A number of my Arab friends have expressed disappointment at the lack of involvement of the Palestinian, Arabs and Muslim community in standing up for Palestinian rights and generally defending their own interests in Canada. I’ve often excused them saying that other Canadians for the most part suffer from the same disease and  that perhaps Arabs/Muslims and Palestinians in Canada have good reason to fear being active in the post  9/11 world,  especially since the election of the Harper regime in 2006.

But it is time to stop making excuses for the Arab and Muslim Community.

On April 20, I attended an information session on the election organized by the Egyptian community at the Walter Baker Centre.  The event was not an all candidates’ debate as it was difficult to get Conservative candidates to participate in debates this election. There was a representative from NDP (Marlene Rivier), two from the Green party (Paul Maillette and Jean-Luc Cooke), two Liberal candidates (Ryan Keon and Anita Vandenbeld) and the Conservative candidate from Ottawa-Vanier (Rem Westland).   The Conservative candidate for Nepean-Carleton, in which the Walter Baker Centre is located did not show up, neither did John Baird of the adjoining riding of Ottawa West-Nepean.

As tends to be the case with events organised by the Arab community, the event started late. A full 45 minutes late due to last minute installation of the sound system. There were numerous technical difficulties in the first 30 minutes of the event.  In spite of the late start, there was a 20 minute break after which the six candidates were each given five minutes or so to introduce themselves.  By the time the questions started in earnest it was 8:30 p.m.  The event was scheduled to end at 9:30 and there were five multi-part questions for each candidate. The questions covered the economy, fiscal responsibility, the F-35 purchase, security certificates, health care and Canada’s role on the world stage.

The contrast between these two events led me to deep reflection in the days that followed and to the dramatic realization that I could not help people who would not help themselves.

It was close to 10 p.m. before the floor was opened to questions from the audience. To the annoyance of the organizers, one audience member walked up to the stage with a stuffed toy and  put in the chair reserved for Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative candidate who had not bothered to show up for the event in his own riding.  This criticism of Mr. Poilievre was much deserved but left the audience mute.

Finally, I got to ask the question that I had planned to ask the incumbent Conservative candidate, Pierre Poilievre.  Since he was not there, I directed my question to Mr. Westland.  My question was: “In 2006, Stephen Harper described Israel’s three-week long attack on Lebanon as a measured response to a minor border dispute on the Lebanese border.  More recently, Stephen Harper has stated that he would defend Israel whatever the cost. Since it was first elected in 2006, the Harper government has refused to meet with representatives of the Canadian Arab Federation and the Canadian Islamic Congress.  What can you say here tonight that would show that you or your party have any regard for the rights and the lives of Arabs and Muslims in Canada or throughout the world?”

Mr. Westland launched into a response about supporting democracies, and countries with values like ours.  He said that if his daughters wanted to live in the Middle East, they would likely go to a country that is more like ours. That’s just normal, he said.  The country remained unnamed but it was clear he was talking about Israel.

My question received loud applause but Mr. Westland’s answer did not address the issue of access to the government for the representatives or the Arab and Muslim communities, did not express regret for the loss of lives or any concern for balance. His answer was clearly racist in that it relegated people who are not “like us” to a lower class of humanity.  Stunningly, this answer did not elicit one single cry of shame, not even a soft snicker from the 95 per cent Arab and Muslim audience. Is it too much to ask even a few Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims to express some disapproval in some way in the face such an abhorrent comment?  What Mr. Westland said was that because Israelis are more like us (in his opinion) they should have our support and justice and international law be damned. I had to boo his obscene response myself.  I simply could not allow it to stand unchallenged.

The next evening, I attended an all candidates’ debate in Orleans that made me proud to be Canadian.   For the most part, the only people who applauded Royal Galipeau, the Conservative in that riding appeared to be his followers who were grouped together. Some people snickered, sighed and giggled after his answer to the first question of the debate. The moderator asked the audience to refrain from such behaviour but it continued throughout the evening.  It was not disruptive or partisan. People applauded the Green candidate as well as the Liberal candidate but they did not allow themselves to be taken for fools or sit quietly without expressing disapproval.

The contrast between these two events led me to deep reflection in the days that followed and to the dramatic realization that I could not help people who would not help themselves. After eight years of daily activism on the Palestinian issue, with minimal and decreasing involvement from the Palestinian, Arab and Muslim community, it is time to move on.

I realize that there is probably some fear, even justified fear of activism on Palestine since the rise to power of the Harper regime but mostly it seems that most Arabs are incapable of determining priorities, thinking strategically, dedicating time and money and getting anything done. Until the Palestinian, Arab and Muslim communities decide to commit the time and effort needed to organize and assert themselves and to influence hearts, minds and public policy in Canada, there is little that I or the larger Canadian community can do for them.

I will be refocusing my effort on the Harper regime and Canadian democracy in the coming years.

The author is an Ottawa-based community activist. She can be reached at reached at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ■