Thank You Paul Martin

I was very happy the day that the Rt. Hon. Paul Martin named Roméo Dallaire to the Senate. I thought that Dallaire was an excellent choice, a non-partisan with undeniable credibility to speak to issues of international human rights and genocide. I still think that he was an excellent choice.

I'm also a big fan of super-partisan senators like the late Royce Frith, but that's a post for another time...

The reason why I post about Senator Dallaire today is because of some undeserved coverage in the Toronto Star. Dallaire has made a perfectly reasonable argument - that international law must apply to all countries, and that the credibility of those who champion human rights is damaged when their home countries allow those rights to be violated.

The author of the Star piece, however, ran with the title "Dallaire compares U.S. actions to those of terrorists." And that would be a perfectly good, inflammatory, anti-american, copy-selling, attention-grabbing title - except for one thing. At no point is Dallaire quoted using the word "terrorist."

So, Michelle Shephard of the Toronto Star, the next time someone asks you why there isn't a substantive debate in this country on any subject political, you can point to your article here. You've taken an old man's reasonable plea that Canada should support human rights and international law in the world, and you've twisted it to be nonsensical. "Terrosists?" Really? Did he compare George Bush to Osama bin Laden? Hardly.

And the next time someone argues to me that the Senate must be obliterated, I'll remind them about Senator Dallaire. Appointed by Prime Minister Martin, he'll stand up for international law and human rights, even if the Canada's New Government won't.

Félicitations, Général.