Tony Blair's legacy is shot because he let himself get conned by a loonie in a far distant kingdom. However, unlike that loonie, he sometimes still shows sparks of the character that first brought him to office. Today he showed that in making a passionate demand for tolerance from everyone who wishes to live in Britain:
''When it comes to our essential values -- belief in democracy, the rule of law, tolerance, equal treatment for all, respect for this country and its shared heritage -- then that is where we come together, it is what we hold in common,'' Blair told an invited audience at his Downing Street office.
He said he believed that it was the duty of all immigrants to embrace those values.
''Our tolerance is part of what makes Britain, Britain. So conform to it -- or don't come here. We don't want the hate-mongers, whatever their race, religion or creed,'' Blair said.
Blair was clearly drawing a line, one that needs to be drawn and highlighted, especially in a multicultural society like Canada's. All of us have to respect and embrace our core values because those who don't make Canada less of what it was when they found it. No one has a right to do that.
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