Comrades, bridge backers are enemies

Much has been said about the Windsor Star’s second page article on Saturday entitled, “Blogger linked to bridge firm,” and I have capitulated to its demands - and have redesigned my blog site to demonstrate my compliance with their objective.

I guess NDP MP, Brian Masse discussed more than intellectual property rights in China when he visited there in January (Windsor Star, Jan. 15, A4), namely, curtailing freedom of speech rights in Windsor-Essex. You see, China does not take to kindly to political dissenters, and given Mr. Masse’s comments of late regarding issues of freedom of speech, I can only conclude that neither does he.

Afterall, we are at war with the enemy, and in the time of war some restrictions on civil liberties are justified, comrades. I just wonder how long it is before our dear MP demands that Canada’s New Government invoke the War Measures Act in Windsor-Essex.

Now in all seriousness, the Star’s article was very loaded, but I’ve reduced it to three overall objectives:

• Dissenters of the official stance towards the Ambassador Bridge will not be tolerated by the Windsor Star, the City of Windsor and NDP MP Brian Masse;
• Bloggers are tarnishing the reputation of Windsor abroad; and
• The Windsor Star wants people to read Mr. Arditti’s blog.

This Star article was something right out of George Orwell’s book “1984.” Not only have they been tracking Mr. Arditti’s actions over the years, they have become the self-proclaimed “thought police” in the City of Windsor.

The first message was loud and clear and reflects conclusions made in “The Outcomes of Coattail Marketing: The Case of Windsor, Ontario, and Super Bowl XL,” that the Windsor Star, “…was fully supportive of the official political line of the city.” The political line now being that the Ambassador Bridge is the “enemy”.

Then we have Brian Masse, who suddenly is concerned that Arditti’s blog can, “confuse people and damage the city’s reputation.”

Well according to Mr. Masse, in Windsor, “street after street after street” are “clogged, congested and affected”; and that children are “wearing oxygen and other respiratory measurements when they go to school because of the contaminants and the pollution hazards.” And Windsor’s economy is shot too as he informs parliament that, “Businesses cannot function and schools, churches and homes are affected. We learn also that “chemicals and hazardous materials that are crossing the Ambassador Bridge.” We also learn that the City approved the Bridge company’s plaza expansion on a “site..that has aboriginal status.” (Mayor Eddie Francis stated in Senate Committee Hearings that the City of Windsor gave approval to the Ambassador Bridge to undertake work on its plaza).

Even the Montreal Gazette has criticized Mr. Masse for his comments in the House, by stating, “Speaking of which, a grown-up should have a few words with Brian Masse, the New Democratic MP from Windsor, Ont., who compared Hezbollah’s political wing to the Bloc Quebecois.” (The Gazette, August 25, 2006, A.18).

In other words Canada, Windsor is plagued with a chaotic and dangerous border, businesses are failing and children are wearing oxygen masks. Wow. I can just see now hordes of families coming to Windsor and calling it home.

What is more disturbing, is that Mr. Masse is basically speaking against freedom of speech - and this isn’t the first time (See Gord Henderson’s column, January 20th, 2007). One would think that coming from the NDP, he would be opposed to any restrictions of civil liberties, whether implied or real.

The final objective of the article it seems was to promote Arditti’s blog. The Star wrote, “Arditti, a lawyer who operates WindsorCityBlog…” In an email to Mr. Arditti (oh no, I communicated with a bridge backer) he confirmed that his blog hits on Saturday had more than quadrupled. Now, why would, despite the Star’s blatant attempt to discredit Arditti, they promote his blog? All one has to do is type in Google, “WindsorCityBlog” and up pops his blog. In its attempt to discredit they have given Mr. Arditti incredible credibility and exposure. So will now Mr. Masse claim the Windsor Star is “damaging the City’s reputation?”

But that said, the message was loud and clear, comrades. We must remain united. We cannot stray. We must wholeheartedly support our esteemed Emperor, and his agents in their battle against our enemy without question and without dissent. Only in solardarity will we overcome. All Hail Emperor Francis! All Hail The Windsor Star!