Edmonton NDP MLA Janis Irwin mocked Jesus and the Bible, used bully tactics, interfered with a citizen’s right to free speech, and encouraged vigilantism against a street preacher..And she sported a huge grin during a stunning display of reprehensibly rabid intolerance on Friday. .In a climate where Christians are perceived as fair targets and churches are being burned and vandalized, a politician promoting this appalling behaviour shows pathetically poor judgment at best..This is Alberta’s Official Opposition Deputy Whip, critic for women’s and LGBTQ2S+ issues, someone who peddles herself as committed to social justice (apparently only for whom she agrees with)..Irwin proudly tweeted and posted a photo on Facebook of herself intimidating a street preacher. She included childish emojis and an invite for others to join in the harassment “every Friday” at Pride Corner, located on Whyte Avenue and Calgary Trail, not even in the Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood riding she represents..She posted these comments:.“On my way back home and I couldn’t possibly drive past Pride Corner without stopping.”.“Stayed just long enough to hear about my sins and dance a little too.”.“Stop by! They’re there every Friday night til late, drowning out the hate.”.Stop by to do what exactly? Sounds like an invitation to harass, or possibly worse, a street preacher. .Mission accomplished. Several fuming people promised to head on down to do just that..The photo shows a male holding a sign saying: ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be Saved.’.A female, attempting to block him, holds signs saying: ‘Respect my existence or expect my resistance’ and ‘Keeping YEG hate free.’.Fine. Two people expressing their views..The problem is the other person in the photo, that being Irwin, holding signs saying: ’This is homophobia disguised as Bible quotes’ and ‘Hate speech is not welcome here.’.A politician inserting herself into this is a pure intimidation tactic against someone she disagrees with..It takes imagination to conclude the male’s sign spews hate..One person who commented on Facebook was hardly impressed..“The Christian has every right to be there – freedom of speech – preaching what he genuinely believes. You are the ones invading his space to make a scene and to provoke a reaction.”.Amen, brother!.Another person wrote: “I am confused, the scripture on the sign has no reference to homosexuality. How is that hate speech?”.Irwin retorted that the preacher says “hateful and harmful” words but neglected to elaborate..“His preacher friend across the street confirmed to me that I am, in fact ,going to hell,” she claimed, not elaborating on how that alleged encounter transpired..“I can laugh, but it’s not about me. It’s about that young kid struggling with their sexuality,” she added..Oh, save it. That young kid deserves a role model who doesn’t condone double standards..Irwin’s openly gay. .Yeah, about that…don’t care. The concern here is character and actions, not where one’s affections lie..When a politician promotes tolerance for me, but not for thee, there’s a serious problem..Irwin’s Facebook page is saturated with selfies, promoting LGBTQ2S+ issues, and condemnation of Kerry Diotte, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Griesbach, who defeated her in the 2015 federal election..A red flag about her credibility with facts swirls around false accusations that Diotte promotes conversion therapy..He has stated that “conversion therapy is a harmful practice and should be banned.”.But he voted against a final “flawed” Liberal Bill C-6 failing to address what would be considered conversion therapy on the grounds that it could “jeopardize or even criminalize some conversations with religious leaders and others when counselling someone.”.The point is Irwin has dishonestly, relentlessly portrayed Diotte as an intolerant hater..Having known Diotte for many years, it can be stated with absolute surety that he is decidedly not intolerant of gays or anyone, regardless of skin colour or religion..A new attack appeared Friday on Irwin’s Facebook page spewing the same lies..When contacted to get his take on whether Irwin crossed a political line, Diotte wondered what her performance has to do with provincial politics..“People have a right to free speech no matter who they choose to worship. If somebody is fomenting hatred, we have laws against that. The correct thing to do is call the police and make a complaint. If a person is saying something hateful, it is your duty to report, not to incite,” said Diotte..“What on earth is wrong with spreading the word of God? What kind of world do we live in when people are mocked for that? It’s seriously a sick world when that happens,” he said..“There are many homeless people in the market with various addictions and maybe the preacher will reach even just one of them and turn their lives around,” said Diotte..Irwin is obliged to fairly represent Christians in her constituency. With her intolerant bias, can she?.Christians leaders must step out from behind the safety of their pulpits and tell this MLA to respectfully stop mocking Jesus and those who, in Irwin’s view, have the audacity to worship Him..Slobodian is the Senior Manitoba Columnist for the Western Standard .lslobodian@westernstandardonline.com
