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Blog of Adam Daifallah -- author, journalist, law student. Lover of politics, writing, golf, curling, fitness, fashion, bacon and maple products -- not necessarily (but probably) in that order. Partisan of the Anglosphere. Contact me via email at adam@daifallah.com. This summer I am joined by Keir Wilmut and Omar Soliman.
Saturday, November 01, 2003
Amiel's brilliance
The always awesome Barbara Amiel (aka Lady Black) has a very thought-provoking article in Maclean's on uniting the right. She is a such a clear thinker, I only wish I could write even 10% as well as she does. The cental thesis of the piece is that issues like gay marriage and marijuana legalization should not preoccupy the new Conservative Party -- rather, it should focus on the bigger picture. Agree with her or not, she makes valid points:
In so far as they are active in creating an alternative agenda to the left, the enthusiasm of Canada's new right is reserved for the grotty issues of social conservatism. These include objections to same sex marriages and a determination to retain criminalization of simple possession of marijuana. Issues like this have no resonance with a majority of Canadians and, more importantly, whichever way they are decided, have nothing to do with making Canada a better or more prosperous country.
In a society where a printer can be ordered by the state's "human rights" institutions to provide a product that goes against his conscience at the risk of curtailment of his livelihood, battling changes in social mores or opposing some types of popular entertainment, as today's social conservatives do, is wanton blindness. Far more important is the resurrection of respect for individual sovereignty (such as the right to bring up one's children the way you choose), and the liberty to contract, run your business or dispose of your property the way you want. The recent B.C. Supreme Court decision overturning a will of deceased parents that favoured one child over the other (the court simply voided the will and divided the estate 50-50 between the two children) is a flagrant example of the statist corruption of family law.
For the past 30 years, dirigistes and statism have had a stranglehold on the Grits. Were I young, I'd consider that recapturing the Liberal party for liberalism is more important than forging a New Right. But that's because my instincts are small-L liberal and not conservative. Meanwhile, a split right is the worst of all worlds. The exit of Joe Clark & Co., together with all their bell-bottomed, magic mushroom folderol about "inclusiveness" and "diversity" that actually excluded anything but threadbare ideas of the soft left, may make the daunting task of rebuilding conservatism for Conservatives possible -- even in the current folderol that is Canada.
I love that word, folderol.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 12:03 PM
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