not protest and shun this affair, they will be no better than writes for Pravda.
Shame on the bloody lot of them!
Do I hear the trump of jackboots and the VANOC police at my doorstep; will the powers that be practice a ‘Nacht und Nebel’, with Olympic dissenters? One has the feeling that absolute power has gone to these bastard’s heads!
4 Crankypants // Feb 8, 2010 at 7:51 am
You are totally correct, however I doubt that we will ever get any answers from either border services or the ISU. My guess is that the ISU has targeted certain people and is using the border services to keep any perceived malcontents out of Canada. When you combine this incident with the earlier debacle faced by Amy Goodman and the rousting of the many known anti olympics living here and one could come to the conclusion that our games will be dubbed the “Paranoia Games”.
Amy Goodman appeared on “The Standard” on Joy TV tonight, and if her version of the treatment she received courtesy of our border services, then it is obvious that the powers that be are out to mute any dissenting opinions. This is so shameful. We espouse our democratic values in many countries but refuse to practice what we preach at home.
My biggest worry is that the ISU has gotten so overly concerned about a possible bit of negative press that they may not be putting their full effort into nipping a possible terrorist action in the bud. There is a lot of very dangerous weaponry floating around the world that is very compact, can be used at long range and can have a very devastating effect. Maybe the border services should be focussing their efforts more on someone trying to import any such weaponry rather than one those that may lob some unkind words. We know that they have not fared so well in the past by the kinds of firepower the gangs in BC have been able to import and utilize. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather face the pain of a few cutting words rather than the effects of the business end of a rocket launcher or any other such weapon.
In closing, and totally off topic, I just saw Katarina Witt on TV skating at Robson Square, and she is just as hot as she was when she performed in Calgary. To be fair, Elizabeth Manley looks pretty fine as well.
(Response: I saw Goodman on The Standard and found her quite credible when she talked of her treatment at the border. Now in the end she WAS allowed in for 48 hours to speak, but from everything I have read about this, I still feel Canada Border Services went too far and acted inappropriately in her case too. h.o)
5 Robert // Feb 8, 2010 at 8:05 am
Well I expect Bill Boring and Norman will as usual cheer on Vanoc and our Version of the mind police. The guy was obviously more of a threat than the homeless and might even mention the sad shape of the olympic spirit here.
6 RS // Feb 8, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Perhaps while Harpo is here, he ‘n’ Gordo, if they had any sense of right and wrong or could muster even a smidgen of integrity between ‘em, they could ask a few questions ‘n’ then invite Mr. Macias back to Vancouver.
Yeah — right!
7 Lynn2 // Feb 8, 2010 at 3:45 pm
A rush to judgement ?
Why was his companion Bob Quelles an organizer with No Games Chicago allowed to enter Canada if we are so oppressive?
(REsponse: As I said there MAY be valid reasons to exclude Macias. But when a government agencies excludes a writer/journalist/reporter they owe us a public reason for their discriminatory actions. As for the fact his companion was alowed in ..that’s a red herring used in MANY police states: we arrested only the activist who speaks up.speaks out and reports what he/she says… but let thousands of others through…so we’re being “fair”. Humbug! The real test of freedom is when you allow “critics” in … unless you have EVIDENCE he will break the law. Where’s the evidence? . h.o.)
8 Lynn2 // Feb 8, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Bob Quellos is an activist who speaks out against the olympics,i.e. “Pushing The Helpless Out Of House and Home” in Chicago.
He seems to be a very capable critic and writer.
I don’t recall commenting on fairness.
Just a rush to judgement .
9 Hugh // Feb 9, 2010 at 12:15 am
In BC we have legislation allowing police to enter our house to enforce the specified municipalities (Richmond, Vancouver, Whistler)sign bylaws, between Feb 1 and Mar 31, 2010:
BC Bill 13 2009
Part 9
77 Municipalities Enabling and Validating Act
http://www.leg.bc.ca/39th1st/1st_read/gov13-1.htm
I find this pretty offensive.
(Response: It’s true … blame the polticians for allowing that. But I understand the police have already said they have no intention of doing that. h.o)
10 Toby F // Feb 9, 2010 at 12:20 am
Harv, is all this “security” for the Olympics some sort of big experiment? Are Canadian and American security organizations (both public and private) pushing the envelope to see what they can get away with?
(Response: I don’t beleive so. I think it’s just absolute fear that something terrible could happen; determination to prevent it; and an almost unlimited budget to do so . h.o)
11 the dude // Feb 10, 2010 at 3:07 am
Have you just waken up? btw. this is not about Gold medals. We all want them for Canada of course.
(Response: I’m awake .. promise. Haven’t you been reading my blog?
h.o.
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