Even among slave owners, Robert E. Lee distinguished himself with his cruelty. And even among confederate generals, his troops distinguished themselves with their viciousness.
It’s easy (but not unfair) to malign Lee. It’s also easy to criticize the racists who waved swastikas and called for Lee’s continued veneration at the Charlottesville, Va., rally that ended in a fatal attack.
What is much harder is examining Canada’s own history and the parasitical white supremacist movement that mutates and threatens its host country.
We’ve seen it in Toronto, in Quebec City, and this Saturday we may see it in Vancouver.
It’s difficult to know what might persuade a racist to change their mind. Big words are out. Suggesting racial purity is a myth doesn’t work. Maybe all you can do is ask if nurturing bile will ever make their lives better; or their children’s lives.
But if we can’t reach the disease we can still treat the patient. We can reject racism. We can also keep a close eye on our country’s leaders.
Incidentally, we praise Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer for finally severing his relationship with The Rebel, a media outlet that provides valuable balance between views that seem racist and views that are racist.
And finally, we can rally in counter-protest. We can champion equality and mercy and debate, and ensure Canada’s future is better than its past.
A famous racist recently said there are “many sides” to this issue. We’d argue there should be only two: those who condemn racism quietly and those who condemn it at the top of their lungs. Let’s hear from both.
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