When I was growing up in Iran back in the 1980s, the US was a land of freedom that you could express yourself and say what you wanted. You did not have to worry about the big brother was watching over your shoulders what you were saying. University students were reading the “Communist Manifesto” of the Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in a capitalist system. Post 9/11, the US lost its touch of being a great land that it stands for freedom. Now, the police surveillance is rising in the US. The scope of this paper is not the US domestic policy of police surveillance. I became surprised when Prime Minister of Canada Justine Trudeau appeared at the United Nations; he discussed Canada's shortcoming during past several decades that how Canada violated aboriginal people's human rights. To me, it was fascinating to see how Prime Minister of Canada was telling to the world that we need to treat others fair and equal. I also saw pictures of him praying with other Muslims in a mosque. I have seen my fair share of other Prime Minister of Canada, they never worn Muslim clothes and pray with Muslims. Justine Trudeau's father was a prime minister of Canada, and he too acted outside of the realm of the conventional wisdom of acceptable politics. Thus, son learned from his father to be innovative and accept others for who they are.
Now, I see Canada as a beacon of hope, a nation which is striving to be different than other countries. It is trying to be an example to other countries how to govern. It will be an exciting year ahead of us how Canada will influence other nations in the area of freedom.
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