While 22 of the 28 EU countries, including the UK, France and Germany, voted for a UN resolution rejecting the Trump government's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Canada abstained.
Likely, they were intimidated by the muscle-flexing bullying of Nikki Haley, whose rhetoric was reminiscent of, and faithful to, tinpot dictatorships far and wide:
UPDATE: In this morning's Star, Tim Harper has this to say about Canada's abstention:
Canada ... was the only G7 nation beside the United States that did not vote to condemn the move by Trump.Sure looks like cowardice to me.
In Canada’s case, an abstention does send a message, because the Trudeau government, like the Stephen Harper government before it, has slavishly backed the U.S. in voting against UN resolutions perceived to be anti-Israel.
But overwhelmingly the message sent by an abstention was that Ottawa didn’t want to be there, didn’t want to take a stand, wished that this would just go away.
.. FYI .. I now keep my opinions re Palestine & Israel essentially to myself - with friends, family, work associates.. and to a fair extent out in the hyperspace of social media.
ReplyDeleteThe lesson I've learned.. is that you aint seen partisanship till you've been blindsided with the old 'you're anti-semitic!' assault, often followed by a stern lecture on - how wonderful Israel is.. and how unfair any opinion otherwise, is.
Long ago this was the status quo re South Africa.. or prrhaps better said, white apartheid vs black african.. in many many countries..
Previous was the 'Irish Problem' & well, there's no end to the trail of tears as far as discrimination.. White American vs Black Americans (or slaves) and around the world we've seen the genocide against indigenous peoples.. Hell, just following the factional violence that is actual 'ethnic cleansing' is truly contemporary right now.
In fairness, I find each and every one of these undeclared or declared 'wars' can blindside you when you attempt to add reason or balance to a conversation.. thus why I tend to work anonymously.. It frees me up to fight hate with fire.
Do I have all the answers or solutions? Certainly not. But arguing or explaining patiently re anything 'Israel' or 'Palestine' is essentially a lost and wasted effort. That partisan elected public servants protect donations & votes in the face of Israel's absorption of Palestine is simply stunning.. and in my view, complicit in atrocity (but don't tell anyone eh?)
Your point is well-taken, Sal, and it mirrors the larger polarization we unfortunately see in discussion on political and social issues today. Everyone seems to have their cause(s) that are reflected in their reflexive rejection of any countervailing views. From stoutly defending their pet politicians to extolling their pet peeves, people seem increasingly unwilling to admit that a vast panoply of gray exists in the world today.
DeleteI guess for them it is simpler if all issues are black or white, but for the critical thinker, it is very dismaying.
Mamon rules, Lorne. Sadly so in the Great White North.
ReplyDeleteThe sellout has been going on for years, Owen. I can't help but remember Brian Mulroney and his infamous "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" performance with the Reagans, one of his proudest moments, I'm sure, and emblematic of a supine position vis-à-vis the U.S that continues to this day.
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