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When Human Rights Commissions violate human rights

They sound harmless, even laudable: so-called "Human Rights Commissions" designed to enforce equality and fairness in the workplace, and fight against racism and other forms of discrimination.

However, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. As I explain in my new book The Tyranny of Nice, Canada's Human Rights Commissions are being used by leftist professional "victims" to silence and bankrupt their political and cultural enemies on the right.

My co-author Pete Vere and I warn American readers
that such a "Human Rights" bureaucracy is already doing the same thing in the United States, and is poised to become even more powerful under the Barack Obama administration.

On International Human Rights Day, it seems appropriate to share Vere's recent observations about America's Human Rights Commissions and their campaign against conservative values:

"For instance, Christian photographer Elaine Huguenin was fined $6,500 by the New Mexico Human Rights Commission for crimes of conscience. Mrs. Huguenin declined, for reasons of faith, to photograph a same-sex commitment ceremony between two lesbians. Since photography is an art form that requires a certain photographic eye, the New Mexico government agency was essentially compelling speech in violation of a private citizen’s conscience and First Amendment protections. In so doing the New Mexico Human Rights Commission used language similar to that of the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

"Another case involves Marcia Walden, a licensed associate counselor in Georgia and an African-American Christian. She was fired from a government contract for following her profession’s code of ethics. When she sensed a personal conflict between her religious convictions and an individual seeking same-sex relationship counseling — a conflict that would prevent Ms. Walden from giving the potential client the best treatment possible — the counselor politely referred the client to another counselor in her office who did not share her religious convictions, and who could see the client the same day. Despite admitting that the counseling from this second counselor had been superb, Ms. Walden needed to be fired because her religious convictions as a Christian were deemed ‘not nice’."

For more info: check out this exclusive Examiner.com slideshow devoted to international celebrations of Human Rights Day, December 10, 2008.
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, Conservative Politics Examiner

A pioneering blogger since 2000, Kathy Shaidle writes at FiveFeetOfFury.com. Her work appears regularly at FrontPageMag.com, PajamasMedia.com and other print and web publications. Shaidle's latest book is The Tyranny of Nice (September 2008).

Comments

  • harry handenero 2 years ago

    well for my own observation about that case same sex getting one to another,its absulutely thier choice and nobody can dectate them except thier own selves,even in before christ, there are some case like this that nobody knows about what happening in between same sex cause on that time thier are only few media who cover on that kind of relations cause they dont mind to its other, they live inthier own woth nobody intervent by itself, in this case now we are now in a millinium and a hightech including science even a boy or a girl could change thier gender,how come we can also protect thier rights as a human and cause of thier choice and thier money they can do what they want to do to thier own lifes as soon as they no rights to be violated for bieng a human bieng a also for bieng a gods created, in this issue i know that some religiuos group or any org. will critize this comment of mind and of course they had a right too.. its thier freedom to speak and choice what they want to do .....

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