O Canada, Art And Purpose

How did it come to pass that Canada became fertile ground for home grown terrorism?

That nation has become a bastion of leftism and what is mistakenly referred to as liberal ideology. Canada is not a part of the allied coalition in Iraq and in fact, the previous long term Liberal government had been quite steadfast in that country's opposition to the war. Canadian public opinion, not concerned with diplomatic niceties, is notably anti American, war or no war.
So how come terror came to Canada? How is it that a country that is so anti American, found herself at risk from homegrown terror, not just once, but at least 12 times in the past few years?

The pundits will opine endlessly, but in fact, it has become clear that terror and the threat of terror has as much to do with blackmail as it does with politics. Denmark and the Scandinavian countries, some of the most accommodating and 'progressive' countries on earth, learned that lesson the hard way. France showers immigrants with cradle to grave benefits- and was not spared violence. The UK has been unusually liberal with free speech privileges, despite a plethora of 'hate speech' laws on the books. Terrorists and terrorist supporters, like common criminals, will take every opportunity and every advantage they can, to bully, threaten and intimidate governments and populations whenever they can.

Like common criminals and terrorists elsewhere, no one should really be surprised that terrorists soil their own back yards.

Still, the question has to be asked. How did terror become an acceptable form of political expression among second and even third generations of Canadians?

We believe the answer is simple: Canada has come to lack a defined sense of purpose and a defined direction. That once great nation has abandoned it's principles in favor of multicultural political correctness.

Great nations are defined by their sense of purpose. America is about freedom. This great experiment in democracy has served as a blueprint for nations in search of the same. The influence America has had on democracy is evident in all the free nations of the world. Americans may be critical at times of their governments, but they all cherish their freedom. While it is true that there are those who believe that freedom- and the vote- should only be available to those who agree with them, thankfully, they are only a fringe minority. There are still others who believe we should abandon democratic allies and instead, support terrorist and avowed racist regimes. They are an even smaller, fringe minority.

Great nations are also defined by what they stand for. Great nations will not allow political correctness or ideologies that have been watered down, to mar the principles on which they stand.

No great nation has ever sustained itself by highlighting the ideologies or nations they hate. Only small, pitiful and failure-states do that. 

That is a truth Canadians must face.

Lester Pearson, one of the great Canadian Prime Ministers- and in fact, one of the great world leaders of his time, was an opponent of the Vietnam war. Despite repeated prodding by LBJ, he refused to commit Canada to that conflict. That said, he also forged stronger ties with the US, both politically and economically and in fact, worked closely with the US and other western democracies at the UN and with world bodies elsewhere.

Nowadays, America bashing is a part of the political landscape. Recent surveys of Canadian high schoolers show many of them to believe Americans are 'evil.'

Under Pearson, the world saw and learned an important lesson. Canada could differ in opinion with the US and still maintain a close relationship with America. Canada kept her integrity and independence, despite differences. American kids weren't booed when they came to play pee wee hockey and the American national anthem was not disrespected.

Unless and until Canada redefines and reasserts it's national purpose, Canadians will remain aimless and purposeless and as such, Canada will remain fertile soil for terrorism. That purpose does not always have to mirror America's purpose, of course. That said, free nations have more in common and more shared values with other free nations, as opposed to tyrannies.

It is said that only free nations, or artists that burn inside for freedom, produce great and lasting art. Notwithstanding all the brouhaha over France, for example, in fact, that country produced great art because she was free and offered artists the freedom to explore and create. The 'great art' produced under tyranny is already being forgotten and the once underground art, produced byu artists seeking the freedom to express their visions and their interpretation of 'unapproved' art, is now being celebrated.

Canada, a country with a long history of great art, on canvas and in the literary world, is on a dangerous precipice. Nowadays, art in Canada too, is subject to political correctness. Art shows that depict one side of the Middle East tragedy are hailed. Art shows that depict the other side are banned or removed, for being 'offensive'- as if the notion of offensive art is new. Opinions are deemed dangerous, if their origin is unwanted. Other opinions, even offensive ones, are deemed acceptable if their origins are politically correct. That is why

Lack of direction and purpose impact more than just politics. Culture, society and art are all at risk- literally- and once great nations are at risk of losing their relevancy.

Anti Americanism- and for that matter, anti anything, will not in the end support a nation, culture or a cause. There cannot be 'approved' ideologies any more than there can be 'approved' art.

That is why real reformers throughout history have been the heroes. They grasp the gravity of reform and the importance of freedom. It is striking to note that Muslim reformers in Arab countries, for example, are far more critical of the Arab tyrannies in the region than the 'reformers' in the west, that serve as apologists for the regimes that oppress. Real reformers have even less of a need for the 'useful idiots' than anyone else. The tragedy of aimless, directionless and hate filled Arab regimes are proof of that. Entire populations are deprived of hopes and dreams that afford every individual the possibility of greatness. That is replaced with a state controlled, contrived 'religious' calling.

Ali Eteraz is a good example of what real reform looks like- and why his voice is a necessary one. He does not dictate what is reform- just the opposite, really. His writings and ideas are a platfrom from which to think both inside and outside the box. His thoughts aren't cold and stiff- rather, they are warm and supple. He understands he is providing the basis, the springboard for more ideas. That in fact, is what keeps him going. He presents his ideas with the enthusiasm of an excited student. He, like his readers, open themselves up to new ideas, every day. The possibilities are endless.

Canada needs to reclaim that sense of purpose, direction and possibilities, soon, before it's too late.