By MONTE SOLBERG
—-snip—-
Likewise not all atheists should have to accept responsibility for the tens of millions of people killed by officially atheist states such as the Soviet Union under Stalin, and Mao’s China.
It also follows that not all Muslims practice, quietly support or defend inequality between men and women, or violence and hatred toward non-Muslims. In particular Ismaili Muslims come to mind as a group that enthusiastically accepts the equality of the sexes and a pluralistic society.
My point is that it has been dissent, free speech and debate that has helped blunt the vicious and bloody edge of many radical worldviews. That’s because free, provocative inquiry is our only method for getting a glimpse of the truth.
http://www.ottawasun.com/comment/columnists/monte_solberg/2009/07/30/10308041-sun.html
Ismailimail 
The Honourable Monte Solberg was the Member of Parliament for Medicine Hat for fifteen years. For many of those years Monte played a prominent role as the Reform, Alliance and Conservative Party Critic for several key departments including Foreign Affairs and notably Finance.
When Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party came to office in January of 2006 the Prime Minister chose Monte to serve as the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. In January of 2007 he was appointed Minister of Human Resources and Social Development.
LikeLike
Thanks Ash for that excellent summary on Monte Solberg, former Conservative Minister of Human Resources and Social Development in the Harper government. I think it is interesting and relevant that one of the Minister’s staff was an Ismaili Muslim, Aliya Mohamed, enabling him to garner first-hand access to and knowledge of the Shia Ismaili Muslim interpretation of Islam. Political staffers are an important part of the Minister’s entourage as they help him to formulate and disseminate his message.
Speaking generally I think it is truly remarkable and heartwarming that the Conservative Government of the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, 22nd Prime Minister of Canada, has shown the utmost deference and respect to His Highness the Aga Khan, 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. For the record:
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/06/486the-conservative-government-of-prime.html
LikeLike
Personally, I don’t think politics has much place on this list. As any Ismaili will attest, the reason the community is so established here in Canada was the generosity of the country over a period of decades and specifically during times when leadership was more centre than that currently in power.
With respect to staffers, I think it is wonderful that members of the community are able to engage themselves in every aspect of society. That doesn’t reflect on politics of their employers however. I hear Idi Amin’s boxing teacher was an Ismaili prior to Amin removing all Ismailis from Uganda. Luckily there was a very thoughtful Liberal government in power at the time, who accepted Ismailis to Canada with open arms. The Canadian government of that time had a significant focus on humanitarian engagement as part of its foreign policy – something that I hear is changing (click for reference).
While many in today’s arena will flock to be associated with the successful Ismaili community in Canada, what the government in the early 70’s did should really be recognized with a different order of gratitude altogether. As it turns out, Amin’s staffer was in the end saved by Canada under not Conservative but rather Liberal leadership.
“Many of you may remember that my personal involvement with Canada dates back more than three decades when, at a time of great upheaval in Uganda, many members of the Ismaili community and others found here a new home in which they could quickly re-build their lives. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and expressing habits of mind and spirit which have long been central to the Canadian character, this country provided a welcoming haven to those who had been victimised by history.”
– His Highness the Aga Khan (click for reference)
LikeLike
I think that healthy diversity of opinion, political or otherwise, is a good thing in our secular democracy and reflects a community that is mature.
LikeLike
Thus my concern …
Either a balance is represented in the praise, else stay away from it altogether. Presenting a balance is difficult and hence to stay away from politics is the path of many a wise person (else a blog about any topic can be easily railroaded into a political tool for agents of one party or another).
With respect to your original comment, in my view the credit goes to the country and the system and not simply the specific party that one happens to support at any one point in time. I attempted to present a side often missed in your comments – and one which at least the Aga Khan tends not to forget.
LikeLike