Jeff Rubin, the famously voluble chief economist of CIBC World Markets, has been sent to sensitivity training after angering Canada's most prominent Islamic lobby group with language he used in a report on the oil market.
Does that mean the islamic hate preachers in Canada have to go, too?
In April, he predicted that oil prices would double by 2010. Demand will outstrip supply because "this time around there won't be any tap that some appeased mullah or sheik can suddenly turn back on," he wrote.
Amazing. Simply amazing.
While Mr. Rubin used the terms to describe the OPEC-induced price shocks of years past, the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) found the language offensive. In fact, CAIR-CAN wrote the bank saying it was "gravely concerned that Mr. Rubin is promoting stereotyping of Muslims and Arabs."
Message to CAIR-CAN...I am more concerned that you clowns cannot condem terrorism, murder, massive rape in Sudan and Chad. Piss on you and your little dog, too.
Two weeks after the complaint, CIBC World Markets chief executive Brian Shaw responded.
Mr. Shaw said in a letter to CAIR-CAN that the remarks "were not meant to offend anyone" but "in hindsight, the comments were insensitive."
OK. Is this this insensitve? "SCREW YOU, CAIR. Condem murder, rape, and destruction by your islamo-brothers in the middle east and africa and I will listen.
Mr. Shaw went on to say that "we will be providing him [Mr. Rubin] with training to ensure that this situation does not occur again in the future . . . in addition, Jeff has withdrawn the research report from the World Markets website [and] redrafted the paragraph in question."
You are not allowed to tell the truth anymore.
CAIR-CAN has posted the text of the exchange with Mr. Shaw on its website and urged its supporters to thank CIBC for excising the mentions of mullahs and sheiks. Mr. Rubin's revised forecast now concludes that "this time around, with suppliers already running full tilt, there's no tap that can suddenly be turned back on."
with the cause removed.
The controversy went unreported in mainstream newspapers, though one right-wing website that saw CAIR-CAN's statement on the controversy accused the group of going "way, way overboard in the name of political correctness."
Ya think?
But safeguarding the image of Canada's 600,000 Muslims is very serious business for CAIR-CAN, which has lately been gaining clout and publicity. Last week, it arranged a meeting between Prime Minister Paul Martin and several spiritual leaders, who have signed a statement condemning the terrorist attacks in Britain.
Unless muslims who claim to be peaceful start speaking up...and ACTING against the islamo-fascists...my sympathy meter for insensitive remarks will remain near zero.
Likely the best organized and most outspoken of the dozens of Muslim groups that exist in Canada, CAIR-CAN has lately been denouncing several groups and individuals for what it terms careless comments and actions.
Message to CAIR-CAN..."Is the rape and murder of 100s of thousands in Chad/Sudan/Somolia in the name of allan, suicide bombings, etc. considered a "careles action"...you bunch pompous a**holes?"
For example, it has released a report called Presumption of Guilt, a criticism of the way Canadian security agencies are questioning Muslims.
tap, tap, tap...sympathy meter still reading zero.
It has also recently criticized the Israeli consul-general for what CAIR-CAN characterized as "Islamophobic" remarks, and taken Quebec politicians to task for making what it calls "xenophobic" remarks about sharia law tribunals.
You mean like.."sharia law is for sh**heads?"...is that "Islamophobic" enough?
Mr. Rubin could not be reached for comment. CAIR-CAN would not elaborate other than to point to the information on its website about the case.
It is understood that Mr. Rubin has completed some sort of in-house sensitivity training since he wrote his report, though CIBC World Markets officials would not divulge details.
Some of his contemporaries find the whole situation strange. "Is that true?" asked a surprised David Rosenberg, chief North American economist for Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. in New York.
He said that Mr. Rubin has "got a flair and unique writing style. I know him and he's a good guy.
"I have a tough time believing Jeff Rubin would be purposefully offensive to a certain group."
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is an 11-member organization comprising some of the world's largest oil exporters. It includes mostly Muslim nations.
Oil closed at $62 (U.S.) yesterday, a record high despite reassurances from the new Saudi King, Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, that he would keep the oil flowing the way his deceased predecessor did. King Abdullah's officials say they would like to get oil down to $50 a barrel. |
Muslim leaders pleaded for help Thursday in their struggle against extremists in their midst, saying they can't fight a small minority of radicals alone. "We're not here to say we don't have an issue," said social worker Shahina Siddiqui, president of the Islamic Social Services Association. "Of course we have an issue," she told a news conference on Parliament Hill. "But we can't deal with it ourselves. We're part of the Canadian society and so we demand that the Canadian society come forward, help us root out this."