Re: Michael Ignatieff: Idealism and the Challenge of the "Lesser Evil"

My opinion of Michael Ignatieff was previously fuelled by ad campaigns from the elections, and those all too memorable commercials that asked, "Where in the World is Michael Ignatieff?" pointing out how he rarely spent time in his own country. The ad even had him expressing how much the United States had become a home for him. Based on this 'evidence' coupled with my sometimes over-zealous love of Canada, it seemed perfectly clear to me that Ignatieff was not someone I would waste any time on. Just another politician. But like all things that are half-a**ed once I'd taken the time to actually look into it, I found many of his political ideals to be very similar to my own.

The concept of cosmopolitanism, (the idea that humans have obligations that stretch far beyond the boundaries of their own country to the edges of the world) is an ideal that I've always been passionate about and as backwards as the term sounds, I believe liberal interventionism is the only way to achieve important global goals under the world's bleak circumstances. In today's world talking of peace and of the iradication of nuclear weapons is all well and good, but it will achieve little headway. The modern day terrorist will not be won over with words, and possibly not won over at all. Unfortunately, force is the best option to secure the freedoms of the people.

This article also addresses Ignatieff's long absences from Canadian soil, a point which I was still a bit wooly about. But knowing the ways of other countries proved to be very beneficial for Ignatieff and offers an insight into the strength of Ignatieff's cosmopolitan beliefs. "Ignatieff ... witnessed some of these horrors as a journalist in Sarajevo and Kurdistan, and he notes that his cosmopolitanism arises in part from this firsthand encounter with barbarism and inhumanity." It can be difficult to see the commonalities between other cultures but by living amongst them and facing their hardships the cultural lines can become blurred. Suddenly cosmopolitanism makes alot more sense, and Ignatieff understands the importance of that unification.

Overall, I must say that I agree with Ignatieff's beliefs and practices, despite my underlying mistrust of politicians in general, and now that I am of age, I'd be confident in voting for him. When the time comes.

And that's the view from the north.

Let me know if you agreed with Ignatieff or with me. Let me know if you didn't.

 The article: "Michael Ignatieff: Idealism and the Challenge of the Lesser Evil" by Michael Cotey Morgan can be found at this web address.
http://www.jstor.org/pss/40204227