(编者按:在联邦大选竞选期间,保守党宣布当选后将设立热线电话,专门接受关于“野蛮文化习俗”的报警和投诉。587位学者发表公开信,批此竞选手法超越了政客操守的底线。)
Open letter regarding Conservative Party campaign tactics
We are a diverse group of academics with different political views and different political allegiances. We are united by a common interest in the integrity of democratic processes and a concern about the ugly and dangerous turn we have recently witnessed in the election campaign. In democratic electoral politics there is an ethical line that distinguishes spirited partisan strategy from cynical tactics that betray the values of mutual respect and toleration that lie at the heart of civil democratic discourse. Honourable politicians do not cross that line even when they think doing so will be politically advantageous. Disreputable politicians ignore the line when they find it convenient to do so.
The Conservative Party under Stephen Harper has already come perilously close to this line by suggesting that religion is an appropriate basis to select refugees and by fanning fears of terrorism as a pretext for revoking citizenship from some Canadians. Distinguishing ‘old-stock’ Canadians from new ones was also divisive and problematic. Increasingly, the Conservatives seem to have been opting for a particularly nasty form of “wedge politics”.
However, by injecting the inflammatory rhetoric of ‘barbaric cultural practices’ into the current campaign, the Conservative Party has flagrantly crossed the line. The repeated use of this phrase along with a proposed tip line to root out undesirables are cynically calculated to distract and divide citizens by insinuating that some law abiding and peaceful members of the community are freedom-hating barbarians who threaten Canadian society. The Conservatives know that Canada faces no such threat and that the vast majority of citizens, irrespective of their religious commitments or cultural backgrounds, embrace the basic rights and liberties upon which our democracy is based. By conjuring up a phantom menace to the country and implying that some immigrants and religious minorities are enemies, the Conservatives hope to pit Canadians against one another. Like many sophisticated forms of vicious propaganda, the invocation of barbarism is meant to create fear and anxiety rather than to identify a real problem.
We enjoy the rule of law in Canada and it requires the equal application of the law. Those who break the law should be treated within a common system of criminal justice. A special mechanism that targets some minorities for extra scrutiny is as unnecessary as it is odious. The devious strategists who have devised this campaign know that their objectives are not well served by employing racist or anti-religious epithets, so they ask us to imagine unspecified but supposedly real barbarians. So we are encouraged to demonize those who are different from ourselves and whose religious or cultural practices we do not share or understand. In the present context, this is hate mongering, and it has no place in Canadian democracy.
We do not deny that there is room to discuss and debate how contemporary democracies should respond to religious, cultural and linguistic pluralism. Indeed, Canadian legal and political theory is at the forefront of exploring such matters. But a common point of departure for these debates and discussions is a commitment to civility, decency and toleration. Toleration does not require that one like or endorse the cultural or religious practices of others, but it does require that we refrain from insulting the dignity of those with whom we disagree. The Conservatives have shown contempt for a politics of mutual respect. We condemn the unethical Conservative strategy that brings shame to Canadian politics. We hope that Canadians will join us in repudiating the politics of hate. Instead let us embrace a nobler vision of civil discourse that is truly oriented to achieving the common good for all Canadians.
Signed,
Daniel Weinstock, Professor, Faculty of Law, McGill University
Colin Macleod, Professor, Department of Philosophy and Faculty of Law, Victoria University
Jocelyn Maclure, Professor, Faculty of Philosophy, University Laval
Avigail Eisenberg, Professor, Department of Political Science, Victoria University
and
Adam Sneyd Associate Professor Political Science University of Guelph
Adele Perry Professor History University of Manitoba
Adelle Blackett Full Professor Faculty of Law McGill University
Adriana Benzaquen Associate Professor History Mount Saint Vincent University
Adrienne Sehatzadeh Instructional Designer Centre for Learning and Teaching Dalhousie University
Afua Cooper Associate Professor Sociology & Social Anthropology Dalhousie University
Ailsa Craig Associate Professor Sociology Memorial University
Ailsa M.Watkinson Professor Social Work University of Regina
Ajay Parasram Doctoral Candidate Political Science Carleton University
Alain-G. Gagnon Professor Political Science University of Quebec in Montreal
Alana Klein Assistant Professor Faculty of Law McGill University
Alex Khasnabish Associate Professor Sociology & Anthropology Mount Saint Vincent University
Alexander Dawson Professor History Simon Fraser University
Alexandra Dobrowolsky Professor Political Science Saint Mary’s University
Alistair Macleod Professor Emeritus Philosophy Queen’s University
Allan Greer Professor History McGill University
Allan Manson Professor Law Queen’s University
Allan Moscovitch Professor Social Work Carleton University
Amal Ghazal Associate Professor History Dalhousie University
Amanda Goodman Assistant Professor Dept. for the Study of Religion University of Toronto
Amarnath Amarasingam SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow Resilience Research Centre Dalhousie University
Amy Bell Associate Professor History Huron University College
Amy Bombay Assistant Professor Psychiatry Dalhousie University
Amy Mullin Professor Philosophy University of Toronto
André Magnan Associate Professor Sociology and Social Studies University of Regina
Andreas Motsch Associate Professor French University of Toronto
Andrew Biro Professor Politics Acadia University
Andrew G. Horn PhD Department of Biology Dalhousie University
Andrew M. Wender Assistant Teaching Professor Political Science, History, and Religious Studies University of Victoria
Andrew M. Wender Assistant Teaching Professor Departments of Political Science and History, and Religious Studies Program University of Victoria
Andrew O’Malley Associate Professor English Ryerson University
Andrew Rippin Professor Emeritus History University of Victoria
Angus Taylor Continuing Sessional Instructor Philosophy University of Victoria
Ann McDougall Professor History and Classics University of Alberta
Anna Guttman Professor English Lakehead University
Anna Skorzewska Assistant Professor Medicine University of Toronto
Annalee Lepp Associate Professor Women’s Studies University of Victoria
Annalee Yassi Professor School of Population and Public Health University of British Columbia
Anne Fleming Associate Professor Creative Studies University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus
Anne-Marie D'Aoust Assistant Professor Political Science University of Quebec in Montreal
Towards Hermon Professor and Canada Research Chair in Religion, Pluralism and the Rule of Law Law University of Toronto
Arash Abizadeh Associate Professor Political Science McGill University
Arlene McLaren Professor Emeritus Sociology and Anthropology Simon Fraser University
Audrey Kobayashi Professor Geography Queen’s University
Audrey Macklin Professor and Chair in Human Rights Law University of Toronto
Audrey Yap Associate Professor Philosophy University of Victoria
Avi Goldberg Teacher of Sociology Social and Cultural Sciences Vanier College
Avigail Eisenberg Professor Political Science University of Victoria
Barbara Cameron Associate Professor Political Science York University
Barbara Neis University Research Professor Sociology Memorial University
Barbara Thériault Professor Sociology Montreal university
Becky Lentz Associate Professor Art History/Comm Studies McGill University
Benjamin L. Berger Associate Professor & Associate Dean (Students) Osgoode Hall Law School York University
Benjamin Forest PhD Student Philosophy University of Toronto
Bev Baines Professor Faculty of Law Queen’s University
Bianca Dahl Assistant Professor Anthropology University of Toronto
Brad Kent Associate Professor Department of Literature Laval University
Brad McKenzie Professor Emeritus Faculty of Social Work University of Manitoba
Brenda Beagan Full Professor Occupational Therapy Dalhousie University
Brenda Cossman Professor Faculty of Law University of Toronto
Brenda Hattie PhD (c) Women’s Studies Mount Saint Vincent University
Brian Cowan Canada Research Chair in Early Modern British History History & Classical Studies McGill University
Brian Gettler Assistant Professor History University of Toronto
Brian Lewis Professor History McGill University
Brishkai Lund Adjunct Professor Women’s Studies University of Victoria
Bryan Peeler Instructor Political Studies University of Manitoba
C. Lesley Biggs Associate Professor History and Women’s and Gender Studies University of Saskatchewan
Carl Bouchard Associate Professor History Universite de Montreal
Carla Fehr Wolfe Chair in Scientific and Technological Literacy, Associate Professor Philosophy University of Waterloo
Carman Miller Professor Emeritus History McGill University
Carmel okeefe Instructor Health Professions Dalhousie University
Carol Schick Associate Professor Faculty of Education University of Regina
Caroline Andrew Professor Emeritus Governance Centre University of Ottawa
Carolyn Bassett Associate Professor Political Science University of New Brunswick
Catherine Bryan PhD Candidate Sociology & Social Anthropology Dalhousie University
Catherine Donovan Associate Professor Faculty of Medicine Memorial University
Catherine Kellogg Associate Professor Political Science University of Alberta
Catherine Lu Associate Professor Political Science McGill University
Cecilia Morgan Professor Curriculum, Teaching and Learning University of Toronto
Charles Taylor Professor Emeritus Philosophy McGill University
Charmain Levy Professor Social Scienes Université du Québec en Outaouais
Chike Jeffers Associate Professor Philosophy Dalhousie University
Chris Beyers Associate Professor International Development Studies Trent University
Christabelle Sethna Associate Professor Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies University of Ottawa
Christian Nadeau Professor Philosophy Montreal university
Christiane Lahaie Full Professor Letters and communications University of Sherbrooke
Christina Baade Associate Professor Communication Studies and Multimedia McMaster University
Christina Luckyj Professor English Dalhousie University
Christine Boyle Professor Emeritus Law University of British Columbia
Christine Daigle Full Professor Philosophy Brock University
Christine teaser Professor Philosophy Carleton University
Christine Logel Assistant Professor Social Development Studies University of Waterloo
Christine Straehle Associate Professor Graduate School of Public and International Affairs University of Ottawa
Christopher John ‘nob’ Doran Professor Social Sciences University of New Brunswick
Colin Coates Associate Professor Canadian Studies Glendon College, York University
Coll Thrush Associate Professor History University of British Columbia
Colleen O'Manique Associate Professor Gender & Women’s Studies/International Development Studies Trent University
Corrie Scott Assistant professor Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies University of Ottawa
Courtney Jung Professor Political Science University of Toronto
Cristina Rojas Full Professor Political Science Carleton University
Cynthia Alexander Full Professor Department of Political Studies Acadia University
Daniel return Assistant Professor History University of Ottawa
Dario Perinetti Associate Professor Philosophy University of Quebec in Montreal
Darlene Juschka Associate Professor Women’s and Gender Studies University of Regina
David Alper Professor Social Work Université de Saint-Boniface
David Brackett Associate Professor Music Research McGill University
David DeVidi Professor Philosophy University of Waterloo
David G. Smith Associate Professor Anthropology University of Toronto
David Grondin Associate Professor School of Political Studies University of Ottawa
David Hunter Associate Professor Philosophy Ryerson University
David Jefferess Associate Professor Cultural Studies Program University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus
David Kahane Professor Political Science University of Alberta
David Koussens Professor Law University of Sherbrooke
David Leahy Part-Time Faculty English Studies and interculculturels University of Sherbrooke
David Meren Assistant Professor Department of History Montreal university
David Scott Associate Professor Philosophy University of Victoria
David Seljak Associate Professor Religious Studies St. Jerome’s University
David Webster Associate Professor History Bishop’s University
Dayna McLeod Assistant Professor Department of Communication Studies Concordia University
Debra J. Davidson Professor Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology University of Alberta
Debra Parkes Associate Dean (Research & Graduate Studies) Faculty of Law University of Manitoba
Denis Smith Professor Emeritus Political Science University of Western Ontario
Denise L. Spitzer Professor Instiute of Feminist and Gender Studies University of Ottawa
Denise Reaume Professor Law University of Toronto
Desmond Morton Professor Emeritus History and Canadian Studies McGill University
Diane Lamoureux Full Professor Science politique Laval University
Dianne Pothier Professor Emeritus Schulich School of Law Dalhousie University
Dimitrios harsh Associate Professor Political Studies University of Ottawa
Dominique Bourque Associate Professor Institute of feminist ans gender studies University of Ottawa
Dominique Caouette Associate Professor Science politique Montreal university
Dominique Leydet Professor Philosophy University of Quebec in Montreal
Dominique Masson Full Professor Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies University of Ottawa
Don Stuart Professor Law Queen’s University
Donald Galloway Professor Faculty of Law University of Victoria
Donald Goellnicht Professor English & Cultural Studies McMaster University
Donna Young Assistant Professor Anthropology University of Toronto
Doris R. Jakobsh Associate Professor Religious Studies University of Waterloo
Dorota Glowacki to Full Professor Contemporary Studies Programme University of King’s College
Douglas Barbour Professor Emeritus English & Film Studies University of Alberta
Eddy Ng Professor Rowe School of Business Dalhousie University
Edith Snook Professor English University of New Brunswick
Edward Andrew Professor Emeritus Political Science University of Toronto
Edward Little Professor Theatre Concordia University
Elaine Power Associate Professor School of Kinesiology & Health Studies Queen’s University
Eleanor MacDonald Associate Professor Political Studies Queen’s University
Elise Chenier Professor History Simon Fraser University
Elizabeth Elbourne Associate Professor History and Classical Studies McGill University
Elizabeth Hanson Professor English Queen’s University
Elizabeth Kelley Associate Professor Rowe Business School Dalhousie University
Elizabeth Sheehy Full Professor Law University of Ottawa
Elizabeth Vibert Associate History University of Victoria
Elke Winter Associate Professor Sociology & Anthropology University of Ottawa
Elsbeth Heaman Associate Professor History and Classical Studies McGill University
Elspeth Tulloch Associate Professor Department of Literature Laval University
Emerson Doyle Assistant Professor Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences Huron University College
Emily Varto Assistant Professor Classics Dalhousie University
Eric Lewis Associate Professor, Institute Director Philosophy/Director IPLAI McGill University
Eric Mykhalovskiy Associate Professor Sociology York University
Eric Tucker Professor Law Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Eric W Cases Professor History Department University of Victoria
Eva Brownstein Graduate Communications Concordia University
Evan Fox-Decent Associate Professor Law McGill University
Evan Light Postdoctoral Fellow Communication Studies Concordia University
Evan Tiffany Associate Professor Philosophy Simon Fraser University
Eveline Milliken Associate Professor Social Work University of Manitoba
Faith Wallis Associate Professor History and Classical Studies McGill University
Feng Xu Associate Professor Political Science University of Victoria
Fevzi father Associate Professor Political Studies and International Development Studies Trent University
Fiona S. Martin Assistant Professor Sociology and Social Anthropology Dalhousie University
Florence Stratton Associate Professor Emerita English University of Regina
Frances Abele Professor School of Public Policy and Administration Carleton University
Francois Crepeau Professor Faculty of Law McGill University
Francoise Baylis Professor and Canada Research Chair Novel Tech Ethics Dalhousie University
Frank Cunningham Professor Emeritus Philosophy & Political Science University of Toronto
Freya Encodes Associate Professor Faculty of Law University of Victoria
Friedemann Brauer Technician Physics & Atmospheric Science Dalhousie University
G. Anthony Bruno Faculty lecturer Philosophy University of Toronto Scarborough
Gary Kibbins Associate Professor Film & Media Queen’s University
Gavin Fridell Associate Professor & Canada Research Chair International Development Studies Saint Mary’s University
Gavin Smith Professor Emeritus Anthropology University of Toronto
Gemma Smyth Associate Professor Law University of Windsor
Genevieve Creighton Postdoctoral Fellow Pediatrics University of British Columbia
Genevieve Fuji Johnson Associate Professor Political Science Simon Fraser University
Geoffrey Whitehall Professor Politics Acadia University
George Ross Professor Political science University of Montreal
Georges Leroux Professor Emeritus Philosophy University of Quebec in Montreal
Gillian Creese Professor & Acting Director Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality & Sociology Justice and Sociology Department University of British Columbia
Gillian Poulter Associate Professor History & Classics Acadia University
Grace Hunedoara Assistant Professor Philosophy Western Kentucky University
Grace Warner Associate Professor School of Occupational Therapy Dalhousie University
Gregory Baum Professor Emeritus Religious Studies McGill University
Gregory Betts Associate Professor English/Canadian Studies Brock University
Gregory Blue Professor Emeritus History University of Victoria
Gregory Lavers Associate Professor Philosophy Concordia University
Gu Bellemare Professor Industrial Relations Université du Québec en Outaouais
Gustavo Indart Associate Professor Economics University of Toronto
Guy Chiasson Full Professor Social Sciences Université du Québec en Outaouais
Gwen Chapman Professor Food, Nutrition and Health British Columbia
Gwendolyn hunger Instructor II Social Work University of Manitoba
Haideh Moghissi Professor Emeritus Equity Studies York University
Hannah Smythe MSW Student Social Work Dalhousie University
Haroon Akram-Lodhi Professor International Development Studies Trent University
Harriet Friedmann Professor Emeritus Sociology University of Toronto
Harriet Sonne de Torrens Academic Librarian Library & Dept. of Visual Studies University of Toronto
Harry Glasbeek Professor Emeritus Law York University
Hasana Sharp Associate Professor Philosophy McGill University
Heather Smyth Associate Professor Department of English Language and Literature University of Waterloo
Heather Zwicker Professor English and Film Studies University of Alberta
Helga Kristin Hallgrímsdóttir Associate Professor Sociology University of Victoria
Hepzibah Munoz Assistant Professor History and Politics University of New Brunswick
Gregory Holtz Associate Professor French University of Toronto
Howard Ramos Professor Sociology and Social Anthropology Dalhousie University
Hugh Shewell Associate Professor, Graduate Supervisor Social Work Carleton University
Iain Macdonald Professor Philosophy Montreal university
Ian Gold Associate Professor Philosophy / Psychiatry McGill University
Ian McKay Professor History Queen’s University
Iman Mersal Associate Professor MLCS University of Alberta
Isabelle Cochelin Associate Professor History University of Toronto
Isabelle Martin Assistant Professor School of Industrial Relations Montreal university
Ishita Pande Associate Professor History Queen’s University
J.S. McIntosh Senior Lecturer Philosophy Simon Fraser University
Jacky Valley Teacher Social and Cultural Sciences Vanier College
Jacob T. Levy Professor Political Science McGill University
Jacqueline Solway Professor International Development Studies/Anthropology Trent University
Jacqueline Wallace, PhD Associate Researcher Critical Disability Studies Concordia University
James Davies PhD Candidate Philosophy University of Toronto
James J. Brittain Associate Professor Sociology Acadia University
James Lawson Associate Professor Political Science University of Victoria
James Moore Distinguished Professor Emeritus Political Science Concordia University
James Mulvale Associate Professor Faculty of Social Work University of Manitoba
James O. Young Professor, FRSC Philosophy University of Victoria
James Orbinski Full Professor Health Sciences Laurier University
James Tully Professor Emeritus Political Science University of Victoria
Jane Dryden Associate Professor Philosophy Department Mount Allison University
Janet McVittie Assistant Professor Educational Foundations University of Saskatchewan
Janet Mosher Associate Professor Osgoode Hall Law School York University
Janice Boddy Full Professor Anthropology University of Toronto
Janice Dodd Professor Women’s and Gender Studies University of Manitoba
Janice Williamson Professor English & Film Studies University of Alberta
Janine Brodie Professor Political Science University of Alberta
Jarrett Rudy Associate Professor History and Classical Studies McGill University
Jasminka Kalajdzic Associate Professor Law University of Windsor
Jason Haslam Associate Professor English Dalhousie University
Javier Mignone Associate Professor Community Health Sciences The University of Manitoba
Jean-Sebastien Guy Assistant Professor Sociology and Social Anthropology Dalhousie University
Her Varghese Assistant Professor Sociology and Anthropology University of Guelph
Jennie Abell Associate Professor Faculty of Law University of Ottawa
Jennifer Dyer Associate Professor Communication Studies Memorial University
Jennifer Jenkins Associate Professor of History History University of Toronto
Jennifer L. Schulz Associate Professor Faculty of Law University of Manitoba
Jennifer Nedelsk Professor Law and Political Science University of Toronto
Jennifer Selby Associate Professor Religious Studies Memorial University
Jennifer Stamp Senior Instructor Psychology & Neuroscience Dalhousie University
Jennifer Szende Department of Philosophy Trent University
Jenny Burman Associate Professor Art History and Communication Studies McGill University
Jeremy Davis Graduate Student Philosophy University of Toronto
Jerry Spiegel Professor Liu Institute for Global Issues University of British Columbia
Jesook Song Associate Professor Anthropology University of Toronto
Jessica Clark Assistant Professor History Brock University
Jessica Roda Assistant Professor Sociology and Anthropology Concordia University
Jill Didur Associate Professor English Concordia Un |