One of the more interesting developments in political ideology of the last few years has been the shift of the cause of championing human rights from liberalism to conservatism. The change has gone relatively unnoticed by most pundits and commentators.
At one time, the Left claimed they were the ones who cared about human rights around the world. They were the ones protesting the brutal treatment of minorities by dictators, the afflicted, the dispossessed.
They don't seem to care as much now. In fact, they've completely abdicated the moral high ground on the issue.
This phonemomen was crystallized for me when I read this story, about how Calgary Conservative MP Jason Kenney visited the home of Zhao Ziyang, the now-deceased man fired as Communist party head in China for expressing support for pro-democracy protesters at Tiananmen Square. Kenney was in China with Paul Martin. Martin refused to visit Ziyang's house:
Martin dismissed Kenney's visit as a political stunt -- "some kind of media event."
The Calgary MP -- along with an interpreter and several Canadian reporters, but no cameras -- was allowed through a security perimeter around Zhao's home after someone from the household intervened.
"I think it's an appropriate way to express Canada's solidarity with the brave Chinese youths who gave their lives 15 years ago for the sake of democracy in this country," Kenney said afterward.
It's almost humorous to read. Liberals so often chide the Right for its supposed disregard for human rights. The most oft-cited case is Reagan's support for the contras in Nicaragua.
But now the Left has no foot to stand on. They don't care. They won't take a values-based position on anything to do with foreign policy.
Martin could have gone to visit Ziyang's place. He could have expressed sympathy for him. He didnt. It is conservatives who care about improving freedom and human liberties in China. It is conservatives who want the people of Iran freed from under the mullah's thumb. Note the Liberals handling of the Zahra Kazemi case, when they refused to take off the kid gloves after Tehran murdered one of our own citizens. Conservatives are the ones deploring dictatorial and despotic regimes everywhere. (And before anyone posts it in the comment section, yes, I'm aware the Bush administration toadies to the Saudi royal family and I think it's repulsive.)
Conservatives are today's champions of the oppressed, and it's an important shift in the political landscape.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 1:56 PM
