Don’t focus on ‘accidents of birth’

RE: ACTING IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL (DEC. 19)

This letter writer advocates for inclusiveness and diversity as they relate to ethnicity, race and sexual orientation and for that I applaud her. Her views however are not new or unique. But something important has changed: it appears that the rights of one group are now impossible unless the rights of another are usurped. For too many, opportunities for women can only be realized if opportunities for men are curtailed; promotion of people of colour is only possible by discriminating against whites; peace for Palestinian Muslims can only come through war with Israeli Jews. Why is punishment suddenly a requirement? Isn’t this a definition of divisiveness?

This author seems to suggest that Canada is a hornet’s nest of hate and bigotry but in fact Canada is one of the most diverse and free countries in the world, an example to the many tyrannical states that still practice grave human rights violations including misogyny, racism, religious intolerance and homophobia or that threaten other countries with war. Canada’s vast diversity is visible everywhere, in government, schools, hospitals, campuses, malls and even the local park.

We need to stop focusing on accidents of birth as a gauge of social worth lest we become an ever increasing country of factions all vying for special privileges. Steven Scheffer, Burlington