bout de papier, Vol. 5, No. 2 (1987) — Summer 1987 // Été 1987, p. 11
The Guest Column entitled “Ethnics and Foreign Policy” in the spring 1987 issue of bout de papier, is offensive in tone and oversimplistic to the point of being prejudiced.
The column assumes that all Jews in Canada subscribe to the same views on the middle-East. This is patent nonsense. Jewish Canadians, like other Canadians, form their own opinions on both domestic and international affairs. The same is true of any other “ethnic” group. The assumption that Jewish Canadians, or Eastern European Canadians, or other Canadians not of British or French origin, automatically share a given set of views on their country of ancestral origin is bigoted. We are all human beings, capable of forming, and changing, our own views.
It is immaterial whether the Canadian Jewish Community forms 1.4%, or any other percentage of Canada’s population. An argument in favour of a given position on domestic or international affairs should be judged on the basis of merit, not on the size of the ethnic group which may have a particular interest in it. Would Mr. Lyon argue that South Africa’s apartheid policies should be only of minor concern to Canada, as only a small proportion of Canada’s population is Black?
The assumptions in the column are an active insult to Canadians of so-called “ethnic” origin who are members of the foreign service and uphold Canada’s position on various international issues in a professional manner, no matter what their personal views may be. If one were to accept the logical consequences of Mr. Lyon’s views, “ethnics” should not be allowed in the foreign service, as they all, automatically, hold “ethnic” views on international affairs, rather than “real Canadian” ones.
As PAFSO has chosen to publish this Guest Column, I request that you publish this letter, as surely Jewish and “ethnic” Canadians are entitled to a right of reply.
Martin I. Levine
I have been reading bout de papier and want to congratulate you on your new format and so forth, but particularly on the quality of the contents. Good luck!
P.M Pitfield I was delighted to have bout de papier with the article by David Wright, and the very special insert paragraph by Mitchell Sharp. Both of these articles capture the salty direct flavour that was so typical of Bruce and his career in the Canadian Foreign Service. It was good to know that he is remembered
Let me also congratulate you on the new bout de papier format. It is now a magazine of quality and sophistication and a great credit to its editor.
Mona Rankin
I greatly enjoyed the issues you sent me. They are (apart from the misprints!) first rate.
Eugene Forsey
Congratulations on the new format. bout de papier has become almost as attractive in appearance as it is in content — a first-rate magazine of Canadian diplomacy.
Mitchell Sharp
It is obvious that great care has been taken to create a new look for your magazine and I congratulate all concerned for the excellence of the writing, the artwork, and the overall professionalism of the new format. This is, indeed, a job well done.
Allan J. MacEachen Leader of the Opposition The Senate
Many congratulations on the appearance and the content of your spring issue. I have greatly enjoved the articles by my former colleagues. Best wishes for your continued success.
Escott Reid
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 5, No. 2 (1987) — Summer 1987 // Été 1987, p. 11. Read the rest of this issue →
