I have been watching our PM on his apology circuits and I have to ask myself, "Why? Why is he apologizing?" Justin Trudeau may be guilty of a lot of things, but his government did not cause the injustices that have been inflicted on First Nations or any other demographic that has suffered injustices at the hands of our ignorant ancestors. I am not minimizing these injustices either. They were despicable acts, pulling children from their families, abusing them for their cultural beliefs and trying to indoctrinate them into a Christian based ideology.
If we are to move on from that, an acknowledgement of these injustices is certainly necessary. But an apology?
What does Justin Trudeau really know or feel about the injustices and ignorance of the officials who perpetrated these acts against these demographics? Does he have a connection? I don't think so. It's akin to me apologizing to African Americans or Canadians for slavery or racism. While I know these things existed and that there is a possibility that someone in my bloodline might have been involved in such acts, I haven't and I did not know the perpetrators.
I equate these apology tours to Teddy Bear Grief. You know the scene. Someone or a bunch of someones are killed in a senseless tragedy in which perfect strangers descend on the scene to share in the grief for a person they've never met in their life. There are candle light vigils and tears and of course teddy bears. I believe, and I know this is being cynical, that these individuals are doing so for their own reasons and have very little to do with reconciliation or community support. It's more about being a part of the story or laying claim to righting the story.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper was one of the first Canadian government officials to give an apology to First Nations regarding the injustices their people endured. And while I think an acknowledgement of those injustices was necessary, I find the apology that accompanied it rather hollow.
To truly apologize, we must understand what it is we are apologizing for and feel true remorse. How can we feel that if we were not the ones who were responsible? The present PM has been on an apology tour like no other PM before him, but at what point do the apologies become as hollow as the individual delivering it?
I would guess, and this is my cynicism again, that our Prime Minister will be digging up every demographic that needs an apology between now and the coming federal election. I also believe that his apologies are as empty as his excuses about SNC Lavalin.
Thoughts?
If we are to move on from that, an acknowledgement of these injustices is certainly necessary. But an apology?
What does Justin Trudeau really know or feel about the injustices and ignorance of the officials who perpetrated these acts against these demographics? Does he have a connection? I don't think so. It's akin to me apologizing to African Americans or Canadians for slavery or racism. While I know these things existed and that there is a possibility that someone in my bloodline might have been involved in such acts, I haven't and I did not know the perpetrators.
I equate these apology tours to Teddy Bear Grief. You know the scene. Someone or a bunch of someones are killed in a senseless tragedy in which perfect strangers descend on the scene to share in the grief for a person they've never met in their life. There are candle light vigils and tears and of course teddy bears. I believe, and I know this is being cynical, that these individuals are doing so for their own reasons and have very little to do with reconciliation or community support. It's more about being a part of the story or laying claim to righting the story.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper was one of the first Canadian government officials to give an apology to First Nations regarding the injustices their people endured. And while I think an acknowledgement of those injustices was necessary, I find the apology that accompanied it rather hollow.
To truly apologize, we must understand what it is we are apologizing for and feel true remorse. How can we feel that if we were not the ones who were responsible? The present PM has been on an apology tour like no other PM before him, but at what point do the apologies become as hollow as the individual delivering it?
I would guess, and this is my cynicism again, that our Prime Minister will be digging up every demographic that needs an apology between now and the coming federal election. I also believe that his apologies are as empty as his excuses about SNC Lavalin.
Thoughts?
