WE ARE RIGHT

As a retired member of Canada's Foreign Service, I am concerned at the
recent interference by the American ambassador to Canada, Paul Cellucci, in
the domestic and international policy decisions of Canada.

I am referring to the chiding given us when we refused to join the attack
on Iraq, based on Iraq's possession of the chimerical "weapons of mass
destruction," and more recently, to the threats of sanctions and border
difficulties should we pursue our plan to decriminalize cannabis.

Had any of the Canadian ambassadors or high commissioners under whom I
served made such remarks and threats, they would have been recalled, if not
asked by the host governments to leave. Non-interference in the policies of
host governments is one of the pillars of international diplomacy.

I am glad to see that Canada continues to follow the precepts that earned
Lester Pearson the Nobel Peace Prize. We are right to set our own domestic
policy with regard to the long-overdue decriminalization of cannabis, as we
were right not to join the alliance (Stephen Harper notwithstanding) to
invade Iraq. We are right to resist the American jingoistic belief in their
paternalistic moral superiority: Might does not make right, but absolute
power does, eventually, corrupt absolutely.

As good friends and neighbours, as well as respected global citizens, it
continues to be our sometimes onerous task to offer intelligent and
reasoned advice to our American neighbours. Such advice might not always be
what they want to hear, but different perspectives provide different views
of truth.

James D. Fanning, Head of Jeddore