My Take | Why is ‘nice’ Canada going after the world-famous Jordan Peterson?

“The hunting of human beings is better sport, but if it were not for nice people, it would be difficult to hunt human beings with a good conscience. Those whom the nice people condemn are fair game … and the victim is pursued to prison or death.” – “Nice People”, Why I am not a Christian, Bertrand Russell

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“Nice people” are harmless most of the time, except when they galvanise around an issue and consolidate their collective opinion into a sacred truth over which they will tolerate no dissent. In such rare instances, they will turn into the most vicious of people scarier than the hounds of hell – to those who don’t agree with them.

Canadians fancy themselves and their country as among the nicest on earth. By and large, they are right. But once they have taken on and fortified a position, boy, you’d better join in or shut up. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is one example. No opinion departing from the consensus position is allowed to be voiced in any of the mainstream press and media platforms. In public, surrounded by a few people, I have learned to shut up about my opinion on the war, having experienced a rather unpleasant encounter with some very, perhaps too educated individuals. I have learned what may be called the “Bridget Jones manoeuvre”: “What do you think about Ukraine?” “Absolutely terrible, isn’t it? Would you happen to know where the toilet is?”

Another example of Canada’s niceness is the current public persecution of the world-famous Jordan Peterson. You would think the country would celebrate having such an international celebrity, like say, Margaret Atwood, Jim Carrey and Celine Dion. You would be wrong.

He now faces being disqualified as a clinical psychologist. Writing in the National Post on Wednesday, he said the College of Psychologists of Ontario, the licensing body, is investigating more than a dozen complaints against him.

There is no doubt he is a highly polarising figure, not only in Canada but in Western, especially English-speaking countries. My son has just spent the past four years at the University of Toronto where Peterson was a tenured psychology professor, now professor emeritus, before being forced into early retirement without the public shaming. The levels of venom and hostility against the man on campus – as well as admiration and agreement – are quite remarkable. “Polarising” doesn’t quite capture it.