Open letter to Green Party Leader Elizabeth May:
Your “address” at the recent press dinner was not your finest hour, a pity given that you have performed your duties and responsibilities as an MP admirably, respectfully and honourably to this point.
Why you did not show the same character on this occasion probably stunned and shocked almost everyone - supporters and detractors alike. Is that what you are really like away from the decorum and discipline of Parliament?
Your closing outburst at the press conference particularly defied my understanding. You said, “Omar Kadr has more class than the whole Conservative cabinet.” Really? Perhaps you may want to reconsider your words given that you showed no class at all, yet surprisingly, Tony Clement, a cabinet minister, and the other MPs CBC interviewed for The National showed a great deal of class and forbearance by refusing to criticize you when asked for their opinion of your speech.
As for your support for Omar Kadr, perhaps a certain compassion is warranted given his age and his circumstances of having been raised by Canada’s first family of terror, but give me a break - you really think Omar Kadr has class? No way! Even at 15, Omar knew very well what he was doing was wrong and evil, but he did it anyway.
He willingly joined and supported the Taliban terrorists in their campaign of rape, murder, hacking off of limbs, throwing acid in the faces of young girls who dared to go to school, planting improvised explosive devices which killed civilians and soldiers alike. And yes, he may also have participated in some of the actions which killed Canadian soldiers in addition to the American soldiers he killed and wounded for which he went to Guantanamo.
Omar has not apologized for any of it nor renounced those he once ran with and their warped ideology. Now he is out on bail and he is still trying to sue Canada for $20 million because we supposedly mistreated him? If he is truly sorry and reformed, let him say so and let him drop his suit. If and when he does, perhaps in showing remorse he may also be said to have shown “class.” Until then, he has none.
Your inference that the members of the cabinet, which is being rightly diligent in its responsibility for ensuing public safety and rightly concerned that Omar may not be such a “class act” as you deem him to be, are somehow of lesser character than Omar is outrageous. Your comment was also highly disrespectful of our veterans and their families and their sacrifices in Afghanistan.
Perhaps your ill-considered speech was but a temporary lapse of judgement. Let us hope so.
Rick Tone
Whitehorse