Trudeau’s silence spoke volumes

Dear Editor:

Columnist Heather Scoffield just does not get it. She accuses Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of being silent on systemic discrimination, when the question to him was about President Donald Trump’s tactics against peaceful demonstrators in Washington (Herald, June 4).

It took Trudeau 21 seconds to find words to summarize most Canadians’ reactions to observing abusive and violent tactics so the president could get his photo-op with church and Bible.

The 21 seconds was time well spent because Trudeau was able to utter two key words: “horror and consternation.” The words were diplomatically acceptable, and may have saved Canada from new trade or other retaliation available to a U.S. president renowned for his vindictiveness.

Trudeau then went on to talk of

Canada’s own issues with racism, something the CBC reporter had not asked about.

So you see, Ms. Scoffield, the prime minister was not silent at all on the issue of “systemic inequality” (a euphemism for discrimination, I presume).

I agree with Scoffield’s sentiments. It would have been therapeutic to hear one of our leaders blast Trump for abuses of his powers, but it would not have been productive.

Trump would still be Trump, and systemic racism would still be par for the course in the United States.

Trudeau expressed Canada’s horror and consternation at events in the U.S. without ever mentioning The Donald by name, which should earn him some kind of diplomatic Academy Award.

Richard W. Hall

Penticton