Would this move give a boost to anti-semitism?
A large number of ethnocultural organizations are petitioning the Prime Minister. All represent cultures that have suffered genocide. They’re asking him to deny funding to the proposed Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg unless it abandons the idea of a single Holocaust Centre at the Museum.
It seems perfectly logical to the protesters that a museum bearing such a name should speak out against all forms of genocide — everywhere. After all, murder is murder whether it’s in an Auschwitz gas chamber, Armenia in 1915, on the steppes of Ukraine or in the killing fields of Rwanda.
Many Canadian Muslims, Jews and Christians are doing their best to encourage interfaith dialogue. Their aim is to preserve harmony among all citizens. in spite of certain acts of intolerance that regrettably remain with us.
Among the ugliest of incidents have been the growing acts of anti-Semitic vandalism in Canada. The Asper family whose dream has been the creation of the Human Rights Museum would do well to consider that insistence on a single Holocaust commemoration will further fan the flames of intolerance.
And Harper also should take this into account if he values the future of multiculturalism in this country.
April 1st, 2006 at 8:21 am
I agree, Ben, that government funding should only be extended to a Human Rights Museum that presents many genocide stories, not just one. The story of the Beothuk people would be a good one to include, for example.
April 2nd, 2006 at 5:16 am
Yes, Bill
How easy it is to forget our own crimes agaist humanity, although strictly speaking, Newfoundland was not part of Canada at that time. While we may and should express disgust at the practices of other nations, let us not forget our own sins of commission and omission.
As long as genocide is practised anywhere, it must be condemned, as indeed must the prejudices that cen eentally lead to such crimes against humanity.
Ben Viccari