A Message About Humanity

 "They are very happy that the prime minister of Canada is here.  They feel elevated by his visit over here.  It's a message about humanity.  Brotherhood."
B.S. Balli, local Indian government official

 

Prime Minister Stephen Harper visits the Sikh temple of Sri Keshgarh Sahib Gurdwara in Anandpur Sahib, India on Wednesday, November 7, 2012.  Photograph by: Sean Kilpatrick , THE CANADIAN PRESS

Now that was a nice bit of diplomacy in action.  Prime Minister Stephen Harper has demonstrated his adeptness in mollifying the urgent request of a host country to assure them that Canada is aware of and resistant to radical politics that impact on the safety and security both of Canada and of any country that radicals within Canada target.  

While at the same time taking care to emphasize that radicals represent fringe minorities living in Canada, amongst a much larger contingent of Canadians originating from the same source country, and it is to the welfare of the entire expatriate and now-Canadian group that Canada places its focus on.

The Prime Minister and Laureen Harper, along with invited Indo-Canadian businessmen accompanying the delegation on the trade mission, visited the Gurdwara named Sri Keshgarh Sahib in Chandigarh, India.  Wearing a head scarf and doffing footwear in acknowledged tradition, as respect was paid to the religious beliefs of Sikhs, a large proportion of Canada's Indo-Canadian community.

Taking care to apprehend any possible radical activities on the part of a minority of Sikh fanatics is one thing, honouring the traditions of a large Canadian constituency whose presence in the country has enriched its pluralist presence and understanding and appreciation of others' heritage, quite another altogether.