babble is rabble.ca's discussion board but it's much more than that: it's an online community for folks who just won't shut up. It's a place to tell each other — and the world — what's up with our work and campaigns.
Open letter to Lawrence Cannon
January 1, 2011 - 11:32pm
Mr Cannon,
I recently read a CBC News article entitled "Haitian Leaders Must Respect Democracy: Cannon". While I whole heartedly agree with you, this statement reveals the utter hypocrisy of the Conservative Party of Canada, the Government of Canada and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under your leadership. Given Canada's prominent role in the 2004 coup d'etat ousting the democratically elected and overwhelmingly popular President Aristide, your statement is simply hollow. The Government of Canada's attitude toward Haitian democracy is clearly one of contempt. How else explain Canada's neglect of the most basic needs of a hopelessly immiserated and battered population? The Government of Canada's response to January's tragedy came not in the form of solidarity, but instead, in the consolidation of the repressive state apparatus. The government's decision to provide $44 million to the Haitian police and prison systems reveals both its complete indifference to human suffering and the true nature of Canadian involvement in Haiti. I would like to inform you that I for one am not fooled by your lofty rhetoric and demagoguery. The western powers may consider Haiti their personal play thing for the extraction of profit, but the Haitian people have other ideas. I fully support the Haitian people in their struggle for democracy and the defeat of Canadian imperialism. Signed, Indignant Rabble.ca Rouser
Well put, CM. I would fault only this idea: "$44 million to the Haitian police and prison systems reveals both its complete indifference to human suffering and the true nature of Canadian involvement in Haiti."
The nature and amount of that act, I'm afraid, reveals the fundamental direction of this government's development of policies to deal with social unrest...everywhere.