Olympic protesters are 'terrorists': Bloy

By Wanda Chow; November 03, 2009 - Burnaby News Leader
http://www.bclocalnews.com/greater_vancouver/burnabynewslead...

[See below for critical comments regarding Bloy's idiotic remarks.]

People who protest the Winter Olympics are nothing more than "terrorists" with "limited intellect," Burnaby-Lougheed Liberal MLA Harry Bloy said in the Legislature Monday.

Bloy's comments came in support of a private member's motion by Richmond Centre MLA Rob Howard to welcome the Olympic torch to British Columbia, and recognize the economic opportunity the Winter Olympics and Paralympics will bring.

According to Hansard, Bloy expressed his pride at being Canadian and British Columbian before saying of Olympic protesters: "You know, there was a disappointing factor about the Olympics. It was that 200-odd group of terrorists who came to Victoria from across Canada to interrupt the Games. Anyone who could support this group should be ashamed of themselves."

Bloy referred to protesters preventing some participants from completing their legs of the torch relay as scheduled: "For this group to take away so much from the Games, to have an opinion not shared by many where they have to gather from across Canada to try and disrupt these Games, to stop a young child or young adult with disabilities from carrying the flame—something he had been looking at doing for months since he was chosen, and he couldn't carry it in his hometown—I think is disgusting and shameful.

"They do not understand, these terrorists, the potential goodwill and economic benefits that come from these Games, because they have a limited intellect and do not understand how the world truly operates."

The NDP's 2010 Olympics critic, Kathy Corrigan, was surprised at Bloy's comments.

While she doesn't believe protesters should cross the line by doing just about anything to gain attention, Bloy's comments were "a bit over the top," said the MLA for Burnaby-Deer Lake [just a bit?!! - MW].

"We want to do a great job and be a great showcase to the world and I think anything that inflames people is not helpful."

Corrigan was taken aback by Bloy's choice of words. "My guess is he probably regrets calling protesters 'terrorists.' I mean, I hope that's not what he thinks protesters are."

In an interview Tuesday, Bloy had no such regrets.

"Individuals that want to disrupt, intimidate and then terrorize animals and people and cause commotion, I stand by what I said."

He said he'd received three or four emails from people opposed to his comments.

"I fully support the right to peaceful protest. People have a right to express their opinion, same as I do," he said.

"But I really don't support people who use violence and intimidation to promote their agenda or to terrorize horses by throwing marbles in front of them that could've caused a stampede or an injury to a policeman or a death to somebody in the crowd," he said, referring to some protesters' actions at the torch parade in Victoria last week.

He decried the protesters' noise and commotion that "terrorized the children's choir" as they started to sing at the event and caused organizers to change the parade route.

Many participants in the torch relay got there by entering a contest or by representing a special group, he noted.

"And they've gotten there and now their once-in-a-lifetime chance to carry an Olympic torch is taken away from them? I don't believe that that's right at all."

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MLA Bloy criticized for comments

November 06, 2009 - Burnaby News Leader
http://www.bclocalnews.com/greater_vancouver/burnabynewslead...

For those in the know it is not surprising that Harry would call Olympic protesters “terrorists” and label them as having “limited intellect,” what is surprising is that Harry was able to keep a cork on his bottle of “gee! I have no idea what democracy means,” for so long.

Regardless of your support (or lack thereof) for the Olympics, please let me remind Harry that we live in Canada.

In the Canada that I hold dear we are allowed to disagree with decisions made by government and yes, that includes the right to protest.

What is the political concept so dear to Harry’s heart where that right is not granted the citizens of this province and this country?

While I have not yet protested I have lost my enthusiasm for the Olympics.

There is far too much heavy-handedness in the control of what can and cannot be done leading up to and during the Olympics.

I can only assume that my position puts me in the category of “limited intellect” soon to be terrorist.

You have gone too far Harry.

On Nov. 11 I will be saddened remembering the loss of so many young men and women who gave their lives to preserve an ideology. In my mind that ideology has a great deal to do with the right to criticize government and the freedom to do so without insult or, for that matter, any kind of repercussion.

Nancy Harris
(Former Burnaby city councillor)
Clinton, B.C.

•••••

Burnaby-Lougheed MLA Harry Bloy should be ashamed of his outrageous comments. In a single breath he managed to claim support for differing opinions and legal, peaceful protests, except when he’s calling peaceful protesters terrorists as he did in the Legislature. The fact that it’s hypocritical is almost beside the point compared to the harm to our political discourse his comments caused. Comparing something or someone you find disagreeable to terrorism shows an extreme lack of sensitivity to an issue of such importance, and should not be acceptable discourse from an elected official.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only comment made on the subject, as Mr. Bloy also asserted in the same speech in the Legislature that those who oppose the Olympics simply have a reduced or limited mental capacity. This is simply beyond any kind of rhetorical necessity in any kind of political debate; there are tens of thousands of British Columbians who do have mental challenges, and to make light of their situation and struggles is simply wrong.

Mr. Bloy spoke of how people involved in “Olympic Terrorist Groups” should be ashamed of themselves, but I wonder how ashamed he is of his own comments.

I would be in his place.

Trevor Ritchie
Burnaby

•••••

I think Bloy is an ignorant, arrogant man whose critical thinking capacity is exceeded by a high-school dropout.

He reminds me of a super-republican hillbilly who thinks a tenth of the population are “terrorists.” What he doesn’t realize is that Olympic protesters are doing what they do for a reason. They see through the glitter and know that the Olympics aren’t so much for athleticism as they are for commercialism and contracts. The only way protesters can be heard is through violence, which is unfortunate because the media doesn’t devote any time to “the other side.”

And does the MLA realize that the Olympic police are violating our human rights by setting up “protest pens” where we can practice free speech, and not anywhere else during the Games? Either he doesn’t, or he’s in on trying to suppress the “terrorists.”

And unintelligent? Please, spare us the mindless insults.

Colm Bjorknas
Burnaby

•••••

Really, Mr. Bloy, such sanctimonious rhetoric.

“Terrorized a children’s choir...” is a subjective interpretation. Police horses are the epitome of calm in the face of chaos and mere marbles would have caused no such “stampede.”

As far as “limited intellect” is concerned, if the shoe fits wear it.

Kathryn Husser
Vancouver