[EyeBrock]

Tricks Tricks:

Wasn't this popular opinion 17 years ago?

I can say that my opinion of gays and lesbians has dramatically changed in the past 17 years.
Society has become much more accepting. Can any of you who were adults 17 years ago have imagined gay marriage?

Come on, this is akin to Streakers 5 year old articles being posted just to get a rise out of anybody right of his views.

A gay MP from the NDP has accepted the apology. Storm in a tea-cup over.

[Mustang1]

ryan29 ryan29:

hurley_108 hurley_108:

ryan29 ryan29:

well i was only refer to it that way because its well known that it is very gay friendly these days , look to some of its programing and where its located ( downtown toronto ) not meant to be inapproiate just pointing that out.

So to be gay-neutral they should relocate to Calgary and never mention homosexuality in their programming at all?

$1:

but i stand by my comments that this is nothing more than a smear campaign aimed at ruining an otherwise good politicans carrer .

and i challenge you to find one example where this mp has done anythign wrong during his time in ottawa .

I challenge you to prove that this comment doesn't represent his true opinions on homosexuality.

well how are we suppose to know what someones deep down opinion on such an issue is , all i know is he has been an otherwise good mp durig his time in ottawa .

would harper had choose him as a parliamentary secretary if he was not know as a good mp and hard worker ?

he simply hasn't done anything bad in ottawa or during his time as an mp to deserve this punishment he is geting from the media and ndp . a good mp does not deserve to be smeared like this .

He made some rather ignorant and socially regressive statements...period. The fact that you feel the need to rationalize them says more about you than anything.

I'm certainly not for making grandiose statements or gestures about it now in respect to his current position, but it does call his world view into question.

[mixedfarmer]

why did they keep the tape? so they can have a laugh everynight before bedtime?

[kenmore]

once a bigot always a bigot.... smells like the reform party... its ashes are still smoldering... anybody have to piss?

[Normalguy]

Typical G&M crap. While his comments are at least anti-gay I saw no phobia there. Just a bug bear of mine, that so called homophobia implies that anyone with an opinion other than pro-gay is afraid of them.....a bigot and the earth is flat. I do not condone hate speech but understand that there are differring opinions (even Kenmore should be heard) and will listen to ALL OF THEM. Naturally the left will begin it's siren-like wailing and chest beating over this but the simple fact is, not everyone embraces or approve of homosexuality. Not that naked facts ever let leftists stop and think for a minute. Why we let the comments from so long ago by someone so ignorant cause all this fuss is the problem. Ignore the fossils, move on...forward not back.

[kenmore]

thats not what homophobia means... its not a true def... it is a bigotry... and harper is a bigot as well... this guy should not be in Parliament representing Canadians.. because he there to represent ALL Canadians from all walks of life and race,religion etc.. and the idea that we sweep it under the mat and move on is rediculous... racist,bigots and the like should not be in government...

[Mustang1]

Normalguy Normalguy:

Typical G&M crap. While his comments are at least anti-gay I saw no phobia there. Just a bug bear of mine, that so called homophobia implies that anyone with an opinion other than pro-gay is afraid of them.....a bigot and the earth is flat. I do not condone hate speech but understand that there are differring opinions (even Kenmore should be heard) and will listen to ALL OF THEM. Naturally the left will begin it's siren-like wailing and chest beating over this but the simple fact is, not everyone embraces or approve of homosexuality. Not that naked facts ever let leftists stop and think for a minute. Why we let the comments from so long ago by someone so ignorant cause all this fuss is the problem. Ignore the fossils, move on...forward not back.

It was bigoted, socially regressive nonsense. While YOU may not see the relevance, others certainly do and as citizens we have the civic responsibility to hold our representatives to task for prejudicial comments (and yes, past ones do count as well). I don't think that a resignation is in order or anything beyond an apology is warranted because obviously these unenlightened views were uttered in a time when he didn't hold office. But this isn't "typical G&M crap" nor is it totally immaterial.

[kenmore]

An irrational fear or intolerance of homosexuality, or behaviour that is perceived to uphold and support traditional gender role expectations. The prevalent assumption in Western society is that heterosexuality is the only acceptable sexual orientation. In sport, homophobia is expressed in ways ranging from telling jokes directed against homosexual activity, through harassment to physical violence against homosexual sportspeople.....

[Normalguy]

"Fanaticism consists in redoubling your effort when you have forgotten your aim."

George Santayana

Wikipedia: please note that last sentence

Homophobia (from Greek homós: one and the same; phóbos: fear, phobia) is a term used to describe irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuals.[3][4][5][6] It can also mean hatred, hostility, disapproval of, or prejudice towards homosexuals, or homosexual behavior or cultures.[7] Homophobic is the adjective form of this term used to describe the qualities of these characteristics while homophobe is the noun form given as a title to individuals with homophobic characteristics.

The usage of the word homophobia in its modern form is controversial as it may be used pejoratively against those with differing debatable value positions.[

[Mustang1]

Normalguy Normalguy:

"Fanaticism consists in redoubling your effort when you have forgotten your aim."

George Santayana

Wikipedia: please note that last sentence

Homophobia (from Greek homós: one and the same; phóbos: fear, phobia) is a term used to describe irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuals.[3][4][5][6] It can also mean hatred, hostility, disapproval of, or prejudice towards homosexuals, or homosexual behavior or cultures.[7] Homophobic is the adjective form of this term used to describe the qualities of these characteristics while homophobe is the noun form given as a title to individuals with homophobic characteristics.

The usage of the word homophobia in its modern form is controversial as it may be used pejoratively against those with differing debatable value positions.[

And yet, this stands out,

"or discrimination against homosexuals.[3][4][5][6] It can also mean hatred, hostility, disapproval of, or prejudice towards homosexuals, or homosexual behavior or cultures."

You can argue semantics (I'm curious why) all day long, it was a bigoted comment.

[Normalguy]

"The usage of the word homophobia in its modern form is controversial as it may be used pejoratively against those with differing debatable value positions.["

It is merely a convienient modern usage and not representative of the issue. Regressive, hateful, mean spirited, bigotted I'll buy, even stupid.

Using that term is as bad as other terms to describe another's race etc. Name calling for it's own sake will get us all nowhere as it's popular meaning is moronic.

[kenmore]

obviously you have never been a victim of bigotry, homophobia or racism...
I am french.. been called lots of things and told to go back to France.. I was born here... 3rd generation.. my brother is gay and he has been beaten at university for being so...there is no excuse for this... none

[Freakinoldguy]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

Tricks Tricks:

Wasn't this popular opinion 17 years ago?

I can say that my opinion of gays and lesbians has dramatically changed in the past 17 years.
Society has become much more accepting. Can any of you who were adults 17 years ago have imagined gay marriage?

Come on, this is akin to Streakers 5 year old articles being posted just to get a rise out of anybody right of his views.

A gay MP from the NDP has accepted the apology. Storm in a tea-cup over.

Glad to see that someone has their head screwed on straight. You're absolutely right about peoples attitudes towards things like homosexuality changing in 17 years. Most of us older people can and will attest to that.

What I do find puzzling though, is that the attitude of quite a few left wing types that permeate this board hasn't changed at all over the years.

Strange as it may sound alot of them still have the 1960's attitude that everyone else is out of step except them, which is rather fascinating since most of them weren't even a gleam in their fathers eye back them.

[kenmore]

the current tory government is made up of remanants of the so called defunct reform party who were well know for their racist,rednecked bigotry...
and so many of these losers including harper are running the government...
and as the saying goes you cant teach an old dog new tricks... they have not changed.. so this guy should ,,, (like his predecessor) RESIGN..... get the f out

[Benoit]

I real apology from Lukiwski would have consist at him demonstrating how he has always be or how he has become a different man then the one we hear on the video.