New Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is practicing a progressivism Americans could only dream of. His demeanor and acts are in fact what we purport to represent yet our vile politics have made us that much less.
Justin Trudeau recently appeared at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) . His speech at the release of the final TRC report showed a man willing to atone for Canada’s past injustices towards natives. An apparent Right Wing reporter in a subsequent interview asked Trudeau to respond to Canadians who do not feel any collective guilt for the sins of their ancestors. His response was plain and on point.
“I think it is natural for people to feel guilty for mistakes of past generations,” Trudeau answered. “But I don’t think we should be wallowing in it or thinking that just feeling guilty is enough. Let’s put that energy and that desire towards fixing things, towards making sure that we move forward in a constructive and productive relationship.”
Trudeau’s governing cabinet, reflects the Canadian society. His cabinet has as many women as men. It is young. And it is ethnically balanced. When asked about the balance of his cabinet, he had a simple answer. “Because it’s 2015.”
Wouldn’t it be nice if the clown cart currently running in the United States had that type of commitment to real equality and inclusiveness. Will America get a real progressive in the near future? We could.