A headline in the Toronto Star in a recent article by Rosie Dimanno, screams, “A shocking spike in hate crimes.” The article quotes Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw saying that the recent trend in hate crimes is “the likes of which we have never seen before”. We are indeed, seeing more and more of this, not just in Toronto, but across Canada and indeed, in many other parts of the world.
Antisemitism is not only on the rise, it is flourishing. Jewish businesses are being boycotted and blocked. Others are being vandalized. So-called Pro-Palestinian demonstrations are calling for the eradication of Jewish people in the Middle East. Jewish people here, in this country of Canada, are frightened and concerned for their safety.
There are those who argue that the pro-Palestinian demonstrations are all about people gathering to support the rights and freedoms of Palestinians. It would of course be good and appropriate if that were true but sadly, in the vast majority of cases, it is not.
These pro-Palestinian demonstrations are angry. They bear antisemitism signs and slogans, they shout “Slaughter the Zionists” and they call for an intifada. Simply waving a Palestinian flag is not a crime. But these other actions are. They are by any definition hate rallies.
In her Toronto Star article, Rosie Dimanno writes about Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, vice president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs who said this to the Toronto Police Board. “We’ve seen repeated calls for Intifada………….. Every Jewish person knows what intifada means. It means buses exploding, it means suicide bombings detonating inside a school, inside a daycare centre, inside a university café, on a busy street.”
I cannot help but wonder if these demonstrations and acts of vandalism (both pro-Israel and pro-Palestine) are more a byproduct of the age of populism we now live in, where almost anything goes, than about the Israel/Hamas war.
The Oxford Dictionary defines populism as a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups. I would add to that that populism, in the name of freedom, provides permission and legitimacy for people to speak and act out on issues that were previously taboo.
Certainly, the Israel/Hamas war is horrific in nature, but it is also a tinderbox. In addition to what is happening on the ground, it is igniting flames around the world encouraging antisemitism and in some cases Islamophobia.
It does make me wonder if one consequence of the populist movement has been to allow decades of suppressed frustration, anger and hate to come to the surface to the point that many would lash out at anything.
Is it easier now to promote antisemitism or Islamophobia than it previously has been? At a time when the truth doesn’t matter as much as it once did, when “alternate facts” are condoned, when it’s okay to tear down statues, change street names and rewrite history, are we okay to jump on ethnic cleansing as well?
I just saw a clip from a news program this morning where former New Jersey Governor and now presidential candidate Chris Christie, blamed Donald Trump for the rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia. He said, “When you show intolerance toward everyone, which he (Trump) does, you give permission as a leader, for others to have their intolerance come out.” Is Christie right?
Maybe it is because I am an old fart, but I have come to believe that change in the world, especially in our part of the world, is coming too fast. There seems to be so much hate and intolerance out there, so little respect for perspectives other than our own, and a mean streak in what we do and say to others. How can anything productive in our public life and discourse come out of that?
One of the latest indications of populism going off the rails, in my view, is a recent declaration by the Canadian Human Rights Commission that Christmas is discriminatory. They say, “Jesus is an obvious example of religion rooted in colonization.” My God, is nothing sacred anymore? One individual online observed, “I’m Jewish, not Christian and I think this is worse than stupid, political correctness run amok.”
As for colonization, it’s time to get over that one too. Canada has been around now for well over a century. Everyone who came here back then is dead. Everyone who was born here is, by any definition, native.
Prominent Canadian pollster Angus Reid recently noted, “I’ve received an e-mail from a nice person at a major university. This is how it was signed after her name, (She/Her/Settler)—The woman in question was born in Canada. Is this where we are headed?” Good Question.
It is high time, in my view, that we stop dividing ourselves based on ethnicities or traditions or anything else for that matter, to the point that we become discriminatory and foster hate and unrest with its ultimate tragic consequence. If that is, even in part, what populism is about, it needs to be stopped.
There is no place for hate here. Period. We have a rule of law that says just that.
It is time to enforce it.
Hugh Mackenzie
Hugh Mackenzie has held elected office as a trustee on the Muskoka Board of Education, a Huntsville councillor, a District councillor, and mayor of Huntsville. He has also served as chairman of the District of Muskoka and as chief of staff to former premier of Ontario, Frank Miller.
Hugh has also served on a number of provincial, federal and local boards, including chair of the Ontario Health Disciplines Board, vice-chair of the Ontario Family Health Network, vice-chair of the Ontario Election Finance Commission, and board member of Roy Thomson Hall, the National Theatre School of Canada, and the Anglican Church of Canada. Locally, he has served as president of the Huntsville Rotary Club, chair of Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, chair of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, president of Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and board member of Community Living Huntsville.
In business, Hugh Mackenzie has a background in radio and newspaper publishing. He was also a founding partner and CEO of Enterprise Canada, a national public affairs and strategic communications firm established in 1986.
Currently, Hugh is president of C3 Digital Media Inc., the parent company of Doppler Online, and he enjoys writing commentary for Huntsville Doppler.
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Wow! A lot of fear and anger from the writer who responded to my comments. I am sorry that you are so threatened by the lack of public displays of your religious faith. No one is taking away your rights to celebrate Christmas as you want to.Your anger seems to stem from the fact that society isn’t following!
If we are to see public displays of Christian holiday symbols should we not see the same for other religious faiths? Or is that only for the dominant religion?
Your blaming of the so called demise of christianity on various political ideologies has a very fascist theocratic fervor to it!
But l wish all peace, health and a Merry Christmas!
Ps If l am reading the teachings of Jesus right, l think he was a socialist!
I always enjoy reading comments by readers to Hugh Mackenzie’s listen Up! I do however find Hugh’s opinions very partisan at times,
( conservatives good, liberals bad) but he does raise interesting issues.
On Scott Aitchison’s comments about Christmas being canceled he is simply playing the political time honored tactic of “be afraid the bogeyman is coming”. Sadly some buy into this belief wholeheartedly.
One claims ” Christmas traditions have been under attack for some time ” and claims to know “some of the reasons” Really do tell . I have always thought Christmas has changed in our society to make room for others with different customs and beliefs during the holiday season? I think the term is inclusion and diversity.
There are no religious faiths that have not participated in intolerance and persecution throughout history and if we were to count the numbers christianity would likely be at the top of that list.
Sadly Scott’s comment regarding Christmas adds to the divisive nature of our current political culture when what we need more then ever is to come together in love, peace and tolerance.
Imagine!
Just wrote to Scott Aitchison, our MP, citing my email to a recent Conservative Party fundraising email entitled “Don’t Cancel Christmas”.
“Scott, I just got a fund-raising email from your party with the populist catch line about Christmas being cancelled. Below is how I responded.
“Your party needs to “grow up”. Seriously, Christmas will not be cancelled for Christians ever.
Implying that we cannot be mindful of other holy December days for others of a different faith is ludicrous. Your “soft Populism” is ridiculous, unnecessarily divisive. Again I say “Grow Up”.”
Scott, I will add, if you lived in a metropolitan city where many faiths were represented, would you stop practicing your own? Would you assume everybody thinks and worships the same way you do? Would you bother to ask another person if they have a different “holy day” in December? This is old, divisive routine and it is very stale. I resent the dog whistle for identity politics.
If one wishes to practice and worship in the faith of Christianity, darken a church doorstep and do so. Nothing is stopping you. Please be mindful of the rhetoric used in campaigning – figure out who it appeals to? Does it unite or divide?
Since Pierre Elliott Trudeau introduced “Multiculturalism “, we have taken God out of everything. Without God, there is no right and wrong, anything goes. Life loses value, and with that loss of value comes a loss of societal strength.
Those visitors to Canada, who are here on work or student vista’s should be deported for supporting terrorism. Those Citizens of Canada, born here or not, who support terrorism, should be charged under section 319 (1) of the criminal code of Canada, which clearly does outlaw “Everyone” who by communicating statements in public places, incites hatred against any identifiable group, where such excitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace, is guilty of an indictable offense, punishable by up to two years imprisonment, or a summary conviction offense.
Why is law enforcement not enforcing this part of the criminal code of Canada. After all, they are sworn to “Serve and Protect “, are they not.
Hello Erin; I suggest that populism in and of itself is only a process/a vehicle/a campaign strategy – could be put to malicious or well-intended uses. However, Adolf used it pre-WW2 to emotionally engage and enrage his country’s population to the “Fatherland” nationhood rhetoric, combining their national grievances with scapegoating Jews, blacks, homosexuals, and the disabled as being harmful to the development of the grand arian perfect world; extermination was one consequence.
Identity politics in campaigning add to exposure of differences, rather than looking for what people have in common. As Joanne points out, the key is to be willing to have a conversation, listen -take the time, rather than a reactionary social media post.
So, populism, identity politics, and the immediacy of social media reaction seem contrary to looking for similarities, and respecting differences.
Michael and I are grateful for your comments. We are heart broken at the growing antisemitism in the world. We are also worried about our grandchildren.
We believe what is happening in the Middle East is horrible but people are using this to justify antisemitism. When people speak out we are grateful.
Racism and related ignorance lies just underneath the skin of Canadians. So called “common sense” and popular uninformed opinions, fuel rants and nasty behaviour disrespectful and hurtful to other community members. You do not have to like the Truth of Canada as British Colonialism, but we know it is as real as the unmarked graves at residential schools, Mr Mackenzie.
I know acceptance and understanding are hard for people have never known what is like to be bullied, ostracized, physically or emotionally abused, just because We do not look white, European Christian or conform to cis-gender ideas. You cannot know the constant anxiety and feeling of inferiority because no matter what you accomplish in life, you never know when there will be a thoughtless, hurtful remark or gesture that you must try to ignore and forget. It takes a lot of bravery to go forward with optimism, self-confidence, humour and belief that you also belong on the earth.
Only Kindness and being ready to Listen to each other will build the caring good life that makes humanity a precious part of this miracle of living. Without that, all the thoughts and words and isms are nothing real.We are truly fragile and must treat each other gently.
We’re all having so much fun right now, I just can’t wait for around 2045 when Xavier Trudeau gets his turn. If Gramps and Dad weren’t able to completely dismantle Canada, then I bet he’ll be able to do it
Yes, Nancy. If anyone at the CHRC did say that, it is an “obvious’ (I’ll use their word) slander of Our Lord who, in Matthew 23:8 (NLT), told His disciples that they were ALL equal as brothers and sisters (“all” means all). We are all One in Him. Indeed, the final chapters of the Revelation underscore that point. Christmas, as we are fast approaching, is a time to remember that the angels, in announcing His birth, said that He would be a Saviour to ALL humans. (“all” means all). The celebration of His birth at Christmas and His Resurrection at Easter is for all humankind–no matter in what “tribe” we find ourselves. That is what the Bible teaches.
I would be interested to know where the CHRC quote in this article came from, “Jesus is an obvious example of religion rooted in colonization.”
Having read the recent CHRC Discussion Paper on Religious Intolerance, I have not been able to find it.
There is, in the CHRC discussion paper, reference to Statutory Holidays recognizing only Christianity such as Christmas and Easter. The discussion seems to be about the designation of statutory holidays and not about Jesus or Christianity or any aspect of the religion being rooted in colonialism. The closest reference I can find states; An obvious example is statutory holidays in Canada. Statutory holidays related to Christianity, including Christmas and Easter, are the only Canadian statutory holidays linked to religious holy days. https://www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca/en/resources/publications/discussion-paper-religious-intolerance#fn4
The reference for the CHRC quote in this Listen Up article would be appreciated. A CHRC comment of this nature would be very concerning indeed.
Good comment, Hugh. But I would suggest that it is tribalism that is causing the hate and unrest, not populism. Populism is merely insisting that the rights of the governed must be preserved at an individual level, as part of the governing structure==that the wealthy or other elites do not get more rights.
Only true faith in Christ bridges all the separations that tribalism produces. We can see from the history recorded in the Old Testament, that even the tribes of Israel warred against each other. Our Lord came into the dark world of the Roman Empire to call a halt to any form of violence or hate and to bridge the gap between people groups. Indeed, we are told in Revelation 7:9, “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, FROM EVERY NATION, TRIBE, PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE, standing before the throne and before the Lamb [Jesus in symbolic form]. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.” This is a depiction of the Church (all true believers) in Heaven.
From more recent history, we note that the Great New England Revival (of true Biblical faith) saw a new era of peace and harmony generated throughout New England. The jails were emptied out because violence and theft was greatly diminished. The poor were fed, clothed and housed and those who were hypocritical in their “faith” were led to new, fervent levels of real faith. It is my prayer that this would happen here, in what I believe to be the last of the last days before Our Lord’s return. Those who would promote hate and division, despise TRUE faith in Christ. They have never been able to stand in opposition to the juggernaut of faith-filled followers of Christ.