Monday, April 13, 2009

Truly Canadian

The latest issue in Afghanistan is legislation that allows men to have sexual relations with their wives on demand. Canadians rightfully disagree with this law, but we must remember that people in countries around the world have radically different views on human rights issues than we do here in Canada. Many of these varying views are based on their religious or historical culture. We may find it backward and in violation of human rights according to our religion, culture and laws respecting human rights, but should we impose our ways on others?

We always run into these problems when we interfere in conflicts within other countries. The argument is that we are at war and involved in other countries to protect ourselves from terrorists and those who would inflict harm on our people and our way of life. It is one thing to enter another country to root out terrorists, but it is quite another thing to establish a permanent presence in an attempt to change their customs and how they have lived for centuries. No one has won a war in Afghanistan dating back to Alexander the Great and nor will Canada. Some wars are just and winnable and others are not. It is clear that wars are costly in terms of lost lives and the financial burden on our country. Afghanistan, for many reasons, is a burden ripe to be removed from Canada’s responsibilities on the world stage.

Canada has always been a peaceful nation, but that is beginning to change. We need to tend to the home fires. We have people coming here to live and enjoy the rights, freedoms and opportunities that Canada offers. Many of these same people then rise up and demonstrate, within our country and within our laws, to demand that we fix problems in the very country they left in the first place. This is where I get off. Canadians should tend to Canada first. If immigrants to Canada don’t like what is going on in the country they left then they should be among the first to go back and fix it. When you choose to live in Canada and chose this country as your new homeland you choose to accept our values, our culture, our human and religious rights, our democracy and our freedoms. Canada is a tolerant nation, but these values are not to be imposed upon or abused. Let the Afghans, Taliban, religious rebels, terrorists and those who disrupt peace on our land and in our country think on that for a while. Is it truly Canadian to be any other way?