Magic Statistics

Gerry (Useless) Hannah, bass player in Canadian punk rock band Subhumans, opines that violent pseudo-punks who beat on real, sensitive punks are a disgrace to the uniform.

[Y]ou have people who called themselves punk rockers preying on other punk rockers and destroying venues… basically using punk rock as an outlet for their doofusness.”
. . .
“In our songs and in interviews and stuff we’ve always been trying to stop that kind of sh*t, you know? Basically trying to get rid of fighting loogens from our midst.”

“These guys don’t have any idea what punk rock is about.

Mr Hannah has a rather violent past himself.  In the early 1980s, he became involved with the eco-terrorist hooligans "guerilla organisation" Direct Action.

The group, also known as the Squamish Five, blew up an environmentally unfriendly Vancouver Island hydroelectric substation.

It also bombed the Litton plant outside of Toronto, which was producing guidance systems for American cruise missiles.

And it firebombed a number of Vancouver video shops that were selling violent pornographic films.

Firebombing, of course, is a perfectly rational and effective way to combat violence, pornography, and environmental incorrectitude.

Mr Hannah did five years in the slammer for his crime spree.

“In retrospect, our actions were pretty reckless, but our hearts were in the right place,” he said.

You mean, in the middle of your chests?

Subhumans played a club in Whitehorse yesterday evening.  Another show at a different venue is scheduled for tonight (if no one was seriously injured at last night’s gig).

This is probably a typical Subhumans fan.
The t-shirt certainly reflects Mr Hannah’s political philosophy.

h/t for graphic image: Webelf Binky

Previous related post: Ask yourself one question, punk: “Do I feel loquacious?”

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) imposed heavy fines on union members who crossed picket lines to work during a strike in October 2004.  The workers refused to pay and the union sued to collect.

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has rejected PSAC’s petition, putting a major crimp in union efforts to compel “solidarity”.

According to the decision released by Justice Robert Smith late Wednesday night in the case of Jeffrey Birch and April Luberti vs. the Union of Taxation Employees Local 70030, fines imposed by labour unions are not enforceable by the courts in Ontario.

The ruling sets a precedent and will act as a hurdle to future legal action by any union that tries to collect fines from members, said John Craig, a labour law expert with Heenan Blaikie, the Toronto law firm that represented Mr. Birch and Ms. Luberti.

Hundreds of PSAC members went to work during the strike.  Offenders were fined one day’s gross pay for each day they didn’t walk picket lines.

The union had argued that the fines reflected damages suffered by the union as a result of having members cross picket lines instead of striking.

In his ruling, Judge Smith called the fines "extremely onerous" and "very unfair." He said there was no way for PSAC to accurately determine damages suffered by the union as a result of having a member cross the picket line.

A PSAC representative was nonplussed by the judge’s suggestion that the union could largely avoid the problem by paying more than $50 per day for picket line duty.

An editorial in the Lagos, Nigeria, newspaper This Day sees the Episcopal Church’s ordination of Gene Robinson and acceptance of homosexual behaviour as evidence that America’s laissez-faire attitude has infected the church.

[T]he curious ordination of Jean [sic] Robinson, a gay Bishop, a couple of years ago, manifestly proves that not even the sanctity of divine laws espoused by the major religions can tame the wild libertine philosophy of the American society.

Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola (at right) is commended for resolutely resisting that pernicious influence.

Archbishop Peter Akinola, the primate of the Church of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion) has been in the fore of the fight against this weird intrusion into the Christian faith. Just like most parts of the world were shocked with that ordination, Akinola has earned accolades from around the world for his doggedness in condemning the practice; at one point threatening to lead other African countries out of the Anglican fold if the practice of gay ordination continues.
. . .
We . . . see the resistance of Akinola and other clergymen as a way of not only promoting compliance with the Biblical values and teachings by adherents of the Anglican faith; but also protecting the socio-moral values of the African society. Indeed, as Africans, the prisms of our social ethos are anchored on family values. It is the nurture of such family values that ensure the continuation of mankind.

The editorialist recalls the example of Nigerian Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma who publicly rebuked a pro-homosexual Anglican at the 1998 Lambeth Conference.  (This Day mistakenly says that happened in 1993.)

Previous related posts:

• “The problem is the Western church’s way of handling Scripture”
• Despite persecution, Nigerian church flourishes
• Peter Akinola and Henry Orombi: Daniels of the Year

The fallout from Ottawa Synod’s vote in favour of same-sex blessings is still accumulating and another Anglican Church of Canada diocese is about to consider an almost identical resolution.  The Diocese of Montreal Synod is voting this evening (Friday, 19 October). Prayers, please.

The Montreal branch of the Anglican Church will vote tonight on whether parishes in the diocese can formally bless same-sex civil unions, if they so choose.

The vote, to take place at their annual meeting, or synod, comes a week after the Ottawa diocese voted 177-97 in favour of a similar motion.

The result of the vote is only a recommendation. If Montreal Anglicans vote to follow their Ottawa brethren, Bishop Barry Clarke, head of the Montreal diocese, can choose to accept or reject their choice.

Bp Clarke says he has not yet decided whether to support the resolution.

The Rev Paul Jennings, co-sponsor of the motion, offers an utterly inane rationale for voting in favour.

"I'm certainly aware this is a painful motion where people will be wounded and alienated on both sides."

But stressed [sic] the decision to bless same-sex unions is at its core "about relationships."

"We're talking recognizing the fact God has blessed a relationship. You can't live (in a couple) for so long, without a little help," Jennings said.

Logic students, take note: That is an example of the logical fallacy known as begging the question.  Also, how does he know who’s providing the presumed "help"?

One can only assume that Archbishop Fred Hiltz’s failure to issue a caution over the Ottawa Synod vote will assure pro-SSB Montreal Synod delegates that there will be no consequences for passing a motion contrary to the express wishes of the Anglican Communion primates.

h/t: TitusOneNine

c/p: Anglican Essentials Canada Blog

Previous related posts:

• Primate sees no problem with Ottawa Synod resolution
• Montreal Diocese to consider motion at odds with General Synod decision

UPDATE (19 Oct.): The motion passed.

At its annual synod or general meeting, held 19 October 2007, the Anglican clergy and laity of the Diocese of Montreal voted in favour of a motion requesting "that the Bishop grant permission for clergy, whose conscience permits, to bless duly solemnized and registered civil marriages, including marriages between same-sex couples, where at least one party is baptized; and that the Bishop authorize an appropriate rite and make regulations for its use in supportive parishes." The vote taken on Friday night was passed in the order of clergy (44 - 25) and in the order of laity (59 – 32).

Montreal Bishop Barry Clarke says he will take some time to consider the results of the vote.  Until he renders his decision, he expects that no SSBs will take place in the diocese.

Peter reminds us that the House of Bishops meets next week in London, Ontario.  They have their work cut out for them.