And we thought Sarah Palin was nuts?
Police are investigating whether an independent federal candidate committed a hate crime by telling high school students homosexuals should be executed.
David Popescu was invited to participate in a federal candidates’ discussion at Sudbury Secondary School on Tuesday. He made the comment after a student asked his opinion of gay marriage.
…
During a telephone interview later in the day, Popescu reasserted his view.“A young man asked me what I think of homosexual marriages and I said I think homosexuals should be executed,” he said. “My whole reason for running is the Bible and the Bible couldn’t be more clear on that point.”
Candidates and teachers looked on in silence as students called for him to be “cut off.”
If Popescu had any odds of getting elected, he doesn’t anymore…
Marc
This is making Canada look like a complete joke!
I really can’t believe what I just read.
Sad, sad ugly man.
Mike
I did a google search on this guy. He’s just some wingnut who has run for various political offices in Sudbury, (northern Ontario) and has never won more than 124 votes (out of tens of thousands). He’s never been affiliated with any political party. He runs as an “independent”.
So, no, he has never had any chance of being elected.
Jaroslaw
Marc – why would you say ONE idiot makes Canada look like a joke? I would wager to say they have far fewer lunatics that we do in the USA. For one thing they have national health care and can get treatment if they want to. 🙂
Ryan
He was also found guilty of assaulting his monther in 2003. How Bibilical of him….
Also, I am Canadian and am shocked this story hasn’t appeared in the news media here… people would be outraged.
Jennifer
It’s in the media Ryan, but not as prominent as it should be. I can’t believe no one kicked his ass off stage for this. At least the police are investigatin. He certainly, without any doubt, should be tried under the hate crimes laws. This is precisely incitement to genocide and that carries a five sentence. I’d like him to do all five years of that in a very nasty fed pen.
Trevor
Hey Marc, don’t be quick to judge the whole country based on this. As a Canadian I can tell you we definately do not share his opinion. He is a tool, and someone should execute him.
Marc
Jarolslaw and Trevor,
I live in Vancouver BC, just an FYI.
I did not say this ONE MAN is making Canada look like a joke.
I meant it is a culmination of things that happen, happened, ARE happening right now in Canada (my home of all my life).
The fact that the principal of this school let him continue his “speech” and not denouncing it IN FRONT OF ALL THE STUDENTS, is at best…APPALLING!!!!!!!!!
…and yes, a JOKE !
a big fat joke on all of us with “the gay”!
Jaroslaw
Thanks Marc – and I’m surprised no one booed him offstage or denounced it either. Do we know for sure no one did? the phrase “I read it in the papers” usually means they (the newspapers) are printing the juiciest bits to get you to buy the paper. Leaving something out that is not a lie is not illegal. I used to listen to talk radio all the time and I swear that the host would deliberately say things frequently just to get people to call in. It would have to be, if they are debating callers all day long for years on end.
BigW
Seeing as he’s an independant I don’t know what repercussions there are against him, except that he never gets elected. As for punishment, he doesn’t hold any office or position over others (except his Mom) so I don’t see how he broke any laws. Lots of people share his Neaderthal opinions, should we imprison them all (and the 150 people who voted for him?)
Freedom of speech allows him to hang himself in the court of public opinion. If he were silenced, we’d never know his true opinions.
If he were in office, he should resign. Since he’s not, I don’t see what laws he broke. As for spreading hatred – forcing people to shut up spreads hatred.
(BigW from Vancouver)
BigW
Re-reading my post, I want to make one thing clear – I think the guy is a nutjob. Living off his Mom’s pension, never had a job, assaulted his Mom! but he’s RELIGIOUS so all that’s okay.
What a disgrace, to himself.
SARAH
These comments along with others from Obama’s camp all help to make Prophecy become real. Eventually the Bible will be called hate literature if some haven’t called it that already,like say California……??????
ron
Yes, all Canada looks bad from this..not because of one Christian’s threats…because the rest of the candidates and the school officials just stood there and said NOTHING to counter this Christians threats to gays. They gave tacit approval to his words. Canadians are truly hypocrites.
marc
Jaroslaw, spreading hate isn’t a crime in Canada?
I thought it was.
Puddy Katz
I thought all Canadians were nice!
And all Quebecois men have the big cock!
Oh well, one out of two ain’t bad.
Elizabeth
I encourage everyone to write to the Minister of Education and demand that the principal and staff be reprimanded for allowing this man to go on after spewing his disgusting remarks. People who tolerate that kind of behaviour shouldn’t be teaching our children!
I’ve written to Kathleen Wynn, Minister of Education and to the Board Chair and Director of Education at the Rainbow District School Board.
It probably wouldn’t hurt to write to the other candidates who were at this meeting. They too sat idly by and did nothing. Disgusting!!
michael
This is an outrage, for him to make such a vile remark to high school youth. Canada does not exactly have the same freedom of speech that Americans have in that Canadians cannot insight hatred and violence just because we have an opinion or religious belief. I live in Vancouver and also lived in the states for many, many years. I will tell you that this type of guy is not the norm here. But I am outraged that the principal did not demand that he leave the stage and speak to the students afterward. That should be investigated. He may have been completely Godsmacked and did not know what the hell to do about it, but those in charge of our youth need to be given the tools and training to do something in the future.
John
Technically, it is illegal to incite violence against minorities in Canada. It is a federal law (Section 318, CCC). Although, in reality, sympathetic local officials often choose to ignore racist and homophobic speech. It depends on who was there. And whether anyone bothered to file a complaint.
Kimberly Janzen
Bravo to the principal! He did not have a knee-jerk reaction like many in the audience. This man has precisely the same rights that those people in the audience have in terms of free speech. Sometimes, people may say unpopular things. I say, stop being one-sided and judgmental. It seems to be a double standard. Everybody has a right to free speech. Even the Nazis and the KKK, though I can’t stand both groups of losers.
I have no love lost for gays, but I would not say “execute them”. That would be too much like Hitler. I stay away from them and let them be, as long as they don’t flaunt it in my face. Also, just because this guy says execute them, it is not going to happen, is it?
Anyway, his credibility is non-existent because how can he be a Christian when he assaulted his own mother? Christian he is not!
Jude
Kimberly Janzen, as has been mentioned Canadian laws on hate speech are stricter than American laws. The guy does not have that right and I hope he will face legal repercussions.
By the way, if you say you stay away from gays, why would you even post here? That’s pretty idiotic, if you don’t mind me saying. What’s with all those creeps trolling around here? Just the same one posting under different aliases?
And concerning Canada, yeah there are hicks in some parts of Canada, but in general I’m damn proud to be Canadian. A friend of mine came from some small town in BC and he told me he faced a lot of harassment back there. Even here in Montreal there are some gay-bashings happening a few times a year. But compared to elsewhere, and considering our legal system, I feel we are way more progressive than most nations.
Njam101
This story was very shocking as I live in Northern Ontario. There have been some real nuts running in past elections where I live but nothing like this Popescu guy. Northern Ontario is probably the most left-wing region in Canada outside Quebec, and to hear a guy say those words is very shocking and un-Christian as I am Christian. I was also shocked that somebody in Sudbury would be willing to say what he said publicly in a city with a large LGBT population. It sure seems like a hate crime to me. I understand that it was a political forum and that the principal and staff couldn’t do a whole lot as they didn’t want to make a big scene out of what Popescu said. They had faith that the students would handle it maturely which they did.
Popescu has a frightening interpretation of the Bible. I know some people outside of Canada think we are some sort of liberal minded, open, anti-war country but that is not true. We have a Conservative government in power federally (pretty much like Republicans) although with a minority of seats in parliament but it could turn into a majority in a couple of weeks as an election campaign in underway. Many of these Conservatives would be in favour of reversing many the rights of LGBT peoples.
Jude
Njam, I don’t feel the present state of government is representative of the country’s social stance. The conservatives got there because of the liberals, and if they become a majority government, I will blame the liberals again. Harper doesn’t seem to impress anyone so much as Dion seems to just bother people. And with the lack of faith people put in the NDP, they seem to believe voting for Harper is the best thing to do now.
Even in Quebec the tide seems to be turning. Our conservative party got quite a big boost during our last provincial election. This party has been preaching xenophobia openly, creating a climate of fear of the other, and it worked in rural areas.
John
(I know some people outside of Canada think we are some sort of liberal minded, open, anti-war country but that is not true)
Most people inside Canada think that too. Canada’s far from perfect. I think we can surely agree that there’s always room for improvement. And bigotry does exist in big cities and rural communities alike. But then again, when look at the rest of the Anglosphere, Canadians might have reason to feel a little smug.
America = Violent crackpot religious fanatics.
Australia = Slightly less violent crackpot religious fanatics.
New Zealand = Probably the closest to Canada in terms of social policy. But not quite as progressive. And without the moderating influence of the French, New Zealand practices a far more aggressive form of capitalism.
South Africa = These people ruled over the indigenous population using a system of pseudo-slavery until 1994. Enough said.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland = More politically correct after a decade of Labour rule. But one wonders whether “New Britain” represents a true departure from the imperalist attitudes of the past (or merely an intermission). And, of course, Northern Ireland is as backward as ever.
Irish Republic = It has gotten more progressive over the years. But at the end of the day, this is still a very Catholic country (abortion is illegal, adoption is limited to married couples only).
Jaroslaw
Elizabeth – post the address if you want people to write – most of us are very busy here and it would be a great help not to have to look for it! Thanks.
Marc – who said anything about hate NOT being illegal in Canada? I simply said Newspapers and media report the story to generate the most interest so you keep watching or reading their paper, listen to their radio station or tv station.
Lana
Kimberly Janzen, first of all, the Principal’s inaction in a position of authority is absolutely disgraceful. Sudbury Secondary is an arts school, and has a fairly large population of students struggling with their sexualities. For you to commend the Principal for inaction, and then comment, “I have no love lost for gays,” is absurd. To add to your defense you said you wouldn’t call for their execution because that would be “too much like Hitler,” is even more absurd. Your comments spoke wonders of your lack of both tact and diplomacy.
Second of all, Popescu came to my University radio station yesterday and was quickly cut off. I’m a strong believer that censorship of unpopular opinions renders a population naive and uneducated. However, when an individual like Popescu takes advantage of his freedom to express himself by harming others through messages of hate, he ultimately infringed on the liberties of those around him, who have the right to be protected from harm.
On the basis of your ignorant comments, expressing your dislike for those who have a different sexual taste than your own, I have “no love lost” for you.
Marc
Excellent Lana!
I wish Kimberly Janzen and her kind would keep their “lifestyle” out of my face!
I see it, hear it, smell it, sense it EVERYWHERE, EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY!
But they will never understand that point of view, will they?
seitan-on-a-stick
Canada is the new America! OMFG!
Kimberly Janzen sounds like a self-hating straight-identified, possibly transgendered person who’s had bad experience with acceptance. Her language and reason derives from a young person still battling with her inner-demons (embarassingly in public) and lack of political forethought (with simplistic terms like “Losers”) and “her” arguments are with herself mostly as she debates right-wing talking points with a copy-cat media-driven social understanding of events. Taking umbrage with Gays denotes that “she’s” here to go to “bat for Sarah Palin” yet keeps away from the “Gays” which she hates about him/herself.
Why else would a straight person be so interested in this site? The Gays?
M Shane
· Kimberly Janzen you sound as irresponsible and nuts as Popescu; what are your thoughts on making a childrens game feeding christians to lions or just having gladiators chop them up. Those would be great anatomy lessons. and fun too.
The man was speaking to impressionable children, stupid. Freed pm of speech is
Ted C.
He’s a nobody, not worthy of media attention.
And if the media did cover this story, they’d be giving him free publicity, just two weeks before a federal election. (Which is no doubt what he wants, and why he said that.)
The media are right to ignore this story.
Jordana
I am from Sudbury, ON, the city from which David Popescu has ran for mayor, federal, and municipal elections. Yes, students reacted quite angerly regarding his comments. The school he was debating at has a high number of gay and bisexual students. As a Christian, I apologize for his comments, they are embarrassing and in no way reflect the Christian faith. The bible is clear in saying that the most important commandments are love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and love your neighbour as yourself. Please do not associate his hate crimes with Christianity – this man views the our city’s Dragon Boat races as races to the devil.
Simon
Kimberly darling why don’t you just fuckoff? In Canada we don’t allow people to tell kids in school they should be executed. And if the Nazis or the KKK turned up and started spouting the same bat shite they would be ARRESTED. And that’s the way we LIKE it.You can have your Amerika. Or what’s left of it. We LOVE our humble little Canada just the way it is….
marcus
Amen No. 31. and has anyone seen the great commercial for prop.
8 on youtube? Finally somebody has taken the bible and used it properly, its about love so No. 30 watch it and you will be pleased to see that Christianity is not always used in our era to spread hatred. Here it is! Its pretty fabulous!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q2R7O-0WRo
Snoodle
A stain on our country that pathetic excuse for a man…