As a graduate of an applied science faculty, I have been particularly interested in evidence-based arguments. I apply this education as best as I can, especially, seriously on major issues. This includes bringing some of that thinking to writing on criticizing war, western excesses of exceptionalism and hegemony (affecting Indians). These days, I try to bring critical and logical thinking on Khalistan separatist related extremism and terrorism in the Vancouver area of Canada where I lived and studied.
Unfortunately, my own Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, coincidentally educated at the same Canadian universities I attended and, an ex Montrealer, like myself getting a similar kind of high school education there, seems on a different planet. I believe it partly has to do with the changes going on in the last generations or so before me, especially on university campuses. Ones that may be especially reflected in Trudeau’s choice for cabinet that mirrors too much his generation, with few if any “wise elders” chosen in it or enough focus on merit – an old idea it seems. This can lead to incompetency and failed foreign policy.
In short Justin Trudeau reflects many allies of his university training well before my generation that emphasized a more give and take, evidence based discussion on the merits and substance within rational debate But now in Canada, especially with this government one is corralled to follow, too much one ‘liberal”, politically correct narrative that is far from evidence based, too often or to get seen as a political dinosaur or worse.
Beyond my own education, I also like learning of the peaceful dimension and spirituality to human and state interaction approaches from the way the Indian leadership exercises itself and from connecting into Mahatma Gandhi thought. That Gandhi, as a properly trained lawyer, no doubt saw the importance of real evidence as often critical in the pursuit of truth. It would be nice if we could see it from ex-drama teacher, Justin Trudeau the same on issues related to Khalistan.
Instead on Khalistan issues, we get platitudes or information from Trudeau that are so flimsy and vapid that they cannot be put to the test of being real evidence. Hollowness is not a good defence and you do not have to be a follower of the great Gandhi to know this. And an interesting question flowing from this: Has Trudeau even shown any real substantive appreciation of India’s tough, but fair position against terrorism that directly impacts India from Canada. The answer in short is no. This is especially dangerous as a Khalistan separatist extremist based in Canada talks up blowing up another airplane out of Canada in a deranged effort to promote a separate nation in Punjab that most Sikhs are not even interested in.
But Justin Trudeau comes more than just a generation apart from his very learned father in logic and as a top legal professorial mind steeped in the need for strong evidence and intellectual rigor. As Jordan Peterson, top best seller on personal development indicates, he seems to see a generational sea change more to politically correct, platitudinous thinking within younger generations in Canada, more but not exclusively so. Ones even more steeped in emotion and strained ideology than open positive debate of solid workable ideas.
Think this. Justin Trudeau’s father as prime minister fought so hard against Quebec separatists and those associated with it who promoted terrorism. Presumably, son Justin wants Quebec to stay in Canada and would be horrified, say theoretically if outside extremists, say in India pushed for a Republic of Quebec. But maybe that is too rational an argument for him on parallelism.
But I also wonder: Is he and too many within his generation of Canadians and even younger ones that voted or identified with him, too “indoctrinated” by a certain kind of “liberal” post-modernism education on Canadian campuses. So much so to be so politically correct that any extremists attached to a so-called perceived oppressed minority, almost gets a a near free pass from being criticized on almost anything! Think Hamas, think Khalistan extremists. This is but a question that seems to get some degree of agreement, again from ex Harvard and University of Toronto professor and top psychology clinician, Dr Jordan Peterson. So, is Trudeau and a large percent of the people of his generation he likes to have around him, too much a product of this, even large parts of the rather low 27 percent who would still vote for him? Even Fareed Zakaria, top CNN GPS host gave a recent monologue asking if rational free speech is dead in America on campuses, given how toxic debate has become. Canada is highly influenced by America.
So , for example a group perceived as exploited Ike the Palestinians, you get the lunacy of even students at Harvard University who were supporting Hamas even with its inhuman barbarity because they think Israel is so oppressive? Or did they sign that famous letter supporting Hamas out of pure ignorance, or not being responsible enough to know what they were signing. Both cases are scary.
As well, I cannot fathom all the psychology and politics behind Trudeau or such students, but it makes me worry where western democracy and discourse is going. Indians should too, as they have to face so many ugly Trudeau-like manifestations from this, geopolitically and beyond?
If people like Justin Trudeau are the best “thinkers” a supposedly serious G7 nation is represented by, India with its giants like PM Narendra Modi and his external affairs minister need to worry and remain in strong government to counter such. And further prepare the hard work ahead by the well grounded PM and his EAM and teams in dealing with such a crop of western leaders and likely more of these Trudeau types on their way? Though, more solidly domestically focussed and geopolitically rational leaders seem to also be more on their way to governing in the West. And perish the thought, not only for Indians, but if Trudeau-like types ever were to take over India as there seem some such types waiting in the wings with certain big wallet western supporters.
Peter Dash, educator and writer on geopolitics researched generational change at Harvard and was educated at LCC in Montreal, UBC and McGill.