Maybe the silence of Justin Trudeau is a lesson for all

With all the appalling events that have occurred in the last eleven days - starting with the unbelievably horrific murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis - the quietest moment recorded in public should not be forgotten. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau was asked for his reaction to President Trump's demand for troops to put down insurrection in the streets in US cities, and he took a full 20 seconds to come up with an answer. It was riveting television, silence without interruption for TWENTY seconds. You could just see Trudeau's brain whirling around trying to think of the right words.I have huge respect for the Canadian leader. He could so easily have rushed in with an instant condemnation. "What the hell is this man Trump up to? He's like that vile man Duterte in the Philippines who wants to kill all drug dealers." Or he could have said: "Trump may be an ally but he ain't no friend of mine." Or: "Trump's a moron." But no, he thought and thought and thought and came up with an intelligent, carefully devised comment about how Canada too had its racial problems and how important it was to honour and respect all citizens." OK he didn't answer the question as such. But his silence beforehand was like a million words of condemnation. Well done Prime Minister Trudeau. The amazing thing is that the Canadian press just waited patiently for his reply. They didn't jump in to hurry him along. The television cameras focused on him and we all waited. It was sensational theatre. So is silence the answer? Is silence more potent than spouting instant criticism? So far Trudeau is the only person to react with silence, and bravely so in my view. In the US important people have not kept quiet and I just wonder whether silence might have been a better alternative. Take Jim Mattis. The retired four-star Marine Corps general and former US defence secretary rushed into print accusing Trump of dividing the nation like a Nazi autocrat. I think Trump was wrong to want troops to line the streets of Washington, but does it help the incredibly tense situation in Washington and other cities for the revered General Mattis to condemn his former commander-in-chief with such inflammatory language? It gave ideas to other generals, and today General Martin Dempsey, former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff under Obama, pronounced his disapproval of Trump's "dangerous" leadership. It all makes good copy for journalists but at a time when the US desperately needs to calm down and confront racism in an adult and responsible way, I don't thnk it's wise for retired generals to start firing all cylinders at the president. If for no other reason than it will stir up Trump to act even more like an autocrat. Everyone needs to stop shouting. Take a leaf out of Trudeau's book, and think before adding to the wild and angry rhetoric destroying America right now.