Salim Mansur

Mansur is very critical of Canada and other countries who have adopted a policy of multiculturalism which in his view makes it less likely that immigrants will adopt the culture and policies of their new home. Some immigrant groups use the policy to stay in their cultural group rather than a Canadian culture. Other groups try to make Canada change its laws and polices to suit their cultural of religious views.

Prime Minister Trudeau's government brought in multiculturalism to help immigrants feel comfortable in their new home. He was disappointed to see after some years that the policy was being used to protect cultures from government & society rules.

He has a chapter on the history of liberalism and another on the foundations of democracy. He discusses the world after 9/11 and the Salmon Rushdie affair. He also looks at Islamic terrorism and how it has affected the free speech in Europe, the USA and Canada.

He concludes with a plea that the best defense of our "freedom as the foundation of the open and liberal democracy on which rest the historical achievements of the West is education". He also contends that multiculturalism claims "all cultures are worthy of equal respect and are equally embracing of individual freedom and democracy" but that this is not true. He gives the Islamist attacks on individual rights and freedoms as proof of this "lie".

As an immigrant to Canada who fled violence in Pakistan in the 1970's, it gives his argument stronger credibility as he is one of the minorities which multiculturalism was meant to help.… (más)