Neo-Nazis offer recruits help with rent
CALGARY, Alberta, July 23 (UPI) -- A Canadian neo-Nazi group in Calgary, Alberta, has an online offer to help pay the rent for any recruits who will move to the city.The Aryan Guard's site said it was "always seeking new brothers and sisters" and said rental assistance would be provided, CTV News reported.
Speaking to reporters, Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier said the ad hinted at desperation.
"It's quite surprising that people would have to resort to using financial support in order to encourage people to join their group," Bronconnier said. "I think that speaks to the support level that's here, which is non-existent."
However, in the most recent Statistics Canada report on crime in the country released last month, Calgary has the highest rate of hate crimes in the country, with 9.2 cases reported per 100,000 people. The national average is 3.1 cases per 100,000 people, CTV said.
Calgary police have said they can't shut down the Aryan Guard if the group isn't breaking any laws, the report said.
Calgary is King Steve's stompin' grounds, ain't it? It'd be good to hear the Pryminister weigh in on what's happenin' in his home town.
JimBobby
9 comments:
Allow me to quote from the Statistics Canada report...
One factor that can affect local rates of hate crime is the internal protocols of individual police services. For instance, many police services have specialized hate crime units and training programs, hot lines, awareness campaigns and/or victim assistance programs aimed at addressing hate-motivated crimes. Still others have adopted zero-tolerance policies on hate crime and are proactive in building partnerships with community groups to encourage the public to report these types of incidents to police. Consequently, what may appear to be high rates of hate crime in certain areas may be a reflection of better reporting practices.
In other words, it may be the the Calgary Police Service is the most diligent in identifying hate crimes, or have the widest definition of hate crime. Perhaps other cities should be criticized for not being as diligent.
It appears that you want to tie the existence of neo-Nazis to the Calgary statistics, but you have provided no evidence that there is a connection (e.g., arrests of neo-Nazis for hate crime).
Of course, demonizing Calgary is fair game in certain Canadian political circles.
It appears that you want to tie the existence of neo-Nazis to the Calgary statistics, but you have provided no evidence that there is a connection (e.g., arrests of neo-Nazis for hate crime).
I didn't write the articles. UPI and CTV did. They apparently took StatsCan's word for it that Calgary's hate crime rate is nearly 3x the Canadian average.
I suggest that if you think Calgary is being unfairly maligned, you take your complaint to StatsCan, CTV and UPI. They publish their statistics and reports to millions of readers. Ol' JimBobby reaches about 100 a day.
JB
I suggest that if you think Calgary is being unfairly maligned, you take your complaint to StatsCan
Statistics Canada has already stated that the statistics may not be a true reflection of actual hate crimes. I quoted it above.
So, have you written to CTV or UPI? They reach millions of readers.
StatsCan says difference may attributable to differences in reporting. They do not say that this is the case with Calgary's stats, specifically. Do you have some supporting material that supports the idea that Calgary has better reporting practices than the rest of the country? If so, does Calgary's improved reporting methods account for a threefold increase over the national average?
Just because Statscan says some high reports MAY be due to better diligence doesn't mean that Calgary's higher figures represent more diligence. The stats MAY mean that, I agree, but without evidence of Calgary "police services have specialized hate crime units and training programs, hot lines, awareness campaigns and/or victim assistance programs aimed at addressing hate-motivated crimes," it's only speculation.
BTW, I'm not a Calgary basher. I've tipped my hat to Calgary many times with regard to green initiatives vis-a-vis transit. I'm willing to accept the idea that Calgary's police may be as proactive and progressive as the transit authority. I'll need a bit more evidence than a mere assertion that higher crime rates = more diligence.
JB
Speaking as a Calgarian, who has over the years noticed the increasing ugliness in this city... I'm not surprised. In the middle of our alleged economic boom, few are actually benefiting. And it's always easier to blame a nebulous conspiracy of "foreigners."
You'd be surprised at how many junkies I've known who blame their problems on racial issues. And Calgary is a city of oil junkies, serving the very few dealers at the top of the food chain, for surprisingly little profit.
http://itschironboy.blogspot.com/2008/07/dont-let-them-eat-pancakes.html
http://itschironboy.blogspot.com/2008/07/sympathy-for-diesel-love-letter-to-most.html
I think rabbit's missing the point entirely.
One does not normally look at this, and then conclude 'Calgary bashing'. What kind of wayoutthere thinking is that anyway?
Such stats are cause for pause. Why are such numbers growing in Calgary? Is it because bigots are on the rise in the city, or are the bigots already there more proactive?
JB: increadible. Words fail me ...
Don't you rile em' Albertans with your eastern stats and schemes Mr. Sez.
Whooee! Thankee fer chimin' in, fellers. I can see reporting methods being responsible for part of the big difference in the stats but I can't see it causing a rate 3x higher than the Cdn average.
I reckon a good firewall around Alberta could solve the problem.
JB
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