Reason No. 217 Why an Ambassador for Religious Freedom is a Silly Idea
I just about fell off my chair when the Globe & Mail’s Tuesday editorial actually suggested that a suitable first task for newly minted Religious Freedom Ambassador Bennett would be an inspection tour of Tibet:
Sending the freshly minted ambassador would surely anger China, a major Canadian trading partner. But if the Harper government’s much-touted initiative on religious freedom is to have credibility, it should accept this challenge.
Without even touching the fact that the Harper government has obviously lost whatever interest it once had in challenging the totalitarian dictatorship in Beijing, this proposal betrays a startling amount of ignorance about how diplomacy works. Contrary to the dreamy imaginings of the people who supported the creation of this office, Canada’s Religious Freedoms Ambassador can’t just wander the globe at will, stirring up trouble.
The notion that an ambassador would visit a country against its will in order to inspect its internal affairs is asinine. What’s even worse is that the “Religious Freedom Ambassador” isn’t actually an ambassador in the technical sense. He’s not accredited to China, or anywhere else. For all intents and purposes, he’s just a private citizen with a fancy badge until China says otherwise.
This discussion is also an entirely moot point. Shortly after it published this editorial, the Globe dazzled its readers with up-to-the-minute news that the Chinese government has told our actual ambassador in Beijing that he is not allowed to visit Tibet. If our actual ambassador to China isn’t allowed to visit Tibet, it’s a safe bet that our fake ambassador won’t be allowed to either.
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G.J.W.
Isn’t Communist China the country Harper permitted, to set up shop on our Canadian soil?
Harper declared himself a devout Christian, who prays for guidance every day. Harper is a Christian Fundamentalist from way back. Anyone with a lick of sense knew, this Religious Freedom would never work. Tibet is only one country. There are religions already at each others throats. One religion is getting more attention, than the other religions.
In Afghanistan, there is Muslim against Muslim and tribe against tribe. There is ethnic cleansing, around the globe. Let us see Mr. Religion Ambassador, try and fix those religion problems. How about Africa?
Among the many stupid things Harper has done. This is one of his more stupid ventures.
me-me-me-its-all-about-me
A stupid idea.
Put forward by a stupid government.
Commented upon by a stupid newspaper.
spartikus
This is the same HarperGov that loses its shit whenever a UN official makes a report on Canada. And they actually have that right.
jrkrideau
I take it that the G&M does not realize that the Tibet situation is an ethnic/national issue only somewhat complicated by religion?
I guess while the new ambassador is in China he can go talk to Uighurs in the Xinxiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Much the same situation there, although the Uigars are mainly Muslim but that should not matter.
Sixth Estate
Yes, I’m sure the Chinese would be delighted to have him do both visits in a single trip.