CTV & A Time For Action Against Bigotry
August 4, 2007 · By Matthew
CTV’s website has posted another story today which implies Bible-obedient Christians are “backward-thinking”, homophobic, and of giving a “black eye” to a community whose government simply didn’t take a side in the controversial debate over gay rights/the homosexual agenda (or however you wish to frame the debate). This is insulting to the diversity and plurality, not to mention the tolerance that CTV apparently promotes in its programming, news and business code. The report did a pretty good job at interviewing four residents who disagreed with the situation though, as opposed to the one (the mayor) who agreed with the decision. As a result, I am asking for you the reader to help me send a powerful message to CTV by boycotting all CTV news, websites, print and programming until the company acknowledges its unprofessional approach to this story. Furthermore, I would personally like to see writer Nicolle Carlin properly educated as to how to respect religious minorities (like Christians), perhaps by doing a piece for her company on the benefits that Christians have brought to Canada over the years.
I need your help though if this is going to work. Below is a list of things we all need to do if CTV is going to sit up and listen:
1)Write CTV through newsonline@ctv.ca with a small message with something like the following:
To Whom It May Concern,
I have read your story on Truro, Nova Scotia by Nicolle Carlin and must inform you of my extreme disappointment with how you have portrayed the council, opponents of a homosexual campaign to have a government endorse a controversial lifestyle choice, and Christians in general. Because of this story, and the many others CTV has produced over the years with the same vein, my household and I will be boycotting all of your channels, news, websites and the Globe and Mail until CTV properly addresses this matter and offers a formal apology. Please refer to
http://thepolitic.com/archives/2007/08/04/ctv-a-time-for-action-against-bigotry/
for more information on how your organization has offended me as a Canadian and how you should go about rectifying the situation.
2)Actually boycott CTV. They won’t do anything unless the almighty dollar is threatened
3)Send this post to friends or (if you have a blog), please make a post on this. We need more people to get the word out about this bigotry on the part of CTV.
I want to thank you all in advance for helping me with this. I want to note that CTV isn’t alone in its discrimination against Christians but that Global has been far more fair on average with social issues, and CTV is the next largest media organization in the country. Sending a message to CTV will send a message to all the other media in Canada that we will not tolerate this slander against Christians!
for her company on the benefits that Christians have brought to Canada over the years. I need your help though if this is going to work. Below is a list of things we all need to do if CTV is going to sit up and listen: [...]Target the advertsers. MORE
it seems drastic, but it is a powerful way to send a message, so I’d encourage you to seriously consider whether desperate times really do call for desperate measures and whether you will join in the boycott and pass it on to others. Here’s the link: http://www.thepolitic.com/arch.....t-bigotry/
If you want to get CTV’s attention, you need to bite them where it hurts the most: advertising revenue. Simply telling CTV you’re not going to watch them isn’t going to impress them much. I can picture the condescending chuckles your little email will produce.
Write to the companies who advertise on CTV, tell them why you won’t purchase their products any more unless they either convince CTV to stop acting like jackasses or stop buying ad space on CTV. Get a couple of hundred thousand people doing that, and you’ll get some attention. Anything else is the equivalent of writing a complaint to the editor - it’ll get thrown in the trash.
I agree with Caveman. I have written an email to them but indicated that I would be voicing my displeasure with all CTV News advertisers as well. Please note that Muslims regularly kill and maim gays and lesbians around the world in the name of Allah. Ever see a piece on that on CTV or any mainstream media about that? No. That is because it might involve some harm like decapitation of journalists or some other violence to CTV. Christians allow themselves to be maligned as part of their faith and are easy targets. So add cowardice to bad reporting.
HA HA HA! I love the boycott card that the Christian right loves to throw around. The irony is, that in order to remain informed about what they want to boycott, they tend to watch EVERYTHING, and I think the television and radio networks have caught on to this empty threat. Sorta like the threat that Quebec (or Alberta for that matter) will one day seperate. HA! So keep watching television so you can write your letters and your posts in outrage. You are only playing directly into their hands - to get you to watch more television so they can get advertising dollars.
I am so sick of hearing christians talk like they are so opressed! This debate has nothing to do with political correctness, but everything to do with civil rights. The fact of the matter is that gays are a segment of our population that do not share all the freedoms heterosexuals enjoy. The fact that you see this as a controversial debate prove the fact most christians are a backward thinking group that is doing nothing but promoting hate against gays. Any heterosexual who would suggest giving all rights to all people is a bad thing doesn’t believe in democracy! So you people can talk about bad reporting all you want but the truth is that for the most part Christians have been stonewalling attemps by the gay community establish acceptance.
Hey Matthew, I sent them an email saying it was a pretty good article, just to balance out your boycott email. You do realize that linking to them only increases the traffic to their site, right?
The article is actually quite balanced and writes the facts as presented by multiple points of view. 1. They mayor and six concil members agree - not to raise the flag because of their religious conviction (this is a matter of public record). 2. Not all christian groups feel this way. 3. Gays and lesbians don’t like it. 4. Businesses wonder about the impact this decision may have on their bottom line.
So, in order for this article to be more fair, you just wanted one more person who was in favour of the mayor’s decision, right? THIS is worthy of a boycott? Come one, don’t you think that is an over-reaction? Do you actually think that they would have been able to find a resident that agrees with the mayor to speak up on National news and help the side of the mayor?
Not likely, and they probably tried, but then you guys would have been ever more outraged when they showed this person’s photograph and yet another Christian was painted with the colour of biggotry.
I am sure you will keep following up on this story. Please update us on whether or not this mayor is re-elected and I hope you don’t have to look it up on CTV.
Stopped watching CTV approximately one year ago because of their obvious bias.
Pardon me while I laugh. CTV is so right-wing these days, especially Mike Duffy.
In other words - if some media group say even “one” thing you don’t agree with, they are liberal bias. Huh?
Liberal leaning media - The Star and sometimes the Globe. All the rest conservative. How on earth can you say that Canadian media are liberal bias? Are you so narrow minded and sensitive that even one view that’s not yours means liberal bias?
This is sick.
CTV: all the fake global-warming, social assistance-loving, pandering-to-the commies news you want to hear. And yes, the Toronto Star is the champion of the left wing, out-of-touch-with-reality crowd.
blah blah blah…you don’t like my religion…wah wah wah …boycott….blah blah blah. If you could re-read the article and put aside your fundamentalist self, you would see it’s pretty balanced. It’s nice you have an imagination (like seeing things that aren’t really there) but maybe you should try using it more constructively.
Everyone is sooooo busy pointing fingers and running each others beliefs into the ground that the whole point is missed. The point is Why do gay people feel the need to have their own flag? Why do they constantly feel a need to push their lifestyle onto others via traditional means? So if it is ok to have their flag and fly it when they feel the need to, then it is ok for my group or family to create our own flag and expect the towns and cities to fly it for us also? That would be true diversity.If they want to fly thier flag then do it in their parades and leave the town out of it.This has been a deliberate attempt by gays to again usurp a tradition of the majority and subvert it to thier ways.
What’s the bias problem? The fact that they actually reported on another wingnut politician? (who sounds like a small town version of Bill Naugle)
Or is the usual whining - namely anything that reports a story that isn’t ideologically correct for you, it’s automatically “biased reporting” and should be boycotted?
Do you have a counterpoint to the story? Are there facts that the story has left out? Information you are privy to that would present it in a different light?
If you are prepared to claim bias, then be prepared to substantiate the claim.
Since when is Christianity a religious minority?
Instead of boycotting I’d suggest every time you see a naked man on T.V., immediately call the network you’re watching and say you’re offended. You might happen to be watching it with your child/grandson. It seems odd that certain networks (CityTV) promote this parade/day as almost a national holiday.
I think Matthew writes a lot of letters. Do let us know the response.
Odds are they have a canned letter for whiners from all walks of life who jump at any opportunity to be offended. Some CTV communications excutive will simply say “send this jerk the ‘heartfelt response to Christian outrage letter.’”
Best of luck with your boycott.
City politicians who raise the rainbow flag to fly atop city property do so because a) they provided taxpayer money to help fund pride celebrations b) they want recognition for their generosity and c) want to project the image that they are inclusive, you know, “We are one big tent”.
All festivals, including pride, should fund their own parades and venues. Enough of high municipal taxes to fund a multitude of private fun-fests.
Of course, municipalities who year after year give out such grants don’t have the guts to put their foot down. It wouldn’t look good, see? Plus, sitting city politicians need the votes.
“Oooooh, they wouldn’t raise our flag! What an egregious violation of our fundamental human rights and liberties! Someone get on the direct line to the human rights commission!”
Someone seriously needs an enema.
Here you go Aaron. http://www.enematips.com/
You know I get upset about this kind of press too, but what are we learning as Believers? This the world! And what are we as the Salt of the earth? We are to be so different from the world paradigm that ppl see our Love and Power [in Christ] and repent!
So, who and what are we as the Church? Are we whining because the world is still the world and are we believers possibly getting sucked into trying to change those caught up in the darkness of the world by worldly methods or are we laying down our carnal minds [Romans 8. 6-8] & crying out for Power on High to bless those with AIDS with healing and love [in Christ] and a way of life that is way better than anything that sodomy and perversion can EVER give them? Are we weeping and repenting over our lusts of the eye and pride of life? Are we lifting up Holy hands WITHOUT quarrellings and doubt [1 Timothy 2:8]?
The Word says we are to repent and that the Kingdom of God is near. If the Kingdom is near, what does it look like to be IN the Kingdom and walk in the Spirit when N. Carlin tries to provoke us to offense. How does one love such a writer/correspondent? How do we have the spirit of Christ when all these potential offenses swirl around us? Are we too easily swayed by the sin of the world? Do we cry out to our Heavely Father for mercy to triumph over justice? Do we have the maturity in Chrsit to LOVE these ppl into the Kingdom with a Love that all can see must be supernatural?
I think we as “protesting” believers look too much like the world! Are we Salt & Light or just a religious shade of grey? Wake up you sleeper! Arise ! [Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light. Ephesians 5.14 ]
It seems that views the mainstream homosexual movement doesn’t like are brought to human rights whilst views that offend other minorities are not.As a former homosexual I do know that not only is my position unpopular but it is demonized by homosexuals. When did you see a positive news piece about former homosexuals can we raise our flag as well at Toronto or elsewhere?Will you back that? Teach exit homosexual lifestyle in schools am I not a Canadian as welll?
I’ve always thought that Ezzy has a big red phone in his office like Commissioner Gordon’s direct line to Batman, except that Ezzy’s goes straight to the provincial human rights commission. Or else a Bat Signal where the Batman logo is replaced with “SOS, I’ve been offended!”
When did you see a positive news piece about former homosexuals can we raise our flag as well at Toronto or elsewhere?Will you back that? Teach exit homosexual lifestyle in schools am I not a Canadian as welll?
Ah yes, the “poor persecuted christian” argument - slightly reframed albeit.
So tell me, have you ever had yourself bashed for being an “ex-gay”? Ever been fired from a job because of that? Thrown out of a restaurant? Probably not.
You speak of “ex-gays” being discriminated against, but have you ever experienced such discrimination and challenged it in the legal framework of Canada?
I’m amazed by the frequency with which we see those who persecute others the most vocally complain of being persecuted themselves, and yet not once have I ever heard of those people actually using the legal remedies available to them. One can only imagine that either the claim has no merit, or that they know damn good and well that the claim is a crock.
The article mentions nothing of human rights, Aaron. And, the only phone number I have on speed dial here is the neighborhood mom and pop pizza shop that has the best pizza delivery in town.
cheese only, eh ezzie?
Are you kidding me? A good boy from Alberta doesn’t order cheese pizza. You folks really need to get your stereotypes down.
You will note that the CBC has the Truro story as its tops blogged story. This one paints the mayor as an even bigger wacko. Time for you to start boycotting the CBC now too.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-.....ml?ref=rss
I know. He won’t raise the ridiculous-looking rainbow flag. Must be a wacko.
What is is about Rainbow Brite and the Care Bears that inspires gays anyway?
Nah, it is the fact that he thinks God talks to him and that he cannot make a decision for himself. “God says I’m not in favour of that and I have to look at it and say, I guess I’m not either,” Mills said.
Sorta like you, Aaron. Do you need to pray at every intersection to see where God wants you to go? If you drive anything like you argue, then it must be really frustrating following you on the road.
deleted due to the use of profane and inappropriate language
Nice editing. I wrote god, and I meant it to be written that way.
And His title is God (capital G) and He means it to be written that way; plus, it’s not nice to refer to someone’s God as god when they write it in the former way, or is this just another example of progressive hypocracy?
Gave up the CBC (except for hockey) looong ago.
When have you ever been nice? Respect is a two way street that you have never been able to walk down, Aaron. Post 28 pretty much illustrates that point.
In fact, you sound like the people you are criticizing for not having their flag flown. Boo hoo, you hurt my feelings because you didn’t respect my God with your use of small letters and brackets.
Give me a break. You are a bigger pansy than I thought.
This is certainly not a case of human rights, although I haven’t seen it framed that way by those concerned. It has more to do with demonstrating acceptance of homosexuals in the community - something which the mayor has aptly demonstrated is lacking in Truro.
If there was a debate about flying minority/ethnic flags in general, and Truro voted against it, that’s one thing. But the major clearly voted based on his religious convictions - which is completely inappropriate. One has to wonder how widespread this is in Truro’s municipal government. He compares homosexuals with pedophiles, for crying out loud.
If the community does not agree with the mayor on this issue, they have one easy recourse - don’t re-elect him. In the meantime, any complaints of discriminatory behaviour in Truro’s municipal government should be closely examined.
“It has more to do with demonstrating acceptance of homosexuals in the community…”
The meaning of “acceptance” has changed so much over the years. Now it apparently means, “willing to fly whatever silly flag any particular group wants you to.”
“But the major clearly voted based on his religious convictions - which is completely inappropriate.”
Damn right. Religious people should keep their mouthes shut.
“In fact, you sound like the people you are criticizing for not having their flag flown. Boo hoo, you hurt my feelings because you didn’t respect my (g)od with your use of small letters and brackets.
Give me a break. You are a bigger pansy than I thought.”
Sorry, but I no understand.
Whatever, Aaron. You have no credibility if you are going to edit the posts of other contributors without their permission. Good luck with the boycott boys, I am sure your impact will be felt througout the media empires in Canada.
Ah Smarter than Ezra, seems you’re not so smart after all (and you might want to have that over-inflated sense of intellectual superiority checked out after this realization…); I edited your posts because you were clearly referring to my God. He deserves respect, akin to (but far greater than) that which we give to a head of state like the Queen, a Prime Minister or so on. Now, you’re more than welcome to try and defame His name on your own site but while you post here all your references to the LORD will be capitalized; if you don’t like it, you know where the door is!
And Greg agrees with you editing the posts? He is, after all, the site founder. I think he is the first person you should answer to on this one… Also, the last time I check, you didn’t own God - no matter how you wish to spell it.
No apology to Aaron? You’re quite the piece of work there StE. I don’t own God though, and I never made that claim; you don’t have to own someone though to edit a comment in order to correctly spell the title/name of someone though, or is that a new rule that you just made up?
I am sorry for thinking you edited my posts, Aaron. I should have guessed that if you don’t care to edit yourself from saying retarded things like the comments in #28 that you would care to edit the semantic choices others make when referring to unsubstantiated metaphysical ideas.
I am sorry for telling Aaron he needed an enema (even though he is full of crap most of the time).
I am sorry that contributors at thepolitic feel the need to change postings - given its self proclaimed mandate to “to nurture public discourse and the free flow of information which all of our contributors cherish as the foundation-stones of a free society.” It seems that you pick and choose what to censor without really sticking to a policy that has been determined and posted publicly. Sorta like how people pick and choose the passages they want to follow and not follow in the Bible.
I am sorry that Matthew doesn’t understand the principles of Christianity, and yet, uses them to justify his actions. Anyone can quote from the Bible - but understanding its teachings is another story. If you ever want to kick it old school with someone who finished 4 years of seminary, Matthew, I would be happy to on a seperate post. However, this is thepolitic.com not thejesus.com.
I am also sorry that people like the Mayor of Truro do the same thing and look forward to seeing if he gets re-elected.
I am sorry that people like Matthew think that boycotting the press is a good idea, given that without it democracy would be less democratic.
I am sorry that Matthew doesn’t stick to what he is good at, which is political partisan commentary.
Did I miss anything?
I’m sorry I just spent my time reading ezzie’s post.
We all make choices esmeralda.
P.S. (s)he/it was not misspelled.
I’m sorry that Ezzy had three lemons for lunch and then started commenting here.
The meaning of “acceptance†has changed so much over the years. Now it apparently means, “willing to fly whatever silly flag any particular group wants you to.â€
Not at all. I could easily understand how a small municipal government would not want to get dragged into supporting every minority/ethnic group celebration by flying appropriate flags, for fear of offending some group or another. I could even understand their refusal to fly their flag due to the probable small size of the parade/celebration in Truro, a rural community of 12,000. The mayor’s reasoning, however, was religious.
Damn right. Religious people should keep their mouthes shut.
Again, not at all Aaron. Religious people have just as much right to have and express their opinions as the rest of us. This includes the mayor of Truro, Nova Scotia. What I disagree with, is any politician allowing his/her religious views to determine his/her political decisions.
If you can’t separate your religion from your politics, don’t become a politician. It’s not a difficult concept, in my eyes.
I edited your posts because you were clearly referring to my God.
Then spell it ‘God’ in your own posts. Editing another’s posts for such a personal reason, without even being up-front about it, is high unethical in any public discourse. If you don’t like the opinions of others (including the opinion that it should be spelled ‘god’), then don’t allow public comments. At least then you’ll be transparent about what you allow/disallow.
“I edited your posts because you were clearly referring to my God. He deserves respect, akin to (but far greater than) that which we give to a head of state like the Queen, a Prime Minister or so on. Now, you’re more than welcome to try and defame His name on your own site but while you post here all your references to the LORD will be capitalized; if you don’t like it, you know where the door is!”
Sorry man, but Coo Coo! You’re editing posts so that the spelling of God is, at least in your view, properly capitalized? Wow. Interesting way to support The Politic’s intention to “provide an intellectually honest viewpoint on the topics of which we write, in order to nurture public discourse and the free flow of information which all of our contributors cherish as the foundation-stones of a free society.” I guess, obviously, Matthew hates the idea of a free society - or is anti-foundation anyway. I’ll spell god in whatever way I please Matthew. Thanks.
Between posting IPs, posting disucussant’s places of employment, and unwanted as well as unsanctioned editing of posts, I’m beginning to wonder about what’s going on in here lately. If the authors on The Politic just want to talk to each other and share snide comments about weblinks, then eliminate the “post a comment” feature or shut this whole thing down and send e-mails to each other.
[...] decline, The Politic, apparently channelling typographic instructions from the Lord, has begun editing comments in order to ensure that they show the proper degree of “respect” for God. [...]
I’ve noticed that the only time Stageleft stops being boring is when they’re writing about us. Apparently Balbulican has noticed that too, hence this latest silly post.
In addition to outcries over changing “g” to “G”, Balbulican obsesses over the consistency of his oatmeal and the tartness of his prune juice.
“Back in MY day, we couldn’t edit USENET posts. Those were the good old days.”
[...] The “case debate” is interesting. Upper case G denotes “respect?” [...]
[...] the round-up begin. It sounds like Ms. Allison could be one of our regular commenters here at ThePolitic: What I disagree with, is any politician allowing his/her religious views to [...]