Articles | Book Reviews | Education
The Rights Revolution
The Rights Revolution, Michael Ignatieff and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2000 AD, 160 pages, Anansi Press, Toronto, Canada
While browsing the shelves of Toronto's Bay Street Indigo Bookstore, this book caught my attention. Ignatieff's presentation of the five lectures of "The 2000 CBC Massey Lectures Series" met my interest, enhanced my understanding of the unique Canadian contribution in the rights revolution and made me proud to be a Canadian (for reasons other than that of the American-style Molson's ad 'I am a Canadian'). Having been introduced earlier to Ignatieff's books "Virtual War" and "Blood and Belonging" his excellent writing skills as a Canadian-born historian were beyond question.
This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to read the daily newspaper with an informed understanding and a critical eye. Ignatieff's presentation of the larger picture of Canada and other nations in the rights revolution is most helpful to understand how Canada is uniquely different from the more imperialistic United States and Western European nations. The reader learns how Canada's contribution to shape this revolution has happened during their life time. The rights revolution began with the proclamation of the Canadian written "Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 (United Nations)."
Canada's contribution to the rights revolution grew out of its own struggles and unique history of being a nation of different people trying to live together peacefully. The struggles within Canada, i.e. the First Nations, the Quebecois, the women, the gay male and lesbian communities, the children and other minorities, formed our nation. In Canada, rights have shaped all major arguments "from the conduct of family life to fairness on Parliament Hill".. In Canada, we are unique among nations. Canada could conceivably dissolve as a nation with no gun fired or bomb thrown. The justices have already drafted legislation to guide a peaceful dissolution if that should ever be Canada's destiny.
Canada is very different from the United States or Western Europe. Canada has always tried to accommodate all people regardless of religion and more recently regardless of race. As Ignatieff states, "rights are not enough but it can help". Rights help us to turn towards negotiating rather than fighting. The more imperialist US 'rights narcissism' leads to a melting pot accommodation that has "nothing to learn from anybody else". Rights respect people's differences and create reciprocities that are the very bedrock of community'.
To believe in rights is to believe in defending differences. Balancing rights develop just communities where there is room for everyone. That makes Canada unique among nations. This reality ensures a place for the Christian, the Muslim, the Hindu, or the Sikh and others to worship and live their faith. The peace that Canada enjoys is a dynamic and an engaging peace that will never be without struggle as various communities seek their rights. Rights force one to appreciate that others or opposing sides also have some validity that needs to be considered. It does not allow for the imperialist model where the strongest -Christian, Muslim, or atheist - takes control.
If we understand Ignatieff's analysis correctly we are beyond the day where our critique of Canadian society as being relativistic loses its punch. People have the right to be different in what they believe. It is mandatory to allow people the right to choose whom they will worship or serve. It may not be the Christian way that people choose, but it is just to give people the right to choose to make healthy or unhealthy decisions so long as they do not jeopardize the rights of others. Or as we sometimes say, what good for the goose is good for the gander.
The five lectures highlight "democracy and the rights revolution", engage the reader in the provocative chapter on "human rights and human differences", provides a pictorial image of the tensions of individual and group rights using the "pool table or the patchwork quilt", and probes the issues of intimacy, family life, and rights and nationalism in the closing chapters. This book equips the reader with a richer understanding of the issues of today since we are all partners in the ongoing rights revolution. This reality calls for mutual respect that fosters negotiation rather than war or condemnation.
Rev. John De Vries
Posted by editor on September 30, 2003 10:05 AM