Dear Editor;
Is it just me, or are there double standards in Canada for the acceptance of an apology?
Five years ago, native leader David Ahenakew apologized for some bad things he said about Jews. Yes, he did call them a disease. So the question is, was his apology accepted in a spirit of forgive and forget, or was it just so many words blowing in the wind?
Recently native groups have asked Mr. Ahenakew to again take his seat in their councils. Surprisingly, that invitation was proof enough Mr. Ahenakew’s apology has never been accepted and never will be by the powers that be in Canada.
We know that because the Wall government in Saskatchewan and the Harper government in Ottawa immediately bristled right up with threats to withhold any funding for native groups if they should reinstate Mr. Ahenakew into a leadership position.
Now, fast forward to 2008, Federal M.P. Tom Lukiwski from Saskatchewan has been exposed as having called a definable group in society as a ‘bunch of faggots that transmit diseases”. Mr. Lukiwski, is now in a position much like Mr. Ahenakew. So the question should be – why is Mr. Lukiwski being treated different than Mr. Ahenakew?
Prime Minister Harper jumped to the defense of Mr. Lukiwski, saying he has apologized, so all is forgiven and the case is closed, and no, he will not be removed from his position in government.
Could it be that David Ahenakew is being treated differently because he is Indian?
Henry Neufeld
Waldeck, Sask.