Canada's image is tarnished
Published Saturday November 28th, 2009
Young Americans travelling abroad are increasingly less likely to put the Canadian flag on their backpacks, as our country's international image is becoming tarnished before our very eyes. They now prefer the American flag of Obama to the Canadian flag of Harper.
The latest Canadian blunder on the international stage is that of the Harper government's stubbornness in denying that Afghan prisoners transferred by the Canadian Army to the Afghan state were tortured. Worse still, the terms used to discredit the reputation of the diplomat Richard Colvin - who had the courage to denounce the situation - border on slander and character assassination. The violence of the terms used is without precedence.
Let's remember that it was the Liberals, under NATO's command, who led Canada into war in Afghanistan. Still, it worked out well for the bellicose Harper, who had already been poised to fight alongside the warmonger Bush in Iraq. With 135 Canadian soldiers dead, we now find ourselves in mire without logic, without end. How can our government continue to lie and deny the horrible facts? What example is the senior staff of our government sending to our children? If "all truth is good, but not all truth is good to say," in the matter of human rights it's mandatory.
Another twisted situation is that of the young Omar Khadr, imprisoned at Guantanamo since 2002. What's shameful is that Canada was the only Western country not to have sought to recover its only prisoner, what's more a 15-year-old child soldier at the time of his imprisonment. Worse still, judgements handed down in this matter by Canadian courts are being ignored and legal proceedings multiplied, all the way to the Supreme Court! This is what's referred to as judicial harassment, and the entire world is watching us in disbelief.
This multiplication of absurd gestures has negative consequences for our soldiers abroad and increases the dangers with which they're confronted. They are increasingly seen as mean hooligans rather than well-meaning soldiers committed to missions of peace.
In this increasingly unflattering portrait, we mustn't forget the incidents involving our government's unwillingness to come to the assistance of Canadian nationals in danger in foreign countries. There was not just one Arar case but three more. And then there was the case of the women held in Mexico last spring under a trumped up charge. There are many other examples, such as Canada's refusal to sign an international treaty on native rights.
However, unfortunately, our behaviour as a country becomes the most erratic and discrediting in the environment field. We'll soon be in Copenhagen for an important world conference on the environment, as last in the class and the Western country that is the most dissolute regarding the planetary issues in the field. And it won't be the first time.
Stephen Harper's current attitude isn't surprising when we recall that he was pushing the notion in his riding during the 2004 elections that the Kyoto accord was simply a socialist plot. We could only be scandalized as we witnessed his decision to go for a coffee at a Tim Horton's in New York City last summer instead of taking part in a meeting of heads of state at the UN on, as it happens, the environment. He was one of few Western heads of state to be absent.
However, at least Harper has finally discovered that India and China are on the map. Of course, there's money and big financial interests at play to stimulate his curiosity and appetite. India is planning to build more than 30 nuclear power plants over the next 20 years. And gigantic hydrological developments are in store for China. In fact, Harper could no longer continue to ignore that over one third of the planet's population is found in these two countries; and that they're currently leaders in economic growth.
Admittedly, Harper conducted himself well in India. For instance, he made the effort to visit Sikh and Hindu temples (not a bad move for attracting the vote in these communities in the next elections). It would also appear that promising trade arrangements were entered into. Hopefully he'll be able to do as well in China in December.
In spite of this, Canada has a great deal of work to do to rebuild its tarnished image on the international scene, an image that's worthy of Canada before Harper. But can we achieve this with the same government?
Apparently, miraculous results are possible with plastic surgery: quick, we must provide this government with a good treatment!
Jean-Marie Nadeau is a former journalist, union leader and community activist. He has run twice in provincial elections for the NDP and is President of Société de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick. The opinions expressed in the column are solely the author's. His column appears in the Telegraph-Journal each Saturday.
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Just to what end are they doing this? Maybe they'll find that somebody make a mistake, dropped the ball or made plans that didn't work. Even in conventional wars these things happen. So what will this hype accomplish? It will certainly have decreased the effectiveness of our PM in talking human rights or talking trade and Cdn jobs
Maybe the Liberals will get a few more seats but what would have changed? I think all those left wingers that have solutions while sitting safely behind a desk, should be sent to the battle field and see what happens to their priorities. They'll soon realize that they can't simply tell the war to stop, while they make some changes. If everybody starts believing everything the media or politicians tell them, then Canada will be in sad shape.
However, on the topic, the question is "to what end" this Cdn bashing by the Liberal and their media friends?
And no, the pCs aren't pefect, just more perfect than the lying irresponsible power grubbing Liberals.
Something that the Acadians recently advocated is the "traditional linguistic ratio"(TLR). The solution is to apply this TLR to all gov't jobs at all levels and make those numbers public. This would eliminate the mistrust that is growing among the Anglos as many see themselves being cut out of government.
Basically the Anglos have supported the French, at the ballet box and in the polls, but most of the French won't acknowledge this fact. (denial?).
If ever two people should be able to co-exist, it is the 'current' generation of French and English. It is only the leaders and their misguided that can defeat a peaceful co-existence.
The small stuff,such as bilingual signs, is not the problem.
We all should support the TLR in gov't for the sake of our kids.