Trudeau on Muslim prayer in schools: Canadians have to move ‘beyond mere tolerance towards acceptance’
Acceptance. Acceptance of Sharia supremacists brutalizing women who don’t wear hijab. Acceptance of rampant female genital mutilation. Acceptance of never knowing when you leave your house if you will return, or be the latest casualty of the latest jihad massacre. Acceptance. Surrender.
“Trudeau: Canadians have to move ‘beyond mere tolerance towards acceptance’”, CIJ News, April 19, 2017:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has recently weighed in on the heated debate over the Friday prayers for Muslim students in public schools in the Peel District School Board (PDSB).
Trudeau reiterated that Canadians should behave “beyond tolerance towards acceptance and friendship” with other fellow citizens from all faiths and cultures. In this regard, Trudeau said the following (CBC report – 04:23-04:41):
We of course need to continue to work to ensure that everyone understands that respecting the neighbors, that moving beyond mere tolerance towards acceptance and friendship is the path that Canada needs to continue on.
Speaking with reporters in Sudbury, Ont, on August 22, 2016, after attending a two-day retreat with members of his cabinet, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau presented his belief in multiculturalism based on a tolerant approach towards other cultures and choices individuals are making in accordance to their faith.
The following is Trudeau’s answer to a question regarding the integration of Muslims in the Canadian society (originally in French):
“There are countries in the world where tolerance is essential. You have to be tolerant towards your neighbors. I think in Canada we should go beyond tolerance, being tolerant is accepting some people, but you don’t want to be too bothered, but you have to have an openness, comprehension, understanding, and this is what do we are aiming for, this is what we see every day when we see diverse communities enriched by their communities. This is what they have to aim for. Obviously there are small controversies here and there. We will continue to have those, but I think that the respect for rights and the choices of individuals has to be central to our public debate.”
To watch the press conference click here.In a videotaped message, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invites Canadians to watch CBC’s series “Canada: The Story of Us” which “packs more than 400 years of Canadian history” and “presents “Canada’s history as you’ve never seen it before.”
The following is Trudeau’s message as posted by CBC on March 27, 2017:
“Welcome. Tonight, and throughout the series, we meet some of the extraordinary women and men who’ve shaped our country’s unique character. Perhaps no country has been as successful in finding its strength through cooperation and its identity through acceptance and respect. For generations, we’ve come together, bridging cultures and communities to seek a more hopeful future for all. And that’s not to say Canada’s history is perfect. It’s not. There are dark chapters in our past that we’ve only begun to confront. But today we recognize the responsibilities inherited from past generations and entrusted to us by future ones. We know our success is built upon decades of hard work and rooted in Canada’s diversity. And we know that a strong, prosperous nation can be as united as it is diverse. I hope that, like me, you’ll be inspired by these heroic Canadians so that together we can write the next chapter in the Great Canadian Story.”
In his traditional greeting to the Reviving the Islamic Spirit in Toronto (December 23-25, 2016), Prime Minister Justin Trudeau commended the Muslim community for its contributions to Canada, reiterated his commitment to combat Islamophobia and politics of hate and division and said that Islam shares Canadian values of empathy, generosity, acceptance and respect.
The following is the transcript of Trudeau’s statement…
“Thank you for this opportunity to share a few words with you. This year, we celebrate our 150 anniversary which is a testament to the dedication and hard work of many organizers and volunteers. Today, we come together as friends celebrating common values that unite us all, values like empathy, generosity, acceptance and respect. These are tenets of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, vital principles on which Canada is found. As prime minister, I want to make sure my actions and words reflect the what brings Canadians together. So let me be clear, Canada is stronger because of the contributions of its Muslim community. We are stronger because of you. And that’s why every day we just chose hope over fear and stand up to the politics of hate and division. That is why our government supports initiatives that encourage inclusion and equality, combats Islamophobia and strengthens the protection of our civil rights… [French] Thank you very much for being here. May peace and blessing be upon you.”
In an interview with the CBC on January 31, 2016, Trudeau said:
“We need to make sure that we’re working with communities like the Muslim community for example to demonstrate that Islam is not incompatible with free and open Western societies.”
Canadian Imam contradicts Trudeau: “Islam will never become a part of liberal secularism”……..