Sir: I was interested to read Bill Zilio’s letter to the editor about Stephen Harper in The Chatham Voice Aug. 27. I can’t answer Bill in detail because I am no expert regarding the economy. I have never belonged to any political party and I often try to vote for the fellow I like, whether he be blue, yellow or orange.
Bill mentions Paul Martin who, as he said was a real deficit fighter, but it was his father, Paul Martin Sr., who hailed from Windsor, once said, “I am not afraid to be called a politician. Next to preaching the Word of God, there is nothing nobler than to serve one’s fellow countrymen in government.”
One of God’s commands is protect and love Israel and I feel Stephen Harper is doing this. Actually, I think Harper is the only Canadian national party leader to support Israel. And for that he deserves another term at 24 Sussex Dr.
If you remember, in 2012 Harper made a major speech in the United Nations in which he criticized Libya, Iran, and North Korea by name.
“Just as fascism and communism were the great struggles of previous generations,” he said, “terrorism is the great struggle of ours.”
He cited Winston Churchill and defended Israel. And he criticized the UN on its own turf.
“The greatest enemies of the United Nations are those who quietly undermine its principles and, even worse, by those who sit idly, watching its slow decline.”
Last year he publicly attacked what he called “the indiscriminate rocket attacks from Gaza on Israel” which he insisted were “terrorist acts, for which there is no justification.”
Harper derives no big political benefit at home for his Israel backing. Nor does it win him plaudits at the Obama White House, which seems to specialize in Israel-bashing. But he knows it’s the right thing to do.
That’s why many thinking people believe the current Iran nuclear deal is a really bad deal. If you study the media, you’ll realize we just can’t trust Iran. Whether or not Harper’s doing the right thing financially, he is showing wisdom about terrorism and that counts for a lot as far as I’m concerned.
Stephen Beecroft
Chatham
