Canadian academic Ramin Jahanbegloo has been released from prison in Iran. ⇒
30 August 2006, mid-afternoon
He was being held for the past 4 months. (The comments on this article are as racist as ever; I love the Globe's comment section.)
This is a post from my link log: If you click the title of this post you will be taken the web page I am discussing.
There were some horribly anti-islamic rhetoric in those comments but there is a point to be made about dual-citizenship in an age of globalism.
The think the scale of the evacuation in Lebanon brought to light that a national discussion on the rights and obligations of citizenship is in order. If we’re going to ask our government’s responsibilties to extend far beyond it’s borders then I don’t think it’s too much to ask our citizens to return the favor. I don’t know if that means paying taxes or something else but that’s my point, a discussion of the topic would be useful.
by awardtour on August 30 2006, 6:17 pm #
I really don’t think citizenship should be like insurance, where Canadians pay a monthly premium for the government to come save our asses when wars break out or we are detained by totalitarian regimes. One of the fundamental purposes of a government is to protect its citizens. The need to protect your citizens abroad is more important, as the legal recourses they may have in a foreign country are probably limited. Now if you haven’t lived in Canada for 5 years do you cease to be a Canadian? What about 10? 15? I would argue no. I think there is something more fundamental than paying taxes that makes one a Canadian.
by ramanan on August 30 2006, 7:33 pm #
Lisbeth Coiman has renewed my faith in the Globe and Mail’s readership. Only slightly mind you, since this heritage front member seems to read the paper as well. I remember back when Rishi wanted to join the heritage front because he hates immigrants too.
by ramanan on August 31 2006, 12:55 pm #