Over the weekend, Charles Taylor addressed the Broadbent Conference. He's a remarkable man with a remarkable mind and a remarkable history. Like Pierre Trudeau, he grew up in privilege, the son of French and English parents. The two men knew each other well and worked together at Cite Libre. Back in the '60's, they ran against each other in the Town of Mount Royal -- and Taylor knew he was going to lose.
I was living in Montreal back then, and I remember the contest. There were sharp differences of opinion. But the contest was marked by mutual civility and respect -- a far cry from the exchanges this week between Stephen Harper and Tom Mulcair.
Back in 2007 Taylor co-chaired Quebec's Commission on Reasonable Accommodation of Cultural and Religious Minorities. He is uniquely qualified to comment on Stephen Harper's politics:
"We're in a context where Islamaphobia is very powerful in the West," he said.
"It's perfectly understandable emotionally. We have to get over it and the worst and the last thing we need is for our political leaders to surf on it and encourage it."
Taylor said Harper seems "tone deaf" to the dangerous impact his rhetoric can have, although he said it also seems to be a deliberate tactic to whip up support in the run-up to the next federal election, scheduled for October.
He called on all political leaders to show restraint, even if it costs them votes, rather than risk "terrible damage" to Canadian society.
In the long run,Taylor said, Harper's politics will be counterproductive:
"Ask yourself what are the recruiters for Islamic State saying? They're saying (to Muslims), 'Look, they despise you, they think that you're foreign, you're dangerous, you're not accepted here, so why don't you come with us?'"
Carl von Clausewitz wrote that war is "politics by other means." For Stephen Harper, the reverse is true. Politics is war by other means. And that kind of politics, Taylor warned his audience, destroys societies.
12 comments:
It is indeed a sad commentary on our politics, Owen, that the only people who speak rationally and with real respect to a larger audience these days are the non-politicians. Whatever their intentions might have been originally, those who attain public office seem to quickly succumb to the polarizing and vituperative strategies that serve only to divide our country, not unite it.
Our leaders have taken to child-like behaviour, Lorne. There is a rumour abroad that throwing a tantrum is a sign of leadership.
Where was it said that if you seek public office you're unfit?
I watched The DWR Sunday Religious Disservice, about adult imaginary friends, before reading your own article, which more or less suggests how dangerous such friends can be, and then wondered if the world had gone insane?
I have no doubt that insanity is on the rise, Anon. But I still cling to the hope that -- as Trudeau the Elder used to say -- Reason will supercede Passion.
That's a theme that Lorne -- over at Politics and Its Discontents -- has returned to recently, Dana.
One wonders how many others have reached the same conclusion.
Harper has already destroyed the "Canadian Society" I grew up in and now he is country by country destroying the middle east. Why is this pretend religious man Stephen Joseph Harper so foul?
Mogs Moglio...
I can't answer that question, Mogs. But it's clear he has a large chip on his shoulder and lots of scores to settle.
No one can answer my question Owen Grey but I feel Stephen Joesph Harper desperately needs mental health care. Problem is he has destroyed that social program. But he has stolen over five million loonies from Canadians:
http://www.therichest.com/celebnetworth/politician/minister/stephen-harper-net-worth/
How does a guy that was only a mail room boy in Edmonton and a University student in Calgary amass over five million dollars? Something is wrong with this picture eh? Is he a crook? I worked my entire life and the governments took a large chunk of my paycheck. So I know Harper got his money illegally...
Mogs Moglio
That's an interesting link, Mogs. Who says it doesn't pay to be in politics?
Obviously Owen politics belong to the lunatic fringe anymore the rest of us are out busy building society and trying to right wrongs. This does apparently not apply to the political class. They are just putting in time waiting for their very fancy pensions.
Cheers,
Mogs Moglio
War has always been profitable for some people, Mogs.
Post a Comment