It really bothers me when Jews tell me they are going to vote for Stephen Harper in the next election because he supported Israel in Lebanon. I understand that not many Canadian Prime Ministers have supported Israel outright like Harper did but that doesn't give a good reason to vote for him. What I mean by this is although Harper supported Israel his support means nothing. Canada does not have a role in the Middle East and especially not in Israel. People want to vote for leaders that support their causes, and Jews support Israel, but the fact the Harper supported Israel doesn't mean that the other leaders are anti-Semitic or that they hate Israel. People put way too much emphasis on the fact that Harper supported Israel one time. We should elect our leaders based on a number of issues and especially ones that actually matter to Canada. What happens in the Middle East has absolutely no baring on domestic Canadian politics and Canada's involvement in the region is non-existent and inconsequential. I think that Harper only supported Israel because the Americans did. He wants to show Bush Jr. that he will support its endeavors in the region. Harper can and will support the US on a number of issues and if one wants this to continue then they should vote for Harper, but his support for Israel should be seen as some great turn of events for the Jews of Canada. If you want to vote for Harper go ahead, but vote for him because you think he's good for Canada and will be beneficial to you in your life in Canada, not because he supported Israel. Canada doesn't have a roll in the Middle East!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Jews and Stephen Harper
It really bothers me when Jews tell me they are going to vote for Stephen Harper in the next election because he supported Israel in Lebanon. I understand that not many Canadian Prime Ministers have supported Israel outright like Harper did but that doesn't give a good reason to vote for him. What I mean by this is although Harper supported Israel his support means nothing. Canada does not have a role in the Middle East and especially not in Israel. People want to vote for leaders that support their causes, and Jews support Israel, but the fact the Harper supported Israel doesn't mean that the other leaders are anti-Semitic or that they hate Israel. People put way too much emphasis on the fact that Harper supported Israel one time. We should elect our leaders based on a number of issues and especially ones that actually matter to Canada. What happens in the Middle East has absolutely no baring on domestic Canadian politics and Canada's involvement in the region is non-existent and inconsequential. I think that Harper only supported Israel because the Americans did. He wants to show Bush Jr. that he will support its endeavors in the region. Harper can and will support the US on a number of issues and if one wants this to continue then they should vote for Harper, but his support for Israel should be seen as some great turn of events for the Jews of Canada. If you want to vote for Harper go ahead, but vote for him because you think he's good for Canada and will be beneficial to you in your life in Canada, not because he supported Israel. Canada doesn't have a roll in the Middle East!
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3 comments:
Peter McKay paid a visit to Abbas today. What do you think about that?
I'm not really sure what the point was, probably just for show. He said he was committed to a Palestinian state, of course, but offered nothing new to the debate.
"What I am going to do throughout my time in the region is to meet with other important players here in the region and listen carefully to find a way in which Canada can make a positive contribution and bring a constructive and reasoned voice to this important discussion which is happening in the region now," he said.
Does that mean Canada's going to develop some sort of independent foreign policy? Or are the conservatives just wasting taxpayers money?
I love that you have a blog, you better continue updating it...
Perhaps the Jews you speak of feel more secure in electing a leader who is going to take a stand on an issue (especially an issue they so clearly identify with) rather than one who panders to both sides and avoids taking a definitive position, like every other politician. It might have only been one incident, but you could probably count on one hand the number of leaders who came out to vocally support Israel's actions in that conflict, and that might mean a lot to some people.
Besides, why are your criteria for deciding who to vote for any more valid than the next person's?
I think mckay going to the Middle East is a waste of money if he's going to try to "solve" the situation. I see Canada's role in the Middle East as being economic. It wouldn't be a waste of money if McKay was there to find oppotunities for Canadian investment but to try to come up with a made in Canada peace plan is just unrealistic.
Eytan, you make a good point, I don't have any right to tell poeple why they should vote one way or another, I just hope that people will make educated decisions and take all the issues into account and not choose a leader based on something as inconsequential as Canada's Israel policy.
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