2010: Loss of Freedom Too HIGH a Price!



By Harvey Oberfeld
Keeping It Right...
Sunday February 7th, 2010

Is that the price we have to pay for the Games?  Loss of our freedom?  Curtailing of a free press?  Government control of reporting?

If so, the price Canadians are paying to host the 2010 Winter Olympics is FAR too high!

Admittedly all the facts are not yet known … because the possible culprits, federal government/immigration officials … have so far refused to explain themselves …  but the allegation is that a U.S. writer/reporter was turned away from Canada because of his anti-Olympic-game beliefs.


Martin Macias was turned back at the Canadian border Saturday.
Photograph by: Online, youthradio.org

Vancouver Olympic opponents have said Martin Macias, a leading member of the No-Games Chicago group, was interrogated for several hours after arriving at Vancouver Airport Saturday … and then turned away and placed on a flight bound for Seattle.

Now if Marcias has a criminal record or immigration officials found evidence that he was coming here to carry out illegal activities, immigration officials had every right to turn him away.

BUT, if events occurred as Vancouver 2010 opponents allege .. ie he was refused entry simply because of his anti-Olympic opinions or writings .. then we are ALL paying far too high a price for the Games.

Our freedoms are far more precious than any Gold medal. Our rights are not up for auction. Our unfettered access to free writers/reporters must not be censored or controlled in advance, unless there is proof that will hold up in court that the material in question would violate Canadian law.

Canada Border Services, the federal government and, VANOC too, have a responsiblity to let the public know exactly why Macias was turned away.

And it was simply because of  the fear he might write negatively about the Games or anything else … that decision MUST be reversed immediately, and Macias allowed in.

When Vancouver residents voted FOR the Olympics … they did NOT vote for a police state.

Harv Oberfeld

Visit Harv's WebBlog

http://harveyoberfeld.ca/blog/
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$1 billion dollars for security has to buy something.

Let's truly hope this is the worst these cowboys do, some trigger happy security yahoo may yet do worse damage to Canada's reputation.

False Flag operations from entities that have something to gain (tax dollars) are another worry.  

Back when Vancouver "went for it" debt was a good thing, it looked like a boon to the plutocracy, we may rue the day that the Olympics were ever awarded to Vancouver.  

After the games it will be interesting to see what fees and taxes have to be increased to pay for this two week party.

I don't know what we should expect from these hubristic draconian dictators at VANC/IOC.  Aren't these the same people who once made an E. Van butcher whose business had been called "Olympic Meats" for a gazillion years to take his sign down a few years ago?    
I too can't imagine why we put up with this crap.  
But, I guess we're just Canadians eh... after all we are probably the only population in the world that says "excuse me" when someone bumps into us.  So I guess we'll put up with anything.