I have had some niggling feelings about the apology by Prime Minister Harper to Maher Arar and his family. No doubt he is owed the apology and deserves the damages settlement. He also deserves the admiration and respect of we lesser mortals for surviving his ordeals. Not just the torture in Syria, the stripping of his dignity and the destruction of his reputation but also for suffering through the McCarthyesque baiting and badgering by CANADIAN officials and politicians.
Why did our Prime Minister, speaking on behalf of this nation and it citizens and about the contrition we feel collectively, individually and INSTITUTIONALLY - why did he have to politicize this moment?
Other bloggers have spoken about this. It is a blogger known as "Rational Reasons" who's post on this who captures my unease of how this apology has been compromised and I encourage you to read it.
This was a time for statesmanship from our Mr. Prime Minister, not gamesmanship from the Conservative Party leader. I feel bad about what happened to Mr. Arar and for what he and his family went through. I also feel sad that my Prime Minister felt the need to continue to use Mr. Arar's plight to try and score cheap political points. Read the blog posting by Rational Reasons for a deeper sense of what I mean.
Thanks for link and the kind words Ken. I was genuinely saddened by this missed opportunity.
ReplyDeleteAnd then for Stockwell Day to continue with this charade on The House today.
I have never been a Conservative or a Progressive Conservative, but I cannot imagine any previous leaders from Canada's right doing such a mean spirited opportunistic thing. Not Joe Clark, not Kim Campbell, hell not even Mike Harris or Brian Mulroney.
This is really low.
It was a great post Mike...thanx for doing it. And tomorrow I hear the Harper Cons are going to use Jason Kenney to introduce some "Attack Ads" on Dion.
ReplyDeleteWill they be attack or just tacky - can't wait to see just how terrified Harper's people really are about Dion s these "ads" will no doubt show.
Harper gone Green!!! - perhaps - by not enviro-green more like envy green if you ask me.
Ken, I really don't think you should get into attack ads. We all remember how Martin used vicious attacks against Harper, the United States, and even our Canadian military. If the ads attack Dion's substantive positions, then so be it.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Arar apology, this was taken from the Liberal Party of Canada website:
Mr. Dion also remarked that the Prime Minister in his announcement today made no reference to the fact that former RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli misled a House of Commons Committee studying the Arar affair. The Prime Minister has refused to answer basic questions on this issue, including when he personally knew that the Commissioner was going to change his story.
“We hope that today’s announcement brings a small amount of comfort to Mr. Arar and his family, however, the Official Opposition will continue to hold this government accountable for their actions with respect to Mr. Arar,” said Mr. Dion.
“This government preaches accountability, but the Liberal Party will push them to actually practice accountability.”
--- So Ken, please denounce Dion for this gamemanship and attempt to score cheap political points on such a serious tradegy.
Thx eric for the apology partisan reference from Dion too. I will check it out in the morning...do you have the link with the Dion quote? If it is as you say, and I am not challenging you on that point - this is just as bad as Harper.
ReplyDeleteHey Ken, here is the link: http://www.liberal.ca/news_e.aspx?type=news&id=12200
ReplyDeleteI agree with your post on Harper though. At least one of the leaders should have taken the high ground.
eric - I have checked the Liberal Party site and it is as you say it is.
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of sounding like I am parsing the commentary ,let me say I have no problem with the party leaders taking on each other in those roles and on party websites.
As Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, they speak for Canada and Canadians...that is different.
The offical letter of apology from OUR government ought not to be politicized.
That aside - Dion is a bit "rich" in the quote you provided about pushing the Cons to "actual accountability."
Dion and all other Liberal politicians were absolved of any wrong doing by Gomery and the ADscam frauds.
BUT Dion has to understand he the Liberal Party has a long way to go before it can start preaching about "actual accountability" compared to anyone.