They’re Watching You (Report on a new Government Registry)
So now we hear reports that a country is requiring its citizens to report on their neighbours. Their neighbour’s speech. And don’t get too cozy before you know which country it is.
In the first of its kind in the world, citizens will be required – yes, required – to report if they hear any "homophobic" talk.
They will be able to report confidentially by phone or email or web chat or mail. What will this government do with the information?
Well, for starters, they will put the information into a registry. Yes, if someone hears you say something against homosexuality (or thinks they heard you say something…), your name (if you lived in this place) would go into a registry database. The act would be considered "discriminatory" or even "criminal".
What this government would do with this information is – – – well, wide open, isn’t it?
But wait – what is "homophobic speech", exactly? Well, it’s a negative word about a homosexual, or homosexuality in general.
In other words, if your neighbour is over for coffee while you’re talking to your kids, and you tell them that you feel homosexual behaviour is not appropriate, your neighbour is required to report you.
If you’re in a small group, studying the Bible, and you express an opinion about what the Bible says about homosexuality – and that opinion puts homosexuality in a "negative light", the others in the small group must report you.
I wonder what else this government will decide is unspeakable?
Though we should be rightly concerned about bullying, violence, and hate in a society – against anyone – is limiting freedom of speech, having people spy on their neighbours, and creating a database of personal information to be used who-knows-how really a step in the right direction?
Sorry to keep you in suspense – the country is Canada. No, not the whole country – it’s in Quebec.
A government funded organization known as Gai Écoute has set up the hotline. The funding and support comes from the Quebec Justice Ministry. The ministry pledged millions last year toward the fight against homophobia.
For more, see the press release (Google translated from French) here: A world first – Deployment of a register of homophobic anonymous and confidential
News report here: Government-funded ‘registry of homophobic acts’ launched today