The Hammer Comes Down:
The cost of morality
What price are Canadians willing to pay for morality?
By Linda Hammerschmid
Cell phones, TVs, cars… to name but a few of the thousands of items we insist on importing from China, notwithstanding that two of our citizens deteriorate in Chinese captivity.
What would you be willing to forego, or to pay a higher price for, if it was your parent or child being held in retaliation for a perceived assault against a Chinese citizen held in Canada at the behest of our southern neighbour?
We must all inquire of ourselves what limits we are prepared to accept to end dealing with the tyrants of this world.
Why do we continue to sell to dictatorships and import stock from countries that do not share our values? When will we, and therefore our Elected Officials, have the courage to stand up and say, as the famous line from the film Network so simply put it, “We’re as mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore!”
We must all inquire of ourselves what limits we are prepared to accept to end dealing with the tyrants of this world.
The time has come to stand up to all these bullies, as we would want our own children to do in the schoolyard, and tell China, Saudi Arabia and the like that we are mad as hell and we won’t take it anymore.
China may have the world’s greatest economy (unless, of course, you listen to Trump) and certainly the buying power, but if no one buys from them how formidable are they really?
And why did we start this entire mess anyway by doing the Trump Administration’s bidding in arresting the Huawei Executive? Surely the U.S. can handle its own issues with China. Our involvement on their behalf has cost two of our citizens most possibly their lives. It isn’t right. It isn’t moral. And we shouldn’t take it anymore.
Release Meng Wanzhou in exchange for the two Michaels (Kovrig and Spavor). If protesters in China can stand up for them – on their behalf – should we, as their co-citizens, not do more?
‘Surely the U.S. can handle its own issues with China. Our involvement on their behalf has cost two of our citizens most possibly their lives.’
Once these men are released, bar Huawei products from Canada. Surely there are tech alternatives here in North America that would profit from such a call.
And before you retort that China would reciprocate by banning exports from Canada to China, let them. Until they are unable to get all our exports, in conjunction with us not allowing their exports into Canada, no Canadian will be safe in China. Bullies can only be dealt with in one way, but to do so requires us all to act in concert and tell them, in deeds, that we are mad as hell and won’t take it anymore.
Feature image: Pixabay
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of its author and do not reflect the opinions of WestmountMag.ca, its publishers or editors.
Read also: other articles by Linda Hammerschmid
Me Linda Hammerschmid is an attorney and has been practicing Family Law since 1982. She is the Senior Partner at Hammerschmid & Associates at 1 Westmount Square, Suite 1290. She is a founding and current member, and past Secretary (28 years) of The Family Law Association of Quebec. She is a frequent guest on CBC TV/Radio, CTV and CJAD, providing commentary on Family Law. You can also hear her regularly on the CJAD show ‘Passion’ with Dr. Laurie Betito, the last Thursday of each month. She and her dog Mac are members of Therapeutic Paws giving joy to the less fortunate. Me Hammerschmid can be reached at (514) 846-1013 or by e-mail at hammerschmid@vif.com. All inquiries will be treated confidentially.
When discussing bullies and tyrants don’t forget to mention the U.S, Israel and Saudi Arabia – the real Axis of Evil.
True. But then my article would have to be a book !
In fact, the role of the US is, to say the least, ambiguous in this case. The accusations against Huawei are only that, unproven accusations, probably brought upon to protect worldwide US commercial interests against a competitor that is at least two ahead of them in G5 development.
The reaction in China itself could have been expected. The communist party cannot be seen as losing face and it played on strong nationalistic emotions to justify its reaction to the arrest on what it considers trumped-up charges.
And finally, there is Trump”s hypocritical attitude in this case. Benefiting from reduced Canadian soya and other exports to China, the US president can now ‘fill in the gap’ and claim that he is helping ‘his’ farmers, with increased US exports of these commodities to China (in fact replacing the shortfall in Canadian exports).
Good points Andrew.
Well said Linda.
Though I did not always agree with him, the last Prime Minister that had any backbone was The Right Hon. Jean Chretien.
We’ve lost our moral compass, our ability to know right from wrong. Charisma (in some cases showmanship) has replaced substance in our choice of leaders. A majority government in Canada is elected by fewer than 38% of the electorate, yet claims to speak on behalf of all of us. Regardless of who we elect, the industrial military complex has the real power.
We have been conditioned to believe that “what” we are is more important than “who” we are. Despite these recriminations, the failings are ours and ours alone.
If we could only find the time to breathe.
Very thoughtful comment.