"What kind of country are we living in?" That was the first thought to cross my mind when I read the news late Wednesday afternoon that Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj had resigned from his post as Liberal Party foreign affairs critic.

On Tuesday (August 21) it was reported in the Toronto Star that Wrzesnewskyj had made statements that Israel's latest offensive against Lebanon was an act of “state terrorism” and that Canada should, for the purpose of conflict resolution and peace, engage in direct talks with militant organizations such as Hezbollah.

Wrzesnewskyj made those remarks while touring southern Lebanon on a fact finding mission. “I went to Lebanon without preconceived conclusions and my comments in South Lebanon were tempered by the overwhelming power of what I witnessed,” the Toronto Star reported Wrzesnewskyj as saying.

A predictable firestorm ensued and by Wednesday Wrzesnewskyj had resigned. In addition to the expected attacks from Conservatives, all 10 Liberal leadership hopefuls also condemned the comments made by the MP.

The Liberal Party sent a representative to Lebanon to deliver a report on recent events in the country and when that representative voiced his opinion on what he found, he was forced to resign from a crucial caucus position.

Canada's government is one of only six on earth that unconditionally classifies Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Even Russia, not a nation particularly praised for its kindness to Islamic groups, has declined to place Hezbollah on its terrorist list.

Besides engaging in combat with Israel, Hezbollah is also a democratically elected participant in the government of Lebanon and provides a plethora of public services to the people of Lebanon, including the construction and funding of many schools and hospitals.

Has the level of acceptable debate in Canada now hit such an all-time low that the mere suggestion of talking with somebody cannot be tolerated, and instead must be met with punishment?

Borys Wrzesnewskyj put forward the idea that the Canadian government debate the option of talking, for the purpose of peace, with organizations some circles label as terrorist. He suggested that dialogue is a good thing. Regardless of whether or not anyone agrees, our representatives should know for a fact they can voice their ideas in public and for the purpose of debate, without fear of excessively harsh reprisal.

On Tuesday the Toronto Star reported for a separate story the response of B'nai Birth Canada, the “acting arm” of the Canadian Jewish community, to Wrzesnewskyj's remarks. Frank Dimant, vice-president of B'nai, said to the Star, “[Wrzesnewskyj] doesn't seem to understand that we're at war with terrorists, and that includes Hezbollah….It is not Canada's job to be a peacemaker here, but to stand with a sister democracy.”

I wonder if Canadians know we're no longer peacemakers. Are we allowed to debate that one?

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