Moral Resolve Needed in Justin Trudeau Swastika Controversy

By Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel

CHULA VISTA, California — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has demonstrated a talent for adding fuel to an already combustive situation. He accused conservative Jewish members of the Canadian Parliament of supporting the swastika. One Jewish member happened to be Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman, who became the first Jewish woman elected to her party last October. She also happens to be a grandchild of Holocaust survivors.

Trudeau made this acerbic comment during the daily questioning period in the lower chamber of the Canadian Parliament after facing criticism from Lantsman.

Lantsman objected to Trudeau’s characterization of the protestors as “misogynistic, racist, women-haters, science-deniers, the fringe.” Fortunately, the B’nai B’rith Canada expressed sharp criticism of the Prime Minister the way he responded to Lantsman. Melissa Lantsman attacked him in a parliament session for calling the trucker protesters “racist” and “fringe.” She reminded Trudeau of a remark he made in 2015, “If Canadians are going to trust their government, their government needs to trust Canadians.”

Trudeau accused the Conservative Party members of showing solidarity with people who wave swastikas and wave the Confederate flag. Nobody ever brandished a swastika or a Confederate flag of the hundreds of drivers interviewed.

Ironically, the Prime Minister accused the trucker protestors of being “racist,” since he covers his face in shoe polish to mock people of color, who then points his finger at others, with black shoe polish still on it, calling them “racist.”

That reminds me of the classical definition of chutzpah: A man who kills his parents then throws himself at the mercy of the court because he’s an orphan!

Trudeau certainly fits the caricature.

What he did is arguably worse than calling them racist, for by calling them “Nazi” he was saying they wished to kill other races, and he said this to a Jewish woman, a targeted group by the Nazi. He is a fool.

Trudeau should take into consideration the people he is addressing. When she asked him repeatedly to apologize, Trudeau refused. His behavior makes one seriously wonder whether he is morally fit to remain as Prime Minister.

Fortunately, the other MPs did not ignore or give Trudeau a free pass. It’s become far too common for Prime Minister to denounce anyone he disagrees with as a racist, misogynist, or Nazi. Comparisons like this fail to understand the moral depravity of what Hitler stood for. Trudeau’s comments are even more egregious than the foolish remarks recently said by Whoopi Goldberg. Another thoughtless remark was also heard by Elon Musk, who likened Trudeau to Hitler.

This, too, reveals a profound ignorance of what Hitler really stood for.

Conservative MP Dane Lloyd also slammed Trudeau over his comments and demanded an apology. He reminded him, “There are members of this Conservative caucus who are the descendants of victims of the Holocaust,” he said.

After the session, Lantsman made a sobering observation.

“I am a strong Jewish woman and a member of this House and a descendant of Holocaust survivors and … it’s never been singled out, and I’ve never been made to feel less,” said Lantsman. “Except for today, when the prime minister accused me of standing with swastikas. I think he owes me an apology. I’d like an apology and I think he owes an apology to all members of this House.”

Jewish values recognize that controversial opinions will often pit people—even friends and family against one another. The Talmudic discussions attest to this well-known fact.

Still, using caustic language to demonize people who think differently reveals a fundamental disrespect for the right to engage in peaceful dissent—a right that is enshrined in the Canadian and American Constitutions.

Trudeau may not be able to salvage his political career, but if he truly wishes to bring healing to his country’s citizens, let him begin with making a sincere apology to those he identified as racists and Nazis.

I am proud that the Jewish leadership in Canada backed Lantsman, I hope the American Jewish and rabbinical community will show similar moral resolve in condemning the Prime Minister’s awful behavior.