(Translated and Published in the Dawa News, July 7, 2007)

I’m going to admit to a bias before continuing with this article. I’m both a member of the New Democratic Party (and a former federal candidate), and a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces back when it was doing real peacekeeping in the Middle East. I’ve done several six-month tours of duty that took me to many of the countries in the region, including serving several months alongside an Iranian battalion on the Golan Heights – many of who were executed upon their return to Iran after the Shah was overthrown by Islamic fundamentalists. My particular worldview is forever imprinted with the reality of these experiences.

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Richmond’s Conservative riding association has once again nominated Alice Wong, a lady whom I ran against in the 2004 federal election. She is a very nice lady. However, we don’t have much to agree on in the political sphere. Wong’s support base can be politely described as socially conservative and faith-based. My own political support base is mixed but with a strong bent toward the secular and progressive. Wong is a Christian, as she will no doubt tell you, with the same fundamentalist Christian support base that the last Conservative candidate, Darrel Reid, had enjoyed.

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