And Little Children Die

                                                   http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/

Stephen Harper works hard to control people. But he can't control events. And events are catching up with him. At the beginning of the week, events caught up with his economic policy. And, two days ago, events caught up with his immigration policy.

The picture of little Aylan  Kurdi's lifeless body speaks volumes and shouts out the message that Canada's immigration policy -- like so much else that Mr. Harper does -- is morally bankrupt. Michael Harris writes:

They’re taking to calling refugees ‘migrants’ these days. I worry about that. But by any other name that photo — that motionless little body — would have rocked the world. What are we becoming?

And, if you're worried about what we're becoming, consider Chris Alexander's reaction:

Listening to the minister pile up superlatives on the Harper government’s deplorable human rights record — including with First Nations peoples in this country — was like listening to Donald Trump introduce himself. Believing his line would mean forgetting how this ‘compassionate’ clan of Conservatives refused to issue visas for injured kids from Gaza who wanted to come to Canada for medical care.

This was the same pack of philanthropists who didn’t want to extend medical coverage to refugees in Canada, forcing Canadian doctors to demonstrate in front of Parliament.

Alexander is supposed to be among our best and brightest. Instead, he proves the wisdom behind Mark Twain's admonition: "It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt."

That's what happens to people who immerse themselves in a culture of willful ignorance. Their brains atrophy. And little children die.