Comments on: Canadian Federation Jewish Students Open Letter to OPIRG

By: Abigail Hirsch

Abigail Hirsch — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 07:43:53 +0000

I am very proud of you all for exposing OPIRG's conduct. they claim to be for human rights but they are a subtle cover for the Palestinian/terrorist cause that seeks to deligitimize the rights of the Jewish National State of Israel.
I have noticed similar behavior here in Montreal by QPIRG. I have attended their BDS week.

By: Sayeh Hassan

Sayeh Hassan — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:41:50 +0000

We Support Iran Accountability Act Petition
Dear Friends,

As many of you may be aware recently Mr. Irwin Cotler, a Canadian MP instroduced a new bill called Iran Accountability Act in the Canadian Parlimaent. http://www.petitiononline.com/Iran678/petition.html
Thanks

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:01:22 +0000

Also, I do not believe that Hillel is in any way interested in “controlling” another group (I assume that Mr. BL is referring to OPIRG). As students at Ottawa U., we pay OPIRG’s funds. It is OPIRG’s responsibility to represent and work with the students who financially contribute towards it, without choice. Otherwise they should return our money, which they have refused to do.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:57:56 +0000

What a well-written letter. OPIRG shamelessly claims that they are all about human rights and freedom of speech while simultaneously discriminating against a group of students because of their religion. Anybody who isn’t themselves an anti-Semite and a bigot can clearly see the problems with OPIRG’s behaviour, and anybody who honestly believes in the ideals that OPIRG claims to hold should be the first to stand up and say that the way OPIRG has treated (and alienated) the Jewish students on campus is unjustified, hypocritical, and altogether wrong.

By: Raphael

Raphael — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:48:34 +0000

Firstly, both Ariella and Chelsea make strong arguments about how the event in question has nothing to do Israel.

I would even extend this argument to suggest that to justify OPIRG’s position is to justify discrimination based on creed (religion) – something that is not permitted in Canada. Indeed, OPIRG has refused to work with Hillel, an integral and active member of the campus community, because it states in its mandate that it supports Israel, the Jewish state.

OPIRG’s position is dicriminatory because OPIRG has not applied this same standard to other clubs. For OPIRG to be applying a fair standard, it would have to ask all campus groups if they support Israel’s right to exist before partnering with them. Instead, they have singled out Hillel, a Jewish club. This is blatant disrimination and should not be tolerated on campus. OPIRG should be ashamed and should apologize immediately.

By: Chelsea SauvÃ©

Chelsea SauvÃ© — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:50:11 +0000

I agree with Ariella in choosing to focus on the issue which are faced with today in Ottawa. These issues are in fact completely separate and must therefore be treated as such. OPIRG’s decision not to work with Hillel on a non-partisan event was disappointing. The event in question was one which promoted cultural interaction, and the decision not to engage in such an event can be called nothing other than discrimination.

By: Ariella Kimmel

Ariella Kimmel — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:49:49 +0000

Ben Laden I do not want to argue with you about the current situation in Gaza, however in this situation which occurred in Ottawa the current situation is irrelevant. This group OPIRG is financed by a levy from our student fees. They were asked to work with the Jewish students association in Ottawa on an event which fully falls under their mandate as a social justice group. The speaker from Uganda was speaking about multifaith cooperation and sustainable development among many other topics. OPIRG’s choice to not work with Hillel was discriminatory. If they don’t want to work with the Jewish students group thats one thing, but then students should not be forced to fund them.

By: Wayen

Wayen — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 19:21:43 +0000

The university is using access to funding to control in the same way
that Israel has been using access to basic humanitarian supplies a way to control Palestinians. A clear violation of human rights.

By: Ben Laden

Ben Laden — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 18:04:24 +0000

Also, why is a group SO concerned with controlling the activities of another.
We live in a democracy. Groups have a right to choose whether to align themselves if they choose. Controlling (and oppressing/terrorizing)others may be acceptable in Israel but not acceptable here.

By: Ben Laden

Ben Laden — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 17:54:03 +0000

The Israeli government has just launched an attack Gaza including bombing police stations, destroying infrastructure after denying access to Palestinians of humanitarian supplies. What are doing to prove it really is for social justice.
Regardless of any Palestinian actions the actions I described must be condemned loudly or be a hypocrite that has no place in Canadian society. I await a reply.