Re: “Canada commits a Trumpian error,” letter, Aug. 9.
The letter accused Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland of a “Trumpian error” in asking that Saudi Arabia respect the rights of two of its citizens.
Clearly, the author has little exposure to international affairs, for it is common for governments to speak out on the human-rights abuses of other nations, and the U.S. (pre-Donald Trump) and European nations have done this often with the Saudis. The response was an example of a new, young Saudi leader making a “Trumpian” ego-driven response.
Freeland’s statement is an example of what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated in my favourite of his quotes:
“Cowardice asks the question — is it safe? Expediency asks the question — is it politic? Vanity asks the question — is it popular? But conscience asks the question — is it right?
“And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it because it is right.”
Ms. Freeland, you make me proud.
Peter Lake
Duncan
