January 6, 2003
As 2002 drew to a close, it was again time to choose a person of the year. In Canada, there really wasn’t much of a choice and both Paul Martin and Jean Chrétien were chosen as this country’s "Person of the Year" (see Media Report).
Martin and Chrétien were conventional choices and politically correct, and since I am neither conventional nor politically correct, they would not be my first choice. I would award the "Person of the Year" award to the two persons that I think symbolize not only Canada, but the Canada of the future. My persons of the year are Francoise Ducros and David Ahenakew. A French Canadian woman and an aboriginal instead of two white guys. Guess I’m more politically correct than I thought.
Francoise Ducros was the former press secretary to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien who called President George W. Bush, a moron at an international gathering. David Ahenakew is the aboriginal bigwig and Order of Canada medal holder who blamed the Jews for causing World War II and when he was asked to clarify his remarks for a reporter, stated that Hitler "was going to make damn sure that the Jews weren’t going to take over Germany and Europe," and "that’s why he fried six million of those guys".
While I see similarities between the comments made by these two persons, I in no way mean to suggest that Francoise Ducros is in the same category as Ahenakew. That having been said, there are reasons why both should be Canada’s "Person of the Year".
Both Ducros and Ahenakew gave meaning to what Canadian values, especially, what tolerance diversity and multiculturalism, really are. In neither case, was Jean Chrétien nor any of his cabinet lackeys upset over the comments that were made. Chrétien refused to fire Ducros and only accepted her resignation when she tendered it a second time and made it clear that she didn’t wish to retain her position. Chrétien runs a dictatorial regime, but even he can’t force anybody to work against their will. To him, her comments were no big deal.
Although major aboriginal groups, the Attorney General of Saskatchewan and Stephen Harper, leader of the Offical Opposition and others strongly condemned Ahenakew’s words, Jean Chrétien issued a wishy washy statement saying "I think such words are not acceptable in Canadian society". Chrétien prides himself on the country having tolerance, yet he seems not too sure whether Ahenakew’s words were "acceptable" or not.
Although both incidents received lengthy media coverage, there was very little written about what made Ahenakew, and to a lesser extent, Ducros, think that what they said was socially and politically acceptable.
Anti-Americanism is, of course rampant in Liberal Party ranks and was bolstered by Chrétien’s "no big deal" attitude towards Ducros’ comments. Anyone with an IQ higher than today’s temperature knows what would have immediately happened to Francie Ducros had she called one of the boss’s African dictator buddies like Robert Mugabe, a "moron". She would have been branded a racist and fired before she could issue the customary apology and regrets. Although the PM and his government love to scream, "sovereignty, sovereignty" whenever co-operation with the United States is suggested, Canada freely gives up jurisdiction to the unelected bureaucrats at the United Nations. "Blame America First" is the unofficial motto of the U.N. and Canada will do anything to fit in.
Jean Chrétien has never appeared to be overly upset at any recent anti-Semitic activities that have taken place in Canada. He never runs to synagogues to show support for Jews like he did for Muslims following September 11. Canada’s official multiculturalism doesn’t include Jews any more than it includes Americans who come to this country.
And then there is Foreign Minister Bill Graham, his nose in the air while he arrogantly lectured Canadians on how his beloved Hezbollah was no different than the IRA, either not grasping or intentionally ignoring one of Hezbollah’s aims-- the complete destruction of the state of Israel. And Graham railed about Jenin, the great massacre that never happened. Amongst the ruling elite, Israel, along with the United States, are held to a higher standard than other countries. To take the example of Zimbabwe again, the government doesn’t seem overly upset at Mugabe’s policies which include race based land seizures and politically motivated famine.
Canada’s main objective, notwithstanding its notions of tolerance and diversity is to be loved and accepted by the anti-American, anti-Israel, and anti-Jewish crowd at the United Nations. The weak response to David Ahenakew’s "Hitler was an okay guy" diatribe is an indication that anti-Semitism is slowly becoming as acceptable in Canada as anti-Americanism is. Ahenakew and Ducros are significant, not for what they said, but for what they each represent.
They are definitely candidates for "Persons of the Year".