“Tamil protesters, yes. George Galloway? Keep out.”

“Tamil protesters, yes. George Galloway? Keep out.”
–Andrew Potter, Maclean’s Apr.27th


Mr. Potter writes that “if these (Tamil) protesters were, say, Palestinians in support for Hamas, we’d be far less tolerant”. Maybe so, but I am not sure you can equate Tamils in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) with Palestinians. However, they have one thing in common: “suicide bombers” and terrorism, though I have not heard of Tamils plotting to assassinate our government leaders, or blow up our railways or any other Canadian institutions.

I think most reasonable Canadians reject both groups behaviour, but it would likewise be within the law if Palestinian immigrants here wanted to peacefully demonstrate in support of Hamas, or Afghans supporting the Taliban for that matter. To paraphrase Voltaire, “I don’t agree with their beliefs or behaviour, but I will defend their right to protest.”

Where I draw the line, however, is at Mr Potter’s analogy and juxtaposition of Tamil protesters, who are mostly Canadian citizens, or at least landed immigrants, with Mr. Galloway, who is a foreign demagogue and rabble-rouser. We have no obligations whatsoever, to allow this self-promoting, aggrandizing political agitator to use our home as his pulpit.