Just a normal Friday for me

Today is the final day in the Canadian Race Relations Foundation conference, with the title "What is Canadian Racism? Engaging in a Critical Analysis of this Distinct Manifestation of Racism and How to Tackle it."  Here's a shocker: it's a government agency, with its board appointed by the federal cabinet.

I'll be there, of course.

Not so that I can publicly commit my life to the CRRF's motto, which "...acknowledges [Canada's] racist past, recognizes the pervasiveness of racism today..."

Not so that I can wear an "I'm sorry" button, along with everyone else, as they do in this wonderful short story by Robert Ferrigno.

Not so that I can write down every pearl of wisdom from the CRRF's executive director, Ayman Al-Yassini, whose biography includes:

visiting professor at the University of Riyadh (King Saud University) in Saudi Arabia. He published extensively on the relationship between religion and state in Islam, religion and development and religion and foreign policy.

(Counterpoint: I admit one could actually learn a lot about racism and sexism teaching at an officially anti-Semitic, officially misogynist university in a fascist theocracy.)

Nope. I'll be there because I've been invited as a guest of honour by today's keynote speaker, the Hon. Jason Kenney, Secretary of State for Multiculturalism, who has asked me to sit at the head table with him as he delivers his thoughts on multiculturalism and Canadian identity. To kill time until he talks, I think I'll bring along my signed copy of America Alone to read (and, as my friends know, I like to read aloud, or at least in a stage whisper, instead of keeping the goodness all to myself).

I haven't seen Jason's speech yet, but I'm guessing it might even have a few bon mots about human rights commissions. I'll report back.

And if I see Richard Warman or Dean Steacy there, I'll be sure to wave at them from the head table.