Once is fine, but repeatedly?
It is interesting that two key women are in the news more or less at the same time.
Michaelle Jean, Canada's Governor General, is finishing up a trip to Haiti for the new president's inauguration. She received "royal" treatment there by her fellow-Haitians (no matter her actual citizenship, it is clear that she identifies herself with her former country).
And Ayaan Hirsi Ali, famous script-writer for the film that got director Theo Van Gogh assassinated, and outspoken critic of Islam’s treatment of women, is leaving the Netherlands for the United States.
Both women have been part of deep controversy. Jean’s nomination to her Governor General post started with surfacing videos about her associations with Quebec separatist leaders. Ali’s more recent controversy surrounds her fake application (false age, name and country of origin) to enter the Netherlands as a refugee.
Yet, what I find most striking about these two women is their apparent lack of loyalty to the countries that admitted them. Jean constantly identifies with Haiti, and Canada comes second place in many instances. Islam, and particularly Muslim women, have been Ali’s primary occupation. In fact she is leaving the Netherlands to the American Enterprise institute as, I would assume, an expert on Islam and women.
With these constant disappointments, and I would say betrayals, why are western countries so easily charmed by these women?
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