On this date in 1945, with Hitler defeated and the growing threat of predatory communism looming, US President Harry Truman had his representative Harry Hopkins meet personally with Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin and read him the riot act vis-a-vis the communist takeover of Poland and the freedom of the world in general.
He said, "There must be the right of freedom of speech....right of assembly masked or unmasked, right of movement and right of worship. All political organizations be they gov't registered or not should be permitted the free use of the press, radio, meetings and all other facilities of political expression; all citizens have the right to public jury trial....and the right of habeas corpus."
What Mr. Hopkins was making clear to Stalin was that these rights were the core values of western democracy. These values separate us from fascists and terrorists. If we as Canadians live for even one moment under a government that chooses to oppress and repress these values, that government must be overthrown. If we do not then the fascists and terrorists will win.
This is a victory we can never allow. We must never surrender, whatever the cost may be, to such evil. Any government in this country that would pass laws contrary to our core values must be removed from power and its leadership brought to justice.
We are a nation of values.
