Stigma & The Charter of Rights and Freedoms April 8 2011

[Paul Murphy]

Charter of Rights and Freedoms 1982

 

intro

“give the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties {Wikipedia} The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees many well established rights, however not all of the charter’s freedoms speak to every Canadian .Two well established rights are freedom of speech in section 2 b, and the freedom from discrimination found in section 15.These rights allow all Canadians to feel equal and able to express their thoughts at will. Despite having many legislative rights, our society continues to evolve over time, finding finding Canadians left without significant representation and protection. 

 

 

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            In Canada we are very fortunate to have a Charter of Rights and Freedoms .One of those fundamental rights surrounds free speech. Free speech is a core principal that we can   be very proud of. Many countries across the planet continue to oppress their citizens, and recently uprisings have filled the news of these fundamental rights we, as Canadians, are able to enjoy. The notion of free speech began in United Kingdom in 1689, and it was enacted for the parliamentary proceedings .It was later adopted by the French in 1789, which was during the French Revolution. As Canadians we can consider ourselves to be fortunate to have such a piece of legislation that guarantees our ability to exercise the right of free speech. “A succession of English thinkers developed the idea of a right to freedom of expression, starting with John Milton (1608–74), then John Locke (1632–1704) and culminating in John Stuart Mill (1806–1873). Locke established the individual as the unit of value and the bearer of rights to life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness “{ wikapedia }

 

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            Our  Charter of Rights and Freedoms does have  some very clear provisions for all Canadians. Discrimination  is defined as “is the cognitive and sensory capacity or ability to see fine distinctions and perceive differences between objects, subjects, concepts and patterns, or possess exceptional development of the senses. Used in this way to identify exceptional discernment since the 17th century, the term began to be used as an expression of derogatory racial prejudice in the 1830s from Thomas D. Rice's performances as "Jim Crow".{ wikapedia}. "The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights of man. Every citizen may, accordingly, speak, write, and print with freedom, but shall be responsible for such abuses of this freedom as shall be defined by law."^[6][ wikapedia]    The Charter has many fundamental protective rights that speak to race,age,ethnic origin,color,sex, and mental ,or physical related issues. This is something we, as a society can be very proud to have a available to all citizens. We find ourselves in  discussion over same sex marriages, and the abortion debate continues to  represent a concern for many.  

 

Many very valued individuals and groups find themselves having to fight an invisible or subtle enemy. As our society continues to evolve and grow we continue to discover complex issues that are not being addressed .Lets discuss the tobacco movement vs. the obesity movement. We have gone to great lengths to educate and provide a multitude of educational models that offer support for smokers. However, when we find ourselves discussing obesity, we are often met with some catch –all phrases that continue to marginalize, or instill stigma onto the individual. Our very large and complex world continues to get smaller, because of the internet and social media tools and resources. Individuals are networking and sharing new ideas because of social media channels, and they are bypassing structured media outlets. In order to address complex issues such as stigma , we must table the discussion. Together, we can inspire real social change and include all citizens under the umbrella of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.    

·         Stigma (plural: stigmata) is a word that originally means a "sign", "point", or "branding mark". It may refer to: The Mark of Cain

·         Stigmata, bodily marks or wounds resembling the crucifixion wounds of Jesus

·         A badge of shame, a physical mark of infamy or disgrace

·         Social stigma, a severe social disapproval of personal characteristics or beliefs that are against cultural norms.

 

 

 

 

 

               

 Closing Statement

 

             While the Charter of Rights and Freedoms have many meaningful tools and resources the act can leave many unprotected. Our society continues to evolve and new issues continue to be reviewed and discovered. We have gone to great lengths to create an anti smoking campaign, and it has been based on education, advocacy and raising awareness. However, obesity campaigns continue to marginalize groups and individuals and conspire to add alienation and isolation towards everyday people. Futhermore, attitudes towards mental illness and injured workers continue to undermine the sense of self .Only recently has the Ontario Government created actual legislation for bullying. Bill 168 has been implemented as of June 15, 2010, and it adds to the overall health and safety to all of Ontarians. Individuals can find themselves all alone and unsupported and this can lead to a  sense of frustration  that continues to fester.    

 

The WSIB in Ontario has and continues to Bully and Stigmatize Injured Workers.  

 

 

                  

 Resources :

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech  1

http://www.efc.ca/pages/law/charter/charter.text.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigma

 

Please find time to share.

[Paul Murphy]

Who is funding the childhood obesity war?