So Prime Minister Stephen Harper is going to Israel next month. That鈥檚 nice. Apparently, according to the media, who are indulging their love for stereotyping, that鈥檚 what it takes to make the Jews of Canada vote for him.
Harper will be visiting Jordan on the same trip, but I don鈥檛 hear the media saying he is courting 91原创-Jordanians. I guess we 91原创 Jews are a homogeneous lot. We all think alike, all 385,000 of us, and we are such a simple-minded people, that just one issue matters to all of us when we vote 鈥� and that is where politicians stand on Israel.
Writing in the National Post, columnist John Ivison said Harper鈥檚 visit 鈥渋s designed to seal the deal between a substantial part of the Jewish community in Canada and the Conservative party.鈥� Ivison also said that Canada鈥檚 relationship with Israel has deepened during Harper鈥檚 years in power, 鈥渋n part because the Conservatives were trying to woo the Jewish vote. A number of seats in and around Toronto have swung to the Tories, thanks to the strong alignment with Israel.鈥�
Ivison added that the Liberals have tried to win back the Jewish vote, with Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau visiting a Toronto synagogue last week 鈥渢o announce his backing for Israel and to condemn the Quebec charter of values as an attack on minorities, including Jews.鈥�
Where to begin parsing this mishmash of assumptions, which is typical of what has been appearing in the media? First of all, Justin Trudeau鈥檚 condemnation of the Quebec charter isn鈥檛 exclusively an appeal to Jews. It should ring true with anyone who cares about individual freedoms, and that category crosses all ethnic lines.
One of the more ludicrous proposals in the charter was a ban on kosher and halal food served to Jewish and Muslim children in Quebec daycares. I guess Premier Pauline Marois and her minions think those children have been deprived of the joys of ham sandwiches long enough, but this proposal should be universally condemned.
Harper and Trudeau support Israel because it鈥檚 the right thing to do. Their support cannot be dismissed as a cynical ploy for votes. If they support Israel for no more substantial reason than that they think it will garner them the Jewish vote, then they aren鈥檛 very bright and neither of them is worth voting for.
Besides, there is no Jewish vote. Letter writer Sydney Nestel said it best in the Toronto Star: 鈥淭he Jewish community is not monolithic and many, probably most, of Toronto鈥檚 Jews do not support Stephen Harper.鈥�
Harper has spoken out consistently against anti-Semitism. That, however, has not stopped him from criticizing the Israeli government for its plans for more settlements. Harper鈥檚 support for Israel is exactly as it should be, and for all the right reasons. But the pundits need to get it straight 鈥� 91原创 Jews do not necessarily vote with Israel at the top of the agenda.
As much as I care about Israel, when I go to the polls, I鈥檓 thinking about which party is more closely aligned with my views on domestic issues 鈥� health care, the economy, the environment, etc. I appreciate Harper鈥檚 support for Israel, but I鈥檓 not happy with his record on the environment. I appreciate Trudeau鈥檚 support for Israel, but I鈥檓 strongly opposed to the legalization of marijuana.
News flash to the media: People of British origin are not the only 91原创s who demonstrate individuality and diversity of thought. Those of us who belong to ethnic groups are not a homogeneous bloc, nor are we so simplistic as to say: 鈥淕ee, the prime minister is going to Israel. That鈥檚 it, he鈥檚 got my vote! No further thought needed.鈥�
Pundits, give minorities a little credit for having some intelligence, OK? Otherwise, please address the dilemma facing us for the 2015 federal election. Trudeau and Harper will have both visited Israel, and NDP Leader Tom Mulcair鈥檚 in-laws are Holocaust survivors, making him in his own words, 鈥渁n ardent supporter of Israel in all instances and circumstances.鈥�
Everyone鈥檚 for Israel? Oh dear, we Jews will never be able to figure out whom to vote for now.
