THE DONALD TRUMP TEST
Canadians should take a stand
Good on Kathleen Wynne for calling out Donald Trump as dangerous for Canada. It’s nice to see her tell it like it is — to borrow a favourite phrase from Trump’s fans.
What Wynne appears to recognize is that Trump isn’t just a candidate. He is a test.
A test of character. A test of moral bearing. And a test that we should welcome. Because Trump represents an opportunity to measure ourselves in ways that come along rarely. In ways that are permanent and pure. Trump offers us an opportunity to be on the right side of history.
Perhaps, like me, you had a great uncle who served in the Second World War. Perhaps you think of him each Nov. 11 and, in that moment of remembrance, find yourself wondering: What would I have done? Would I have rushed to volunteer for service? Would I have picked up a rifle, put my life on the line and risked becoming a Nazi POW for two years — as my uncle did? Am I as good and strong and true as that?
Or perhaps you think of the 22,000 Japanese-Canadians who were stripped of their rights and sent to internment camps that were little more than barbedwire prisons. Camps where they remained until four years after the war was won. Today, we condemn that decision as incomprehensible. But if you’re like me — Anglo-Saxon and white as a bathroom sink — don’t you sometimes ask: How would I have reacted? In those times and in that temper? Would I have been courageous and voiced objection?
Truthfully, it’s hard to know. When it comes to being on the right side of history, we all like to imagine that we would choose well. But it’s impossible to be sure.
Until now. Trump gives us that chance. He gives us a chance to take a stand against all that he stands for — a brand of politics so poisonous and an ad lib of ideas so corrosive that they can only be described as flat wrong and, as Wynne observes, dangerous.
Before people begin gasping about ill-advised Second World War allusions, let’s be clear that no one need reach for the Hitler comparison. Trump can be flat wrong and dangerous without being labelled a Nazi.
It is flat wrong and dangerous to label 1.6 billion Muslims as enemy combatants unworthy of entry into the United States — as Trump did just this week.
It is flat wrong and dangerous to characterize an entire nation of people as inherently criminal and untrustworthy — as Trump has said repeatedly of Mexicans.
It is flat wrong and dangerous to celebrate and incite violence against those with whom you disagree.
It is flat wrong and dangerous to polemicize, demonize and outright lie in order to excite hatreds and drum up votes — as Trump does with each public appearance.
It is, therefore, flat wrong and dangerous to duck the test of Trump. To not stand loudly against his bigotry, vanity, absurdity and vulgarity. In opposing Trump, we can join our relatives who went to war and those who stood bravely in defence of minority rights. We can count ourselves among those whom, when given the chance, landed on the right side of history.
America will take this test at the ballot box. But Canada can take it, also.
Typically, the Canadian prime minister is careful to avoid expressing preference during a U.S. presidential election. It is thought to be undiplomatic. It’s their decision, not ours — and we wouldn’t appreciate American interference if things were reversed. It is also seen as unwise. We must work with whoever wins and do our best with that administration to protect Canadian interests. That is the typical logic.
But this is no typical election. And Donald Trump is no typical candidate.
A Trump presidency would be a triumph of anger over reason and prejudice over practicality. It would be a disaster for the United States. And what is a disaster for the United States is an even more certain disaster for Canada.
As both a moral imperative and an expression of strategic national interest, Prime Minister Trudeau should break with convention and take an unqualified position on the U.S. presidential election. His words must be considered far more carefully than any provincial premier. But he should still openly oppose Trump’s candidacy. Not only because Trump is flat wrong and dangerous. But because he would be bad for Canada.
Such a move would draw criticism as unwanted meddling. Trump would bellow. Perhaps it would even fuel his raging gang of anti-everythings. Trudeau should do it anyway. To stand by silently and feign agnosticism would be ridiculous and dishonest. If we can express a view on Britain’s future in Europe, surely we can object to placing the world’s most powerful economy and largest nuclear arsenal in the hands of an unserious, intemperate demagogue.
It could even help. If Trudeau led the way, perhaps other world leaders would follow suit, making it clear that the community of nations regards Trump as a threat to international order, global commerce and collective security. Maybe that would be enough to swing some votes. Maybe even enough to make a difference.
No matter. We should take a stand either way. Even if Canada lacks a vote, we should raise our voice. Because Trump isn’t just a candidate. He’s a test. And we should not miss this chance to be marked.