We are not questioning Dion's loyalty to Canada because he holds dual Canadian/French citizenship, due to the fact his mother was born in France.
However, other "people", not including the editors, might question Dion's loyalty:
The perception of divided loyalties will always be there. What if Canada and France disagree on a major foreign policy issue? People will ask where Dion's loyalties lie.
And although The Sun editors aren't questioning Dion's loyalty, and refuse to identify the "people" who might be, they seem to have an excellent idea of what these people are upset about. Specifically, these people worry that Dion might be too soft on the French, and as the following passage indicates, too soft on the Lebanese:
Last summer, there was a huge controversy about dual Canadian-Lebanese citizens who live permanently in Lebanon while expecting Canada to evacuate them for free in the event of a regional war.
Yesterday, the C.D. Howe Institute suggested charging all non- resident citizens a special fee when renewing passports to cover potential costs.
How will Dion ever escape the perception of bias in debating and deciding such issues?
Actually, these mystery people tend to sound a lot like the Sun editorial staff, but no, apparently its not them
My challenge would be this. Can anyone who objects to Dion's dual citizen status on the grounds that somebody else might question his loyalty to Canada, please point these people out. That way, we can have a debate with them. I mean, here are a few people that fit the profile given in today's Sun editorial. But they are, for the most part, anti-French bigots and/or Western Seperatists, and surely nobody would expect Dion to act or not act to appease the likes of them.
PS. You can see the same argument, albeit given a somewhat more subtle treatment, in Andrew Coyne's column today:
1) Nobody can question Dion's commitment to the nation.
2) His dual citizenship sends a troubling message to "other Canadians".
3) These other Canadians might question Dion's commitment to the nation.
Therefore Dion should abandon his dual citizenship.
Name some names, Andy. I mean, at least Ezra Levant was honest about where he stood. He was questioning Dion's loyalty his own very self. Such honesty from other Conservatives would be refreshing.
10 comments:
Such honesty from other Conservatives would be refreshing.
We'll get that when hell freezes over. There is only one issue that separates the smart from the dumb here....whether the perception of something is necessarily meaningful. In Dion's case no. In a case like Ezra Levant (eligible for Israeli citizenship under the 'Law of Return'), Ted Morton (a dual), and all the other potnetial traitors...perhaps. Is it useful discussion? Well, I guess a rag like the The Toronto Sun thinks so.
The only proper "conservative" issue here is the typically slavish adherence to meaningless principle, that being commitment to one nation and its values, and all the grandiose blathering conservatives love to indulge in. Great in theory, but hard to do practice. That's why conservatives make the best hypocrites. God, I hate them.
...I hope this is over soon. In a week, it should be.
If we should be debating any question of divided loyalties, then we should be asking ourselves whether Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister, has a greater loyalty to his province of Alberta than to Canada. Remember his famous firewall advice? And now his efforts to negotiate with Premiers a constitutional amendment to restrict the powers of the federal government? And his writings on curbing federal government power?
Who does he prefer – his province of the country he supposedly leads?
"People will ask where Dion's loyalties lie." = "Some people say..."
I'm not a member of the conservative party, although I do tend to vote conservative, but I do have an issue with dual citizenships in general. I would like to see it so that members of the cabinet could not hold dual citizenship.
To me, holding dual citizenship tells me just how much respect a person has for Canada, and how much their citizenship is worth to them. To me, a person who refuses to commit to only one citizenship is refusing to commit themselves fully to that country.
If Dion had simply stated, "Yes, I have dual citizenship, but I will renounce my French citizenship if I am ever chosen to be Prime Minister," I would have been happy with that statement (given the current state of affairs with regards to dual citizenship). However, he basically told everyone to "bugger off, it's none of their business, who the hell do you think you are to question my loyalties?" Well, Mr. Dion, I am a VOTING citizen of Canada, and with an attitude like that, you won't be seeing my vote anytime soon.
Bigshittylib would be having a fit if Harper had dual US citizenship. But a french commie, no problemo.
Oh, I see you've welcomed back the anons shittyone.
Turner, in case you haven't realized, is a dual UK citizen, whose Queen is our head of state whether you like it or not. Iggy at least is a canuck despite his long absence. Celine will wake up soon, if he wants to be PM.
i'm not questioning dion's loyalty, but some xenophobic bigots might, so he should renounce it????
Yup. People like Pat Martin, and Jack Layton. Typical xenophobic bigots. Uh huh. I guess it's ti-guy and his best bud Robert "Joooooos" McLellan who should ask their party why it clings "to meaningless principle, that being commitment to one nation and its values, and all the grandiose blathering . . .
Welcome back Rat. You post here so seldom, and I miss you.
If you miss him, you can see him perform and any number, if not all, progressive blogs. He has a certain screechy incoherence that's so rare among trolls.
Didn't take long, Celine capitulated last night on TVO, BCL/tiguy (two handles for the same shittylib)
Post a Comment