The many tongues of Canada: Official languages and social integration

-Jared Milne- Language has been controversial in Quebec for decades. Francophone Quebecers have complained about people not using French on signs or in business. Its language law, Bill 101, was implemented in part to require the use of French on signs and in business. Now, similar problems are occurring in other Canadian provinces. The B.C.…

Renaming will not lead to reconciliation

-Jared Milne- This article was submitted to The Tête-à-Tête as part of a Discussion on inclusivity, free speech, and identity politics. Several years ago, the St. Albert Gazette ran a letter from a resident who said that the statue of Father Albert Lacombe erected outside the St. Albert Catholic Parish Church should be taken down. He argued…

The most effective social justice movements focus on the distribution of empathy and the creation of wealth

This article is part of a Discussion on inclusivity, free speech, and identity politics. Like Matt, I am drawn to approach the politically charged topic of social justice, inclusivity and identity politics by asking what approaches to achieving greater equity, peace and prosperity are the most effective. My hope is that focusing on effectiveness will allow me to…

Culture Wars: appropriation vs. inclusion, and why it matters

–Niya Bajaj- This article is part of a Discussion on inclusivity, free speech, and identity politics. In The Closing of the American Mind Allan Bloom argued “Cultures fight wars with one another…Cultures have different perceptions, which determine what the world is. They cannot come to terms…The very idea of culture carries with it a value: man needs…

Is America about to have its ‘Le Pen’ moment?

Donald Trump is a bigot and a racist. What some may once have been able to dismiss as just a few gaffes – caused by an affinity for shock value and a lack of ability to think before one speaks – is now an established pattern that, as some commentators have noted, accurately fits the…

The end of corruption and the rise of obstruction

Is there such a thing as too little corruption or too much anti-corruption? High levels of transparency and low levels of corruption in government and the private sector are critical to the stability of a democratic society. Even the appearance of corruption is known to erode public trust and social cohesion. As a result, populist…