Canadian values
Let’s hear it for Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper.
During his current goodwill mission through Latin America, Mr Harper has been talking up what he describes as “Canadian values”: free trade, security, political and economic freedom, and respect for human rights.
And he says these values should apply equally whether you are dealing with Chile, Colombia or Cuba.
“The values that we are promoting through the region … we’re going to promote these values similarly everywhere in the region,” he said, in a clear reference to his relations with the Castro regime.
Mr Harper’s comments place him at odds with most Latin America and the Caribbean leaders, whose well-rehearsed (and short-sighted) view is that the “dignity” of the Cuban people should be “respected”.
Which means that when it comes to the Castro regime, they are not willing to rock the boat.
During his current goodwill mission through Latin America, Mr Harper has been talking up what he describes as “Canadian values”: free trade, security, political and economic freedom, and respect for human rights.
And he says these values should apply equally whether you are dealing with Chile, Colombia or Cuba.
“The values that we are promoting through the region … we’re going to promote these values similarly everywhere in the region,” he said, in a clear reference to his relations with the Castro regime.
Mr Harper’s comments place him at odds with most Latin America and the Caribbean leaders, whose well-rehearsed (and short-sighted) view is that the “dignity” of the Cuban people should be “respected”.
Which means that when it comes to the Castro regime, they are not willing to rock the boat.
posted by Luis M Garcia at 10:12 am
4 Comments:
Harper may not rock the boat, but at least there is a parliamentary commitee on human rights violations in Cuba, something that liberals never did. Maybe something will come out of it, so I hope for my own canadian sake. Credit must be given, the fact that they only have a minority goverment. Ausies will understand, because the system is very similar to ours.
You have cherry -picked his quotes. Canadian prime minister, a conservative, also is for engagement with cuba (talk to enemies) and certainly would not advocate any kind of embargo (especially travel) against Cuba.
You guys are'sooo' conservative yet differ with a fundamental tenet of conservativsm (practiced by Canadian prime minister) when it comes to Cuba. Check out CATO.org - a powerful right-wing conservative (libertarian) think tank, which has a lot of good essays about US policy toward Cuba. The conservative pminister from Canada would be more in line with Cato's assessment of policies toward Cuba than the hard liners in miami (or australia) any day.
cheers, jose.
Talk, especially political or diplomatic talk, is very cheap and often empty. It would be nice if there was some real substance to Harper's statements, but I'll believe it when I see actual evidence (and I don't mean further statements unsupported by actions).
It's very easy to find democratic governments that pay lip service to freedom and democracy for Cuba, but how many are prepared to do more than talk about it?
Now, if Cuba were apartheid-era South Africa...well, you get the picture. It's called "Portrait of a Double Standard," or "The Triumph of Hypocrisy."
Asmobra,
you are so right. If further prove is needed just read the comments above your from Mr. Jose. I guess he is decrying those "mean and troglodite right wing hardliners" in Miami that want to overthrow Cuba's wonderful regime which is so abiding of human rights. And you are right, all this is cheap talk. Most Canadians could not give a rat's ass about what happens to ordinary Cubans on the island so long as they have their vacation spot to go and frolick in the ocean and its beaches.
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