Justin Trudeau could teach our politicians a thing or two
As one watches Justin Trudeau, the newly elected Prime Minister of Canada, one cannot help but feel a sense of envy as we yearn for his US clone. Trudeau was elected in a landslide in which his Liberal Party took absolute control of the government.
In the process of selecting his governing structure, Justin Trudeau ensured that his cabinet reflect the Canadian society. His cabinet is young and ethnically balanced. It breaks down 50% women, 50% men. When asked about the balance of his cabinet, he had a simple answer. “Because it’s 2015.” Wouldn’t it be nice if the clown cart currently running in the United States had that type of commitment to real equality and inclusiveness.
Justin Trudeau recently addressed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) The TRC is a component of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. Its mandate is to inform all Canadians about what happened in Indian Residential Schools (IRS). He released a statement where he reiterated Canada’s apology to its native peoples.
Most touching however was his speech at the release of the final TRC report. He showed a man willing to atone for all that Canada had done to the natives. In a subsequent interview, an apparent Right Wing reporter asked him to respond to Canadians who do not feel any collective guilt for the sins of their ancestors. His response was prescient. It was the response one expects from a thinking liberal/progressive.
“I think it is natural for people to feel guilty for mistakes of past generations,” Trudeau answered. “But I don’t think we should be wallowing in it or thinking that just feeling guilty is enough. Let’s put that energy and that desire towards fixing things, towards making sure that we move forward in a constructive and productive relationship.”
There are many questions in America as it relates to the damage effected on the middle-class, the damage effected on minorities, the damage effected on women, the damage effected on those of other religions, that could be answered in a similar manner. If that were done in America, it would lay the path to a reconciliation in both our economy, societal relationships, and much more.
We should all yearn for someone that displays the steadfastness, strength, and humility of the new Canadian Prime Minister. Unfortunately only one candidate in the entire bipartisan field seem to fit the bill. The question is whether Americans will choose to elect that candidate.