Values

For many years I discussed values with groups of medical students, occasionally with others such as nursing students, two or three mind-blowing times with combined groups of medical and nursing students. Naturally those discussions focused on health-related values - cleanliness, personal hygiene, fastidious food-handling, consideration of the needs of others where tobacco smoking, noisy behaviour, socially disruptive conduct were concerned. We also talked about fundamental values associated with family formation, cohesiveness and dissolution, which have obvious implications for health. I reported to students my own experience of growing up in a broken home, reared by a divorced mother in an era when divorce was rare and stigmatizing, in contrast to the present time in which separation and divorce are commonplace and socially acceptable. We talked too about Canadian values, respect for human rights and dignity, tolerance, acceptance of social and cultural diversity.  I passionately believe in all the rights embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (the UN Charter) and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  When I was younger and stronger I would have been prepared to fight to defend these rights. I've supported Amnesty International financially for more than 40 years and rely on this organization and others like it to fight for me now.

I was appalled and disgusted with the blatantly cynical conduct of prime minister Harper, whose fondness for divisive political tactics has reached a new low in exploiting the worst of xenophobic - Islamophobic - impulses with regard to wearing the niqab. A woman - just one woman - wants to wear a niqab when she takes the oath of Canadian citizenship. She will, of course, have removed the niqab and duly identified herself to requisite officials before the citizenship ceremony. I believe she has the same rights as all other Canadians to dress in a manner she finds culturally comfortable during this rite of passage. To deny her this right is to deny everything Canada stands for. It would be the ultimate denial of Canadian values.  It is typical of Stephen Harper - a divide and rule leader - that he would inflame this and make this one woman's wish into an election issue that over-rides all other issues in importance. It speaks volumes about the emotion-driven thought processes of many people than opinion polls reveal the influence this otherwise irrelevant episode seems to be having on voting intentions. I weep for Canada if this becomes the deciding issue in the election.