Giesbrecht’s missteps

In “Canada Needs 12 steps back from affirmative action,” Catholic Register guest columnist Brian Giesbrecht bluntly assigns the unmeasurable economic wealth gleaned by 500 years of slavery to a supposed Western cultural genius for meritocracy, a term only coined in recent years. Giesbrecht deftly omits mention of the recent New York Times publication “1619” on the history of American slavery. He also tries to make history disappear by omitting mention of Columbus’ 1492 introduction of Indigenous killings.

For Giesbrecht, there are not only no reparations for slavery but not even the slightest sense of justice by way of equity and inclusion in economic life. He blithely erases the concept of reconciliation so recently endorsed by Pope Francis in his 2022 visit with Canadian Indigenous communities.

Giesbrecht’s article is a sinful paean to reverse discrimination by arguing that any remedy to Black oppression is a form of White oppression. The Catholic Register should withdraw this shameful article.

Tony Muhitch

Toronto

(Wouldn’t that be re-writing history? – the editor.)