Canadian Politician Uses the c Word
If Canadians are quiet people, apparently creationism is at least one subject that pumps their blood. Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory called down a firestorm when he suggested evolution was "still called [a] theory"--and said he was open to creationism being taught under the Conservative plan of opting private (aka Christian) schools into Canada's public school system. A few hours later his party clarified their position. Er, creationism should not be taught in science class. Tory is on the provincial election campaign trail for a seat in Toronto's Don Valley West, where he's running against the incumbant Education Minister Kathleen Wynne.
Liberal [see below] columnist Colby Cosh believes Tory has immolated himself with his comments and already lost the election. Is it all that bad in Canada? Here in the States half of our citizens doubt Darwinism already. The Star asked Canadians what they thought of teaching creationism in Ontario schools and got these responses.
Daniel James Devine
Correction: Colby Cosh is not a liberal, but assures me he is not offended I mistakenly called him one. He says via email,
"Libertarian" (with a small L) is the correct terminology. Our crowd is always happy to think of ourselves as 19th-century liberals, as Hayek and other major figures insisted on being called. Canadians are still not used to hearing about "libertarians"; it would be right, in fact, to say that it is as much a minority position here as creationism is (or more so).
. . . and . . .
Creationism has a problem in Canada that has nothing to do with its merits or defects, which is that it is seen as an American idea (it's hard to see what else one would call it) and thus activates powerful nationalistic antibodies in the political bloodstream.
An American idea? Hmm . . . will have to work on the image thing.
Daniel James Devine
in People In the News
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Reader Comments (6)
"Liberal columnist Colby Cosh'?
Have you read any of his columns? Seen his blog?
A little journalistic detective work next time might not make your arguments more valid.
Yeah, calling the Coshmeister a "liberal" (either small-l or large-L) is a lot like calling the Pope a Moslem.
IIRC, he's more like a libertarian. A Canadian libertarian, if you can get your head around the concept.
Greg:
Thanks for pointing that out. The column I linked to above was the first thing I've read by Cosh. His criticism of Tory and the overall tone of the piece led me to believe he was not conservative--and I naturally, if a bit hastily, concluded what Americans would call the opposite. Incidentally, I meant "liberal" with a lowercase l, as I'm not familiar with the Canadian Liberal Party position. In that lowercase sense, aren't Libertarians liberal in some distinct ways?
Anyway, thanks. Nice name.
Yes, the political climate really is that different up in Canada. Back in the 2000 election the Canadian Alliance party leader, Stockwell Day, was a young-earth creationist. His opponents ridiculed him for it, and it's generally agreed that it damaged his campaign.
The Canadian federal and provincial Liberal parties are centre-left, except for the British Columbia Liberals, who are rightish.
Daniel James Devine writes:
"...aren't Libertarians liberal in some distinct ways?"
Yeah, but in other distinct ways, they're conservative, and in still others, they sorta defy the bipolar classification scheme of liberal vs. conservative, or right vs. left.
I like to think of them as "grown-ups." 8^>
I suspect that you may need to get with the socon v. fiscalcon v. libertarian meme.
Cosh likes science. Real science that, well, scientists do. Which means he tends to look at the antics of people like John Tory (as they rush to embrace the multi-cult relativism which the bien pensant so admire) with a slightly jaundiced eye.
There are quite a few of us who see such silliness as the abdication of intelligent people's obligation to promote the ideals of the Enlightenment and to reject superstition and quackery. Unfortunately, Mr. tory seems to think embracing the delights of the 7th century will get him elected. I fear he is gravely mistaken.
Almost as mistaken as our own Stephan Dion as he embraces the quasi scientific tar baby of Kyoto.