He's trying to play both sides; claiming to support the central value of freedom of expression, while avoiding actually defending that same value out of his fear of being labelled hateful
Christina Clark makes excellent points and arguments, of course. However, in my view, the article's focus slightly obscures a more general reality with Prime Minister Trudeau. "Justin Trudeau's spineless appeasement," (the article's headline), applies to almost every issue and policy Trudeau addresses, not just Freedom of Expression. The only exceptions seem to be 'no brainer' policies where no significant political opposition is expected such as the Canada Child Benefit or legalization of cannabis.
On most significant policies, Trudeau is a vacuous, timid ditherer. Examples include climate emergency policies, medical assistance in dying, and rights. Trudeau has a thin record of implementing sound policy unless forced to by circumstances (climate emergency/Paris accord) or courts (medical assistance in dying, Canada-US Safe Third Country Agreement). A telling example of Trudeau's dithering and timidity is, of course, electoral reform.
When Christina Clarke writes "Trudeau's statements are appeasement. He's trying to play both sides," she's perfectly defining Trudeau's governing spinelessness. Trudeau's a workmanlike Prime Minister if he's forced into an issue or a policy by, as I say, courts or circumstances (TMX and COVID-19 come to mind). But behind the genial swagger and smile, left to his own vision, Trudeau's a blind and befuddled, timorous fellow.
A coda: after observing Prime Minister Trudeau since October 2015, my view is he lacks any vision or policy ambitions beyond being Prime Minister and restoring the Liberal Party's place as Canada's ‘natural governing party,’ and being liked by his Liberal colleagues.
I suggest that Justin Trudeau wants to be remembered as Canada's 21st century's Wilfred Laurier who like Trudeau believed being the Prime Minister of Canada wasn't about leadership or vision, but rather about referring.
This is so well put. Stephen has done a great job summarizing broad issues, and I bet bureaucrats could list 10,000 more examples. Last week I was at a hotel where I saw three Canadian soldiers in uniform playing tetris to try and jam their kit into the back of their military-issued vehicle...a Toyota Prius hatchback.
Trudeau is the leader of a post-nationalist country in an applied post-modernist era. As someone who's never forged an identity himself, he's the perfect leader for the times.
A security guard had a "bad feeling" about suicide bomber Salman Abedi but did not approach him for fear of being branded a racist, an inquiry has heard.
I think offended Muslims would do better to treat cartoons with indifference or well bred disdain. All the teeth-gnashing and violence only provokes some people to poke at them more.
This piece isn't what I had hoped it would be - at all. Frankly, Terry Glavin wrote a far better piece on exactly the same issue with more ire and more steel behind it. this piece comes off as a typical trudeau bash about how wishy washy he sounds (yes) but no background to what is actually going on in France and also... no acknowledgment of the very real issues happening because of these terrorist acts. This is a far more complex issue than just "free speech" blah blah blah and to boil it down to such a petty kind of blanket statement really takes away from how serious it is and takes away from the fight that is being fought against these people. Maybe it isn't being fought loudly or publicly, but it is being fought. Also, using the memri clip is cute but really - what value are you adding; and if you are going to whine about the free speech thing of say..... cartoonists then are you going to allow pastors, imams, rabbis the same leeway because they can preach some pretty terrible things.
Then i don't think Christina does not think Extremists are not being fought everywhere. Because it has a large muslim population, law that protect the right to blasphemy and a post colonial history France is more vulnerable to terrorism. the protest outside the french ambassy were out of place. The victims here are those accused of islamophobia, who are actually beheaded, not canadian muslims.
“Yet we are asked to believe that showing a cartoon was more dehumanizing than decapitating a teacher in broad daylight?” Where in the video does Trudeau say that?
Christina Clark makes excellent points and arguments, of course. However, in my view, the article's focus slightly obscures a more general reality with Prime Minister Trudeau. "Justin Trudeau's spineless appeasement," (the article's headline), applies to almost every issue and policy Trudeau addresses, not just Freedom of Expression. The only exceptions seem to be 'no brainer' policies where no significant political opposition is expected such as the Canada Child Benefit or legalization of cannabis.
On most significant policies, Trudeau is a vacuous, timid ditherer. Examples include climate emergency policies, medical assistance in dying, and rights. Trudeau has a thin record of implementing sound policy unless forced to by circumstances (climate emergency/Paris accord) or courts (medical assistance in dying, Canada-US Safe Third Country Agreement). A telling example of Trudeau's dithering and timidity is, of course, electoral reform.
When Christina Clarke writes "Trudeau's statements are appeasement. He's trying to play both sides," she's perfectly defining Trudeau's governing spinelessness. Trudeau's a workmanlike Prime Minister if he's forced into an issue or a policy by, as I say, courts or circumstances (TMX and COVID-19 come to mind). But behind the genial swagger and smile, left to his own vision, Trudeau's a blind and befuddled, timorous fellow.
A coda: after observing Prime Minister Trudeau since October 2015, my view is he lacks any vision or policy ambitions beyond being Prime Minister and restoring the Liberal Party's place as Canada's ‘natural governing party,’ and being liked by his Liberal colleagues.
I suggest that Justin Trudeau wants to be remembered as Canada's 21st century's Wilfred Laurier who like Trudeau believed being the Prime Minister of Canada wasn't about leadership or vision, but rather about referring.
This is so well put. Stephen has done a great job summarizing broad issues, and I bet bureaucrats could list 10,000 more examples. Last week I was at a hotel where I saw three Canadian soldiers in uniform playing tetris to try and jam their kit into the back of their military-issued vehicle...a Toyota Prius hatchback.
Trudeau is the leader of a post-nationalist country in an applied post-modernist era. As someone who's never forged an identity himself, he's the perfect leader for the times.
A security guard had a "bad feeling" about suicide bomber Salman Abedi but did not approach him for fear of being branded a racist, an inquiry has heard.
And 22 people are dead 🤬
I think offended Muslims would do better to treat cartoons with indifference or well bred disdain. All the teeth-gnashing and violence only provokes some people to poke at them more.
This piece isn't what I had hoped it would be - at all. Frankly, Terry Glavin wrote a far better piece on exactly the same issue with more ire and more steel behind it. this piece comes off as a typical trudeau bash about how wishy washy he sounds (yes) but no background to what is actually going on in France and also... no acknowledgment of the very real issues happening because of these terrorist acts. This is a far more complex issue than just "free speech" blah blah blah and to boil it down to such a petty kind of blanket statement really takes away from how serious it is and takes away from the fight that is being fought against these people. Maybe it isn't being fought loudly or publicly, but it is being fought. Also, using the memri clip is cute but really - what value are you adding; and if you are going to whine about the free speech thing of say..... cartoonists then are you going to allow pastors, imams, rabbis the same leeway because they can preach some pretty terrible things.
what do you refer as "these people"?
Oooh, I just responded to you but I couldn't see your comment. Apologies. I am referring to the extremists.
Someone asked me but I can't see the comment who I am referring to when I say "these people" - I mean the extremists.
Then i don't think Christina does not think Extremists are not being fought everywhere. Because it has a large muslim population, law that protect the right to blasphemy and a post colonial history France is more vulnerable to terrorism. the protest outside the french ambassy were out of place. The victims here are those accused of islamophobia, who are actually beheaded, not canadian muslims.
Unless cartoons are considered violence ( which they are not).
“Yet we are asked to believe that showing a cartoon was more dehumanizing than decapitating a teacher in broad daylight?” Where in the video does Trudeau say that?
Christina Clark, can’t be bothered to answer my question?
Always spot on Christina!