Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson helps Unveil new “Le Village” signs – HD VIDEO – November 8, 2011

CFN – Busy day in Ottawa today.   I literally bumped into Mayor Jim Watson as he  arrived to dedicate the new “Le Village” signs on Bank Street in Ottawa dedicating them to the Gay community for its contributions to the area and economy.

From “The Village” website:

The Village is a gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans-friendly area in Ottawa’s downtown core, covering a six by two block area surrounding Bank Street—from Nepean to James Streets (north to south) and Kent and O’Connor Streets (west to east). This area is the home of over 20 businesses and services that directly serve the GLBT community, many of which are gay owned and operated, with another nearly 40 other locations that proudly support and serve the Village and Ottawa’s GLBT community.

The Village also provides a safe space for our community to work, live and play, celebrates our history, culture and diversity, and is a burgeoning tourist destination.

Mayor Watson was kind enough to give this humble scribbler a moment of his time as we compared his support of his community to that of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford who snubbed the Gay Pride festivities in Toronto.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEQDvvPLbsM

Kudos and congrats to Ottawa!

Best Western Cornwall

 

47 Comments

  1. Good job, Jamie

  2. The Village should be changed to the “Sodom and Gomorrha Place”.

  3. poor taste, poor joke, simple ignorance – mr. preacher

  4. Perhaps the preacher should spend some time in Ottawa picketing The Village.

  5. No Furtz my place is here in Cornwall. There are faithful Christians who will take care of the “Sodom and Gomorrha Place”.

  6. My contempt of the preacher knows no bounds.
    There are limits on what I can say about the preacher on this site, and that is probably a good thing.
    What I don’t understand, Jamie, is why the preacher can post hateful crap (last two posts) and we can’t toss the turds right back at him.

  7. Why should it bother you Furtz- you don’t believe in God nor do you care about His righteous judgments upon sinners, and that for His glory. “Sodom and Gomorrha Place” bothers you? What is Sodom and Gomorrha to you? Places in the Bible, the Bible which you hate and surely do not believe a word of it – written by men as you say! Or does the reminder of “Sodom and Gomorrha’ strike terror in you heart, as if such places did exist, and such places were overthrown by the wrath of God for the sin of sodomy!

    Jud 1:7 “Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities near them, which like them committed sexual sins and engaged in homosexual activities, serve as an example of the punishment of eternal fire

  8. I think the City of Ottawa did the right thing in acknowledging the rights of lesbians and gays. To the preacher: While God was making the world and its inhabitants, if He is so dead set against them in the Bible, why did he make lesbians and gays as they are born that way? Makes no sense really.

  9. Have you no shame, preacher? Your original comment above would be laughable if it were not also hateful. Where is your humanity?

    Time you moved to the New Testament, which teaches love and compassion. As it is, you betray your calling and your Master, whose words are “Judge not that ye be not judged.”

    Even that angry born-again Christian St. Paul eventually got it right, when he singled out Faith, Hope and Love as the cardinal virtues, placing Love first of the three. Where does Love figure in your dealings with your fellow human beings? Where is your humanity?

  10. PJR, he has no humanity…NONE.
    You are far more polite to him than I can be.

  11. Right on, Cornwall Harry. Furtz, so a very sad case….of anger management?

  12. PJR – you sound more like a card carrying Liberal than a Christian!

    Cornwall Harry – God did not make them that way! The life style of sodomy is a chosen, learned life style of sin. When God was done with creation, this is what is written – Gen 1:31 “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day”. Sin enters in after mankind in Adam chose to rebel against God – ‘for in Adam all died”. Sodomy is a perversion of the God given institution of marriage. And in the beginning marriage was declared good as all of creation was, but mankind has corrupt that also!

  13. Jesus used to consort with beggars, prostitutes, Pharisees, pagans, and (ultimate of horrors), a tax-collector, so we will be eternally damned if we follow his example.

    If we want eternal salvation, we must keep ourselves pure and holy, and only follow the Teachings of Tom, who would NEVER consort with any of the above. Remember, it is Pastor Tom and his cult who hold the keys of the kingdom

  14. Watcher- that is true that the Savoir of the World fellowship with sinners that He saved. It is not true at all that He consort with such that He did not intend to confront concerning their sins and sinful life styles. He came to save them from the causes of their misery, disease, and bondage – their sins! Notice what the Lord Jesus did say to such who criticized Him for eating and drinking with sinners –

    Luk 5:30 -32 “But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”.

    Calling sinners to repentance is to confront sinners over their sins and sinful life styles in order for them to be saved, and to begin to walk in holiness of life. No one can earn salvation, it is a gift of Grace to all whom the Lord God calls!

  15. Tom – you sound more like a card carrying Tea Partier than a Christian!

  16. A non-answer, preacher – the best you are capable of?

  17. If homosexuality is normal, then why are they not able to reproduce?

  18. Richard Komorowski – I prefer coffee, Tim’s regular one and one!

  19. Jamie, I have an issue with you allowing the preacher to post hateful comments aimed at whoever he doesn’t approve, and at the same time, blocking the comments of those who respond expressing absolute disgust with the preacher and his views. You seem to think that because his twisted and hateful views are a result of his religious convictions, that they are legitimate and should be published. In my humble opinion, giving a hate monger, religious or not, a public forum is not in the best interest of the community. You told me a day or so ago that the preacher “serves a purpose”. I don’t get that.

  20. My reply to Cornwall Harry covers anything you have to say – PJR!

  21. Author

    Hi Furtz. I think you’re missing one thing. Tom is arguing his ideas. He offers his support (his biblical text) He makes general statements. While I can understand you’re feelings I think what it comes down to simply calling him names or countering his position. Please note I’m not defending Tom or his positions. I can argue with to, but it’s kinda pointless.

    Two people just calling each names just doesn’t cut it. I think as good a writer as you are if you simply reword your comments on occasion the results of what you’re trying to say would still be there and simply not calling Tom a name.

    No offense and of course your comments are always valued here.

  22. Jamie, Quoting asinine religious mumbo-jumbo bible passages is hardly a valid argument to support or defend hate speech. For years now, the preacher has been happily spreading his hate messages on this site and others, presumably because of some sort of “religious freedom”. That is bullshit. The man is a vile, cowardly, low-life hate-monger, who hides behind his twisted religion in order to get away with it. If that’s “name calling” so be it. If I see a filthy rat, I will say “I see a filthy rat.” And I see one.

  23. Author

    Furtz we also have a mission statement here and that’s not always popular. Personal beliefs are not facts. But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t valid in a sense, and if I only allow speech from those who I agree with then I’m no worse than those this newspaper was created to combat. In this day and age of media intolerance and political conformity we have this island in Eastern Ontario. We have a window to the world. I can’t behave in the same manner and won’t. I hope you understand that, and if you want to discuss this particular point further feel free to call me at 613 361 1755.

    The only way to create change is to have transparency and for things to be in the open where people can fairly judge. You know that most likely can’t change Tom’s mind any more than he most likely could change yours, but I still believe any concept could be debated without sinking to certain depths.

  24. I think we understand each other, Jamie, but if I may, I’ll just add this. It has nothing to do with political correctness, religious freedom or freedom of expression. It’s all about hate speech, ie singling out any group of people based on religion, sexual orientation, ethnic background etc, and hurling insults at them.

  25. Jamie, I have to agree with Furtz. The preacher’s comments, especially the original one on this thread, frequently border on the hateful. Following which he typically dodges the questions of his fellow posters with flippant non-answers…case in point his latest post above.

  26. Furtz, is your opinion in itself not discriminatory?

  27. “The man is a vile, cowardly, low-life hate-monger, who hides behind his twisted religion…”

    “It has nothing to do with political correctness, religious freedom or freedom of expression. It’s all about hate speech, ie singling out any group of people based on religion, sexual orientation, ethnic background etc, and hurling insults at them”.

    Not hate speech – right!

  28. From what I understand from the time I’ve been frequenting CFN, I think that our own born-again Pastor Tom must have been a very bad boy in the past. His religious fervor must be his attempt at trying to repent and atone for his own sins by trying to show God that he is doing His work by confronting others about their sins. (Question: were Adam & Eve married and if so, by who?)

  29. @ Smee. I detest hate speech and anyone low enough to disseminate it. I will attack any hate-monger with as much vigour as the law, or in this case, Jamie will allow. Damned right I discriminate when it comes to spreaders of hate.

  30. I agree Furtz, but where do we draw the line. He has an opinion and unfortunately he seems to have a hard time expressing it. It is ever apparent with out the bible he has no clue. Perhaps you are bullying a simpleton?

    Would you consider my previous post hate mongering, ” if homosexuality is acceptable why does nature itself not permit them to reproduce?

  31. Stan – you have missed the whole point of salvation by grace alone when it comes to true Biblical Christianity. If I could atone for my sins, then why did God’s Son have to die? It is clear from the Scriptures that He died as the sinner’s substitute. He gave His live a ransom for many. God will not accept any payment for sins other than His Son’s payment. Here is what the Bible says:

    Rom 3:20 “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin”. Gal 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified”. Tit 3:5 -7 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life”.

    To be justified is to be in a right relationship with God = what we call being saved. God’s justice is satisfied concerning the one who comes by faith in His blood alone. The Holy commands of God’s law (the authority of His revealed Word) has been satisfied by the death of Christ, and by His perfect, sinless life. Such infinite and divine merit is charged to the sinners account and thereupon the sinner is acquitted and brought into divine favor – grace. This heavenly transaction is received by faith – one must believe that God will in deed receive me fully all on the account of the merit of His Son, and His Son alone!

    No amount of religious works can satisfy the Holy demands of an offended God. How good must these works be? Perfect! How many must I do in order for God to forgive me and receive me into His grace? infinite! As a sinner I can not earn salvation. It is a gift given to guilty, lost , hell-bound sinners all for the Lord Jesus sake.

    Rom 3:9 -12 “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
    There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one”.

    I love the Lord Jesus and His Word not to earn salvation, but because I have salvation through Jesus Christ, my Lord, already! How about you?

  32. Smee writes “it is ever apparent with out the bible he has no clue”. – AMEN to that! But neither does any one else!

  33. No Smee, I don’t consider your question “hate mongering” but I also don’t understand its relevance to to the conversation. Millions of people are unable to reproduce for all kinds of reasons. Now, if you were to state that people who can’t or don’t reproduce are inferior or “sinful” etc, I’d kick your ass as hard as Jamie would allow. As an aside, the human population recently hit seven billion. There are more people alive today than have ever died! The survival of the human species for sure isn’t isn’t in jeopardy due to low reproduction rates.
    The preacher has no problem expressing his thoughts. He’s reasonably literate and obviously can use a computer.
    Bullying a simpleton? I think not. Calling out a hateful bigot? You bet.

  34. preacher, John 8:7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

    Or

    Matt. 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

    and again if god created us in his image, how come we are not all invisible?

  35. Smee – you are still with out a clue. 1Co 2:14-16 “A person who isn’t spiritual doesn’t accept the things of God’s Spirit, for they are nonsense to him. He can’t understand them because they are spiritually evaluated. The spiritual person evaluates everything but is subject to no one else’s evaluation. For “Who has known the mind of the Lord so that he can advise him?” However, we have the mind of Christ”.

  36. Smee, are you going to get into a bible quote p!ssing contest with the preacher?
    May West. 4:23 “Is that a gun in your pocket…..?”
    Time to stuff face with a holy repast of pasta, blessed by The Flying Spaghetti Monster.

  37. Preacher
    Your post November 15, 2011 at 8:35 pm, seems to state that god made us with out the ability to reason or people are nothing more then mindless morons. Is that what we are to believe he is like too….I mean we are created in his image.

    Bible translations that try to maintain a literal word-for-word approach are usually the most guilty for not transmitting the true meaning behind the original languages. That is because one cannot get the true meaning behind the hundreds of figures of speech in the Bible which cannot be transferred into English using a word-for-word approach and still convey the true meaning.

    For example, this verse is a hyperbole, an exaggeration for effect:
    “You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” (Matt. 23:24, NIV)

    It is not too difficult to determine that this is a hyperbole, an exaggeration. Because the English language is full of Bible terms and phraseology, this Hebrew idiom has become part of the English language. Therefore most English speaking people know the real meaning of that phrase: “You pay close attention to little things but neglect the important things.”

    The rock poured me out rivers of oil.” Job 19:6 (He had an abundance of good things.)
    “The cities are great, and walled up to heaven.” Deut. 1:28 (They were very high.)
    “Everyone could sling stones at a hair and not miss.” Judges 20:16 (They were very accurate.)

    Furtz
    I would appreciate an answer to my post November 15, 2011 at 7:26 pm, thanx

  38. Smee – you are still with out a clue. 1Co 2:14-16 “A person who isn’t spiritual doesn’t accept the things of God’s Spirit, for they are nonsense to him. He can’t understand them because they are spiritually evaluated. The spiritual person evaluates everything but is subject to no one else’s evaluation. For “Who has known the mind of the Lord so that he can advise him?” However, we have the mind of Christ”. Is this the one you mean?

    Smee – the key to what is written is that as sinners, as fallen in Adam, we have lost the ability to discern – know, understand, perceive things spiritual. The Lord Jesus in John 3:3, says “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. The Lord Jesus is preferring to one’s spiritual comprehension. One must be “born of God”, indwelt by God Holy Spirit before one can see, and enter the kingdom. Which equates to having a saving relationship with the true and living God – by saving faith through the merits of His Son.

    We are born in sin, alienated from God, filled with enmity towards God, His Word, His rule, and His salvation. This is illustrated by the fact that the Lord Jesus healed more people of blindness then any other infirmity. The Bible clearly declares that we are all spiritually blind, and willfully ignorant of God. God considers our blindness and ignorance as criminal rather than as a sickness, and we as victims – helpless creatures. We are all guilty and worthy of eternal death – for Adam’s sin and for are own sins.

    Rom 1:28 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient”.

    Eph 2:1 “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins”.

    Eph 4:17 – 21 “Therefore, I tell you and insist on in the Lord not to live any longer like the gentiles live, thinking worthless thoughts. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart. Since they have lost all sense of shame, they have abandoned themselves to sensuality and practice every kind of sexual perversion without restraint. However, that is not the way you came to know Christ”.

  39. @ Smee. I thought I did.

  40. Author

    Hi everyone. I think we’ve started to stray a bit. If you feel strongly about some of this stuff I’d suggest a letter to the editor.

    thanks

  41. To get back to the signs and spark more controversy. The English should be first or on top!

    I am for tourism and we can be welcoming, however special interest groups should band together and pay for things like these signs through fundraising. Ottawa has human waste at worst/gray water at least, going into the river during storms and this money and similar monies from non core service “wants” should be spent on problems.

  42. Straying like lost sheep, admin? Oh dear! Eric shows us the way back.

  43. Yes, we can raise the tone of the conversation if we switch from homophobes to francophobes.

  44. Hi Everyone,

    I once heard a great comparison in a court case last year that really made me stop and think:

    An individual was claiming that God claimed he spoke to him through his toaster and told him to kill a prostitute living in his apartment building. The courts considered the man insane unanimously within 30 minutes!

    The prosicutor tried to prove to the courts that a similar case considered a man sane guilty of first degree murder for almost the exact same circumstances exept for one difference!

    The lawyer claimed that there was no difference between whehter the man’s claims of God coming speach through a toaster or through crossed hands should be any different.

    So, I started thinking…..Why does society claim that someone who speaks to god through a toaster is insane and then see someone who speaks to God through crossed hands as enlightened. Does the simple act of removing the toaster and crossing your hands make you sane?

    Of course it doesn’t and as soon as the church realizes how the majority of society has accepted same sex relationships it will change accept it as well or risk reducing its following.

    Mike Bedard

  45. Actually like “Le Village” in Cornwall it is called “Le Village” and the english was just added out of respect for the many ignorant anglophones.

    And don’t get all bent out of shape about the word “ignorant” its defined adjective is “2.Lacking knowledge, information, or awareness about something in particular: “ignorant of astronomy”.”

    I do not mean it as an insult rather than exactly what the definition states! Just unaware or uninformed comments about a language and the location in which the sign is erected constitutes an ignorant comment.

    Also, does anyone realize how close bank street is to Orleans or Gatineau. There are defintely more Francophones and Bilingual individuals leaving whithin 10 minutes of this part of Ottawa rather than Anglophones. If you don’t speak french but english has been added to a sign to a french area can this sign not be deemed “acceptable”!

    Perfect is a matter of perception and perception is just a matter of seeing something in certain way!

    Mike Bedard

  46. That’s pretty interesting Mike. Regarding messages from god. I would trust the toaster as long as it was in good working order. My hands, crossed or not, have touched a few impure things over the years, and are not always clean, so I wouldn’t trust them to relay The Truth.
    As far as the signage goes, if English was good enough for Jesus Christ, it should be good enough for us. 🙂
    There used to be a hate group in Leeds Grenville where I live. They called themselves The Alliance for the Preservation of English in Canada (APEC). That used to be one of their favourite lines. Thankfully, most of them are dead now.

  47. Author

    On that note Furtz you’ve had the last word in this thread unless it’s directly related to the topic of Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson’s actions. If you and Tom wish to debate by all means a Letter to the Editor about that subject would be my suggestion.

    Thanks

Leave a Reply