I watched the media descending on Justin Trudeau like vultures and repeatedly questioning him, and he repeatedly apologizing for wearing make-up at a costume party when he was twenty nine years old. The vehemence of the questioning seemed to have been contrived, and the repeated acts of contrition by the Prime Minister was pathetic. What did young Trudeau do eighteen years ago to be so ashamed of, and why repeat mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa? The crocodile tears of some politicians bemoaning the costume of Aladdin was also amusing.

If I dress up and act as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, am I to be branded as anti-sematic? If I act the part of Othello, am I a racist? If I put on the costume of Santa Claus, am I anti-white propagandist? Why should Aladdin’s imagined face offend all the black and brown people in Canada? I think this is political correctness to ludicrous length.

Incidentally I am an eighty five year old person who has lived and worked in Quebec and Ontario for the last  fifty two years. I am also one who has done my mite to promote and support multiculturalism from the 60’s in Canada. I must also add that I am as brown as brown can get. And I am not offended  by the portrayal of Aladdin. In fact I am amused.

(Joseph Pathyil)

5510 Turney Drive,

Mississauga, CA