I wrote to my member of parliament: Not a rant, but a short calm letter.
It’s queer. You might expect conservatives to be against communism—but once a right wing person becomes an autocrat, say in Eastern Europe, then he leans towards Russia and other fellow despots.
You might expect “progressive” liberals to be against a dictatorship of the “proletariat,” also know as the “communist party,” but when a certain left winger became prime minister he supported China’s dictator—and discouraged investigation of China’s active influence on Canada’s elections.
When parliament voted on whether the communists were suppressing human rights, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau led all the liberal MPs to leave the chamber before the vote. Because that way, I guess, Trudeau would stay friends with his Chinese counterpart.
I grew up knowing right from wrong, grew up protesting a belief in apartheid that existed halfway around the globe. My neighbours here believed that, regardless of whether their fathers were merely “guest workers,” anyone born and raised to adulthood in South Africa should have the right to love their country—and also be allowed to vote. Just as a German raised in Canada, Colonel Hoffmeister, was allowed to lead a regiment against Germany in WWII. Just as someone raised on the island of Formosa has permission, under God, to love Taiwan enough to fight in their armed forces against China, just as a man born and raised in New England, George Washington, could serve his homeland against the English King George.
It was in this context, while possibly still suffering long covid, that I wrote to my member of parliament:
Greetings,
I see that “almost 200 countries” are gathered at a health conference about pandemics.
I would hope they split into smaller manageable groups, at first!
Anyways, if you are in contact with Canada’s health guy, then might want to suggest they decide what to do when country A has thousands of infected, while country B has a number you can count on your fingers…
Because in B they are doing something right…
but the WHO won’t let their stats be documented on world counting-by-nation charts.
Because China says not to.
This actually happened: I mean Taiwan, who could have served as an example for the rest of us, saving our lives.
Yours truly,
Sean Crawford
