Christian bus driver fired after refusing to drive Calgary ‘Gay Pride bus’

[robsully]

Other than vague references to “Nazi content,” precisely what did Rau post on his Facebook page?

Was he supporting Nazism? Was he actually claiming his supervisors were acting as Nazis? What precisely did he post?

Do you know? Or are you content with vague references to make the case?

Perhaps more facts need to be exhumed and forensic analysis applied before Rau is buried and laid to rest as utterly despicable and irredeemable by modern “progressive” standards?

What do you think?

Just what I read from his letter of dismissal, including the other reasons for his firing. Not my case to make, stupid is as Nazi does. But if we are to substantiate our claims, look back at your posts and see if EVERYTHING you have claimed about this topic can be backed up with evidence or just what you think is right? I have been aware of this story for going on 5 days, and have not made any claims other what is true,and you? A random posting on a Catholic web site and you are now a mountain of nothing more than your own biases and half-truths. PLEASE read his letter of dismissal

 

[Peter_Plato]

Just what I read from his letter of dismissal, including the other reasons for his firing. Not my case to make, stupid is as Nazi does. But if we are to substantiate our claims, look back at your posts and see if EVERYTHING you have claimed about this topic can be backed up with evidence or just what you think is right? I have been aware of this story for going on 5 days, and have not made any claims other what is true,and you? A random posting on a Catholic web site and you are now a mountain of nothing more than your own biases and half-truths. PLEASE read his letter of dismissal

In other words, you accept vague gesturing at “Nazism” as sufficient to make a case?

You have made a claim that “stupid is as Nazi does.” Whatever could that mean except that you take at face value some vague reference to “Nazi” as evidence that someone ought to be treated as if they were sympathetic to Nazism?

Nothing more than “your own biases and half-truths.”

Personally, I would, before making a “biased” judgement, require access to precisely the content and intent behind what he posted to decide how relevant that evidence is to his dismissal.

You may be content with someone in a position of power applying their own biases and prejudices toward getting rid of people with whom they disagree, personally I am not because that leaves room for all kinds of injustice. You may be willing to live with injustice because you think you are on the “right” side of that injustice - the side that will benefit the most - but that bias has a way of coming around and biting you on the backside, once the precedent is set.

This is why I think “trial” by Facebook and social media is nothing more than a kangaroo court. And municipal agencies that fear controversy that such “trials” create are cowardly at heart and have no sense of real justice. Of course, even rulings by supreme courts are now determined by social media - and not truth or principles of justice - so why are we even surprised by such things?

We should, however, be outraged by them.

 

[Peter_Plato]

PLEASE read his letter of dismissal

I have and it isn’t very transparent to the facts.

 

[Peter_Plato]

The Calgary Pride parade has become so large and mainstream, virtually no one bats an eye anymore. In fact, it is so mainstream, that transit has a pride bus. How does the driver feel about driving the bus? Clearly, he doesn’t care because he wasn’t interviewed. And why would he? It’s a bus with advertising on it. All buses have ads on them. Does anyone expect the bus driver is personally endorsing Clearly Contacts or Sprot Shaw Community College? No, they expect the driver to be a safe driver, courteous to the passengers, and not trash talk the transit company.

Except that this wasn’t an ad.

It was a social and political campaign co-sponsored by Calgary Transit, the LGBQ community and Pattison Signs.

Since when is a public transit service in the business of promoting social, moral and political positions they know are contentious - positions that they know full well will offend some who have legitimate reasons for not accepting them?

Would it be right for CT to enter a campaign to promote euthanasia or abortion because those in supervisory positions happen to hold the view that either of those are right? Wouldn’t you find that a flagrant abuse of one’s position as a municipal employee? I would. Which is why I find the campaign initiated by some in supervisory capacity with CT to be an abuse of their positions.

The underlying cause of this whole fiasco is that some in positions of power are seeking to de-legitimize the views of others to which they are opposed and are seeking every means possible - including firing dissenters - in order to show their power and authority to do so.

It is a hijack of culture and society by threat and penalty.

If Calgary Transit were truly about “acceptance,” equality and the promotion of all community values they wouldn’t intentionally go out of their way to ostracize (and penalize) one group of citizens in order to pander to another AND wouldn’t abuse the privilege of their positions to do so.

Turn this around: suppose one or more persons - in the positions of authority to do so - had partnered with a group of traditional marriage supporters and businesses to wrap a bus with an “ad” to promote traditional marriage. Say, a gay bus driver was interviewed and expressed their fear that they might be fired for refusing to drive that bus. Do you honestly suppose the supervisor(s) would be right to cite his stirring up controversy with regard to CT as a legitimate reason for firing the gay driver?

Wouldn’t it be more legitimate for the supervisors NOT to have entered into the fray to begin with and done their jobs in a manner that didn’t compromise CT’s supposed neutrality with regard to groups in the community?

 

[robsully]

In other words, you accept vague gesturing at “Nazism” as sufficient to make a case?

You have made a claim that “stupid is as Nazi does.” Whatever could that mean except that you take at face value some vague reference to “Nazi” as evidence that someone ought to be treated as if they were sympathetic to Nazism?

Nothing more than “your own biases and half-truths.”

Personally, I would, before making a “biased” judgement, require access to precisely the content and intent behind what he posted to decide how relevant that evidence is to his dismissal.

You may be content with someone in a position of power applying their own biases and prejudices toward getting rid of people with whom they disagree, personally I am not because that leaves room for all kinds of injustice. You may be willing to live with injustice because you think you are on the “right” side of that injustice - the side that will benefit the most - but that bias has a way of coming around and biting you on the backside, once the precedent is set.

This is why I think “trial” by Facebook and social media is nothing more than a kangaroo court. And municipal agencies that fear controversy that such “trials” create are cowardly at heart and have no sense of real justice. Of course, even rulings by supreme courts are now determined by social media - and not truth or principles of justice - so why are we even surprised by such things?

We should, however, be outraged by them.

I do not recall accepting anything, vague or otherwise. BUT you are still drawing to half-baked, half truth conclusions as if you are aware of all the details which you admittedly are not. Your judgemental views only weaken an already bias argument based on ignorance and what can only be described as “fearful simplistic rational”, based on fear mongering of the worst kind.
If you want to be outraged, be outraged by those who get on religious web sites and spew half truths and accusations regarding issues/situations that they have VERY little knowledge about.

 

[Peter_Plato]

I do not recall accepting anything, vague or otherwise. BUT you are still drawing to half-baked, half truth conclusions as if you are aware of all the details which you admittedly are not.

Ah, yes, I see.

The absence of those “details” (that we are clearly not aware of) do NOT permit me to draw “half-baked, half truth conclusions” – essentially my “conclusion” is that we don’t have good reason to conclude that his dismissal was just and appropriate – but they do permit you to conclude “stupid is as Nazi does.”

Kettle to pot, meet the colour black.

 

[robsully]

Help me out here…

Which of the observations regarding his own feelings or beliefs about driving the bus could possibly be taken as “false and misleading?”

It seems to me that FIRING the guy for expressing his feelings and beliefs creates its own controversy and, itself, “puts the reputation of the city at risk,” no?

Actually, no because the city and the transit department seems to have staked its entire reputation on how politically correct it will be and how low it will kowtow to the leftist agenda.

Weak is weak and no backbone, no matter how shrill or loud the voice box becomes, is still no backbone.

A more credible, confident and humane employer considerate of all its employees would have defended both its initial decision AND the right of its employees to have their own opinions or beliefs. The lack of courage is obvious in its reticence to face the potential social media outcry that an employee refusing to go along with his superiors’ politicizing the transportation system would cause.

If Calgary Transit really didn’t want to stir up controversy, it should have stayed away from politicizing a controversial social agenda to begin with. It isn’t in the business of being politically correct; it is in the business of providing safe, reliable public transportation, which this bus driver did remarkably well.

Ironically, “Rau … was accused by his employer of misleading the public into believing that he could be fired from his job for refusing to drive the ‘Pride bus,’” which is precisely what his employer did. How could Rau be accused of MISLEADING anyone into believing something that actually did happen?

Everyone needs to read this book…

amazon.com.au/SJWs-Always-Lie-Taking-Thought-ebook/dp/B014GMBUR4?tag=duckduckgo-ipad-20

So Pete how much of this is factual?

 

[robsully]

The only reason he lost his job is because the press fabricated the controversy.

The evidence Pete?

 

[robsully]

The supervisors at Calgary Transit could have shown magnanimity and tolerance by quietly speaking to Rau, reinforcing that they would respect his beliefs, reassure him that his employment was not on the line and shown an all-round willingness to defuse rather than exacerbate the situation – consistent with their purported communal spirit of support for everyone.

That isn’t what they chose to do.

Can someone explain why that would not have been the better option?

Meltzerboy? DaddyGirl?

So Pete old buddy care to pony up the evidence to support this claim?

 

[robsully]

Why not just face it, there is a social revolt happening and some are on the “right” side and others on the “wrong” side – such episodes are nothing more than maneuvers to secure footholds for one particular ideology at the expense of others within the broader culture.

So Petey evidence of this “social revolt”. Especially regarding this incident.

 

[robsully]

Of course, even rulings by supreme courts are now determined by social media - and not truth or principles of justice - so why are we even surprised by such things?

Now Petey this one of my favorites. Please, please show the evidence of this.

 

[robsully]

Ah, yes, I see.

The absence of those “details” (that we are clearly not aware of) do NOT permit me to draw “half-baked, half truth conclusions” – essentially my “conclusion” is that we don’t have good reason to conclude that his dismissal was just and appropriate – but they do permit you to conclude “stupid is as Nazi does.”

Kettle to pot, meet the colour black.

1. How do you know that I am or am not aware the details.
2. It is “precisely” due to the fact you do not have the details that your conclusions are "half-baked and half truths.
3. If you had dug a little deeper, rather than being a “reed in the wind”, you could have been( most unlikely though) more objective.
4. If you want to debate the conclusion/objectivity of “stupid is as Nazi does” well O.K.

 

[SWolf]

Looks like Christianophobia is 100% acceptable in Canada. What does non-discrimination mean?

Apologies if this was already answered, as I could not find it. Was this a public or private employer?

 

[benjohnson]

Now Petey this one of my favorites. Please, please show the evidence of this.

Your repeated diminutive use of someone’s name says a lot. About you.

 

[Trident_H]

1. How do you know that I am or am not aware the details.
2. It is “precisely” due to the fact you do not have the details that your conclusions are "half-baked and half truths.
3. If you had dug a little deeper, rather than being a “reed in the wind”, you could have been( most unlikely though) more objective.
4. If you want to debate the conclusion/objectivity of “stupid is as Nazi does” well O.K.

Hey that reed in the wind bit was for me. It wasn’t about him being the reed it was about asking ourselves what we really expected to see in this scenario. It was about checking to see if we really knew what was going on. It was about confusing the scenario that we thought we’d maybe see for what was really there. Really about misunderstood expectations and stuff. About not noticing the signs that would show the approaching problems. And maybe it had something to do Mr. Plato liking to bring people into the wilderness to point at things that could somehow be mistaken for reeds. Even though sometimes they are people. Or something. I don’t know. All I know is that he’s the first person who has wanted to take me on a trip in a really long time. So now I’m sort of ready to be his toady so if you want to pick on him you’ll have to go through me first. And don’t try to get cute and call me pet names. I might get the wrong idea and think you were hitting on me. You never know with me.

Peace.

-Trident

 

[Peter_Plato]

The evidence Pete?

Let’s start here, shall we…

What possible controversy would there have been if the press hadn’t chosen to report what he said?

What possible motive, fostering “community spirit,” did the press have for reporting his comments in the first place?

Tell me, robsully, do you not think that Calgary Transit could have shown greater magnanimity by a simple statement that the driver’s fears were unwarranted and that despite his words to the press and Facebook comments, they were willing to show good faith that he would continue to do the job he was hired for.

That would have allayed his concerns and shown the proper spirit of “inclusivity” and tolerance so lauded by our mature and progressive culture, no?

 

[andrewstx]

The persecution hits our wallets and workplaces first. The physical beatings, imprisonment, and murders come later.

Do you really believe that homosexuals physically beat, cast others into prison, and murder regular people?

 

[Faithdancer]

I doubt if the city of Calgary would allow any kind of Christian publicity on their buses. Yet the transportation department has no problem pandering to the approximately 3% of the population that is homosexual, and promoting their deviant lifestyle which is flaunted every year through such “parades.”

 

[Peter_Plato]

1. If you want to debate the conclusion/objectivity of “stupid is as Nazi does” well O.K.

Let’s address this issue of whether Rau (you claim) is a Nazi shall we, since evidence is your issue?

Now unless you have evidence beyond what is available through the press, Rau specifically denies that his Facebook page contained anything that could reasonably be considered as making him a “Nazi.”

This (below) is from a Toronto Sun article that seems to have been deleted or taken off-line, for some reason, but the original link is below.

I have highlighted Rau’s comments that seem to show, assuming his sincerity, that your accusations of his being “a Nazi” are just a tad exaggerated with regards to his Facebook page.

Doug Morgan of Calgary Transit wasn’t available on Saturday to answer whether other drivers expressed opposition to driving the bus.

City officials said in their termination letter that Rau, who was still on probation, was losing his job for breaching the city’s code of conduct and media relations policy.

**“I was really grilled by quotes that other people made on my Facebook,” Rau said about a meeting he had with his bosses before he was fired.

“They’re not my views. I shouldn’t even be asked about them,” he continued.

“They asked me why I didn’t remove (them). I said I left it because I support free speech.”**

Rau’s termination was welcomed by many on social media.

“Calgary Transit made the right decision. Rainbow bus reigns!” a tweet from OutTV on Saturday said.

Craig Sklenar with Calgary Pride said the organization wasn’t commenting on the case, noting it was between Calgary Transit and its employees. He did note that Pride appreciated the support from transit with the bus in this year’s 25th annual parade.

“It was one of the most popular things in the Pride parade this year,” Sklenar said.

The termination letter, which Rau distributed to media on Friday, pointed out that Rau had never been asked to operate the Pride bus and was specifically advised he would not be assigned to it.

The letter also says Rau falsely accused the city of fabricating a driving complaint against him in order to “sabotage” him. **It also says he posted “Nazi-related content” to Facebook, where he identified himself as a bus driver.

Rau said one of the photos depicted a Nazi shooting a Jew, who was holding a child, in the back. He said it’s clear the posts are anti-Nazi and that he explained that to his bosses.

“They didn’t understand the photo,” he said.** “I believe we’re losing our freedoms in the West.”
torontosun.com/2015/09/13/calgary-bus-driver-says-he-wasnt-alone-in-his-opposition-to-pride-bus

Answer this, robsully:

Why would you lob the “stupid is as Nazi does” comment based upon

1. The comments of others on his Facebook page.
2. What he insists is an anti-Nazi photo of a “Nazi shooting a Jew who was holding a child?”

Do you have access to other evidence?

Looking at 1) without the actual comments and his responses to them your conclusion that he is a Nazi is unwarranted.
Looking at 2) a photo of a Nazi soldier shooting a Jewish person holding a child may or may not be damning, again depending upon the context and any comments by Rau.

Do you have insider information? I don’t.
I am looking at available evidence and going with the most that can reasonably be inferred. You have gone far beyond that in your indictment.

Again, do you have additional information that leads to the warranted conclusion “stupid is as Nazi does?”

 

[Peter_Plato]

Originally Posted by Peter Plato
The supervisors at Calgary Transit could have shown magnanimity and tolerance by quietly speaking to Rau, reinforcing that they would respect his beliefs, reassure him that his employment was not on the line and shown an all-round willingness to defuse rather than exacerbate the situation – consistent with their purported communal spirit of support for everyone.

That isn’t what they chose to do.

Can someone explain why that would not have been the better option?

So Pete old buddy care to pony up the evidence to support this claim?

I am not exactly sure what it is that you want me to “pony up” or what “evidence” besides the common sense and good will of those who can review what happened and – weighing all the evidence – conclude that a different outcome would have been a better option – and far less controversial – for Rau, for CT and for the city of Calgary.

Seeing as the better option was not taken, I think it is a fair conclusion to make that preventing controversy was not the real motive behind how things were handled – unless by “controversy” you mean “saving face” as far as what is perceived to be the politically correct opinion of the currently most vocal and influential in society.