Human ... Rights?

We are becoming increasingly invested with being incensed over what we believe to be is our basic human rights.  And the situation is becoming - depending on your sense of  humour and perspective - increasingly silly, or, on the other hand increasingly demented.  The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has agreed it will hear a complaint against a restaurant chain that has been successfully selling a novelty beer they call "Albino Rhino".

Calling their beer by this novel and amusing name has not amused a woman who suffers from albinism.  All animals can be afflicted by albinism, including human beings, including cats, dogs or rhinos.  It is a rare affliction and it often comes accompanied with other, related medical/health conditions.  And in some societies, like the one that complainant Ikponwosa Ero, a 31-year-old woman from Nigeria, albinism is a condition that attracts oppression.

Ms. Ero compares naming this specialty beer Albino Rhino, with some enterprising individual naming a product "Alzheimer's appetizer", or "Down syndrome daiquiri".  Insulting and upsetting to the sufferers of those conditions.  Although it is highly unlikely that anyone might be stupid enough to bomb their own enterprise by using such names that would be hugely unattractive to any potential purchaser, the naming of that beer, "Albino Rhino" represents a play on words, if anything.

Peter Ash and Ikponwosa Ero, who are albinos, have complained to the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal over the practice at Earls restaurants of selling Albino Rhino beer.  Photograph by: Les Bazso , PROVINCE

In Africa, it is known that Albinos are persecuted, and sometimes murdered.  That dreadful situation is the reason Ms. Ero removed herself to Canada.  In Canada she still suffers her condition but she doesn't expect to suffer discrimination or overt physical danger.  Nor, evidently, did she expect to encounter a situation where a beer would be named after her affliction resting on a rhino hide. 

To which she has taken grave exception. So much so that she tried to persuade Earls restaurant from re-naming their beer.  Which would necessitate an entire alteration in the culture of the naming process, including new labels, new menus, new advertisements, ditching twenty-five years of successful entrepreneurship to satisfy the outraged demands of a woman who identifies herself with the uniqueness of a white-blanched rhinoceros.

"It was named after the white rhinoceros and the rhyming name chosen because it was both fun and whimsical in sound and denoted something rare and special - we felt proud to have such a beautiful animal, the white rhino, representing our brand.  We do not feel Albino Rhino as a beer brand reflects any intention to discriminate against persons with albinism."  
Mark Barry, Earls vice-president.

And then there is yet another human rights issue out of Saskatoon.  The potential of a human rights complaint has been visited upon the city of Saskatoon for presuming to believe that everyone would appreciate having city buses blink a "Merry Christmas" message from the top of buses.  It is Christmas approaching, after all, the almost-universal holiday time-of-year of goodwill and generosity of spirit.

Which doesn't cut any ice with Ashu Solo, a local activist who insists he will take the matter to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.  The Christmas greeting, he avers, violates his right to be free from religion.  Christianity is being favoured over other religions, an assault on the sensibilities of Saskatoon's immigrant community, reliant upon bus service.

"Christmas messages on Saskatoon Transit buses make them feel like they need to convert to Christianity to be first-class citizens.  Therefore, the Christmas messages on Saskatoon Transit buses are a forcible attempt at Christian indoctrination", he wrote on his complaint.

"Frankly, it wasn't much of a debate.  The council just felt comfortable with city buses displaying Merry Christmas and didn't see a problem in doing it", explained Ward 9 councillor Tiffany Paulsen.
"The standard of proof for discrimination, I just don't think this meets that standard", she further mused, from her perspective as a lawyer.

The buses display other signage as well, when deemed appropriate.  Such as "Happy Holidays", "Go Riders Go", " Lest We Forget", "Bus Full Another Coming Soon", and "Help Your Neighbour Clear the Snow".  None of these are meant to be proselytizing assaults on anyone's precious sovereignty.

In Syria the uncivil battle against oppression causing countless deaths is obviously a minor, distracting social affectation.