There have been many Canadians who, over the years, have distinguished themselves both in their home country and internationally. Sports figures, scientists, accomplished business people and even the odd politician deserve to have their accomplishments acknowledged in one form or another.

These folks, and of course, many others, make us proud to be Canadians. Seeing these people honoured, in various ways, makes us feel good and reminds us of the excellence they exhibited in their various vocations.

One way some special Canadians of the past—mostly politicians—were recognized, was to put their likeness on our paper currency. It was a way to acknowledge their contributions to Canada, and be a daily reminder to those of us who have come after them, just how important these people were to our history and what contributes to making us proud Canadians. That used to be the case but things have changed.

Enter political correctness. Somebody, somewhere in our federal government, decided that what had occurred in the past as far as acknowledging outstanding Canadians by putting their likeness on our paper currency had been sexist and discriminatory and must change. Their thought process must have been to find a female who was worthy of such recognition. If it was possible to identify a person of colour to be honoured, that would be even better and bordering on perfect.

But what if her accomplishments, compared to those of others, were questionable? What then? It didn’t matter. How could anyone object to the likeness of a woman, especially a black woman, being placed on all newly issued ten dollar bills? Well, even though few, if any of us, know who Viola Desmond was, or what it was she accomplished to justify such an honour, we dare not question such a wonderful, politically correct choice.

I must confess that I had never heard of Ms. Desmond, so I Googled her. I suggest you do so as well. It seems that this honouree, in the 1940s, was a beauty shop owner who taught primarily black students to do whatever it is beauticians do. And she was arrested at a movie theater in some hick town in Nova Scotia for trying to sit in a seat that the theater owner had unofficially designated as being for “whites” only. Ms. Desmond was found guilty and fined $26.00. Subsequent to this event, her marriage failed and she moved away, eventually ending up in the United States.

For this history of events this woman is described as a “civil rights leader and an entrepreneur,” and therefore a most deserving recipient of the honour bestowed upon her, albeit posthumously.

It wasn’t until relatively recently that the Province of Nova Scotia pardoned Ms. Desmond at the urging of her sister and—surprise, surprise—some professor at a second rate Nova Scotia institute of alleged higher learning.

With the greatest respect, the grounds to justify honouring this, I am sure, nice lady, are, to say the very least, flimsy. There must be literally thousands of Canadians, both past and present, who are much more deserving of such an honour. But, of course, they may not be women, and of colour.

Canadians in their passivity simply accept things like this without as much as a peep. Not me boy, I’m “peeping” from the roof tops and my “peep” is that I am sick and tired of things like this which do nothing more than depreciate those who truly deserve to be honoured. Aren’t you?