"As a daughter of immigrants who came to Canada and a Canadian by birth, our loyalty to Canada is our duty to call out our government when it is wrong, has failed to live up to its standards, and enact better policies, which include its international affairs, in the hope of getting it to change to be better."
November 15, 2023
As a daughter of immigrants who came to Canada and a Canadian by birth, our loyalty to Canada is our duty to call out our government when it is wrong, has failed to live up to its standards, and enact better policies, which include its international affairs, in the hope of getting it to change to be better. What McBride is asking us to do is to uphold the status quo that prevents Canada from being the actual peacemaker and peacekeeper they claim it is. This fairy tale ideal has been long lost since Canada decided to stand with Israel 15 years ago by constantly voting or abstaining against resolutions condemning its actions against the Palestinians or failing to call out Israel for its violation of international humanitarian law. Canada not calling for a ceasefire is, then again, evidence of this long-lost reputation. The only way we can dare to reclaim this reputation is by bringing our grievances to our streets and institutions of learning and calling for a ceasefire and the end of Israel’s occupation. This is our only way to have a better life for ourselves and our children and peace and truly contribute to Canada.
Fatima Haidar