In praise of examined lives interesting biographies that mirror lawyer and former Prime Minister “The unexamined life is not the journeys we all take to political Jean Chretien advisor Warren Kinsella, worth living.”- Socrates conviction and engagement. whose provocative essay in this henever I meet a As well as being posted online at edition answers the vexing question Wnew or aspiring C2CJournal.ca, this special, expanded about how someone from Calgary can pol itician – and I edition of C2C will be distributed to each become a Liberal. meet a few of them of the 1,000-odd delegates attending the Other contributors to this edition as a journalist and annual Manning Networking conference include Bernd Schmidt, whose political speechwriter – one in Ottawa March 5-7. Several of the beliefs were forged in the ruins of post- of the first questions I ask is, “Why are writers will be joining me at a session war Germany and the revolutionary you running?” Many of them, I’m sorry where everyone will be encouraged to cauldron of the Sixties; Jeremy to say, don’t appear to have given it tell a story about “How I Got Here.” Since Cherlet, a Millennial whose political much thought. Usually they get around the conference is populated by political consciousness begins with 9-11 and to saying something about a “desire to activists, journalists and academics lies entirely within the Internet age; serve,” and “to make our [city/province/ from across Canada, it promises to be Elizabeth Nickson, whose political country] a better place.” These are great a lively, stimulating discussion. If you’re biography is a breathtaking romp – and hopefully sincere – motives, but a delegate, we hope you’ll stop by our through New York, London, South they don’t really tell me enough to session on Saturday morning and join in. Africa, and 400 years of North American decide whether they’re worth voting or Included among the contributors colonial history; and Colby Cosh, the working for. is Rainer Knopff, the political scientist Maclean’s columnist whose story about The ones who really stand out as and member of the “Calgary School” getting bitten by the libertarian bug at having thought about their political of conservative academics. His story a young age also illuminates why he convictions are the storytellers. They is a delight to read, a tale of love has become such a uniquely interesting describe momentous events in their and Plato, of philosophical evolution voice in Canadian journalism. lives, books or people who influenced from left to right, and of providential If there’s a constant running through them, and other transformative happenstances that determined his these narratives it is the profound experiences which shaped their beliefs destiny. Also at the Conference will be influence of literature on political former federal Conservative cabinet and inspired them to set their careers evolution. With that in mind, as well minister Monte Solberg, whose essay in and families aside and start knocking as the Manning Foundation’s mandate this edition evinces his gift for humour on strangers’ doors, begging for money, to stimulate more a greater political giving speeches euthanized by party and reveals how his father, a can of engagement among Canadians, we hacks, taking cheap shots from Internet Gold Water beer, and William F. Buckley, invite readers to pass on this edition trolls, and suffering all the other rescued him from Saskatchewan of C2C to others – especially young indignities that politicians endure. socialism at a very young age. people – in hope that some of these The elementary idea that democracy Ottawa journalist Brigitte Pellerin stories will ignite their interest and is best served by people who believe will share her story about her journey involvement in the political process. in something is the inspiration for from political activism to political With any luck, some of them will go on this edition of C2C Journal. When we ennui, a sad tale of disenchantment to become politicians who know why put out the call for submissions a with our contemporary democratic couple months ago it prompted a huge choices. More hopeful, at least for they’re running. response. That should be no surprise, conservatives, will be lawyer Paul someone sarcastically observed, Beaudry’s countercultural narrative Paul Bunner is editor of C2C Journal. when you ask writers to write about about a lonely right-wing francophone His political journey ranged from writing themselves. What we got, however, was flourishing in a sea of Quebec leftism. press releases for a peace group at 25 not a riot of narcissism, but a collection Not on hand, regrettably (but to writing speeches for a Conservative of thoughtful, honest, humble and perhaps understandably), will be prime minister at 50. C2C Journal’s advisory council: Media Inquiries Peter McCaffrey, Mark Milke, Andrea Mrozek and Kathleen Paul Bunner Email: [email protected] Welsch © Copyright 2015. Canadian Journal of Ideas Inc. All Rights Reserved. For permission to reproduce an article, please contact the editors. Canadian Journal of Ideas Inc. the editors, or the advisory board members. Website: www.c2cjournal.ca The views expressed in C2C do not necessarily reflect those of C2C, Editor: Paul Bunner Email: [email protected] Associate Editor: Kathleen Welsch 2 Volume 9, Issue 1 My head & heart in the Right place .......... 21 Contents _ Spring 2015 by Lydia Miljan You could hardly be the daughter of a refugee from How love and Plato transformed my life .....4 Communism without being predisposed to free market by Rainer Knopff conservatism. So it was for Lydia Miljan, but what really cemented her right-wing political convictions was the classes she took During a backpacking tour of Europe in 1971-72, from the classical liberal scholars at the University of Calgary, and the people Rainer Knopff very nearly missed the train carrying and ideas she encountered later at the Michael Walker-led Fraser Institute. Now his personal and political destinies. Things might teaching at a southern Ontario university, Miljan is passing on those ideas to a have turned out very differently for the future political new generation. scientist and member of the “Calgary School” of conservative academics if the train had not returned to the station, thereby reuniting him with the woman he No political home but my own ................... 19 would marry and his (then unread) copy of Plato’s Republic. by Bernd Schmidt It all began with a can of Gold Water ...........6 Bernd Schmidt grew up in the ruins of post-war by Monte Solberg Germany and the rubble of its ideology. He was actively Former federal Conservative cabinet minister Monte involved in the political upheavals of the Sixties, but Solberg understood from a young age that there was never a blind follower of movements that subjugated means to ends. Then he something different about his family. It was unusual moved to Canada’s Yukon, far removed from the hurly burly of the world. From enough to have a father who read widely, cared passionately and participated that calm distance, Schmidt has settled into no political home but his own, where actively in politics. But this was Rosetown, Saskatchewan, in the 1960s, where individual freedom reigns in harmony with commitment to the public good.. socialists had ruled for decades, and his father’s politics were conservative. Like father, like son: when the Reform Party was born 20 years later, Solberg caught The political history of a Millennial ........... 24 the wave that carried it to Ottawa. by Jeremy Cherlet My long journey home from the left ............8 Jeremy Cherlet is just 24. His political beliefs are still by Elizabeth Nickson evolving, but unlike many of his peers, he is actively engaged in political life. He credits five seminal Elizabeth Nickson’s story reads like a Hollywood bio experiences with shaping his worldview: 9-11, the Internet, trips to Germany pic: a Westmount exile, who rebels against power and and Israel, and working as an intern for a conservative Christian politician. Some privilege, becomes a globe-trotting leftist journalist of these reinforced his biases; some reversed them. All fuelled his passion for chronicling the great revolutionary narratives of her time. Then she sets out to political involvement. discover the awful truth about her patriarchal 400-year-old colonist clan and everything changes. But Hollywood won’t touch her script because what she finds A pox on all your political parties .............. 27 are eternal truths, about love, charity, sacrifice, Christianity and genuine freedom. by Brigitte Pellerin Taking sides in the clash of civilizations ... 11 Brigitte Pellerin became an ardent capitalist the day by Fred Litwin she got her first $11 pay cheque from McDonald’s. She went on to fight for a wide range of right-wing causes As a young man Fred Litwin was as progressive as they as a journalist and political activist. Today, however, she can hardly muster the come, a passionate advocate for gay rights, justice for enthusiasm to vote. Years of disappointments from conservative politicians and Palestinians, and the peace movement, among others. At parties have left her politically homeless. Pellerin is still on Team Liberty, but as the turn of the millennium, he started to have doubts, particularly after reading she surveys the Canadian political landscape today, she fears she may be its last David Horowitz’s book about his communist-to-conservative conversion. Then remaining member. came 9-11, and the chorus of America-bashing by the Left in its wake. It was the last straw, and Litwin decided to come out as a gay conservative. After Keynes & the NEP, I chose Rand & liberty ............................................................ 30 Liberation of a conservative bureaucrat ...