The Harper government is about to create a new Office of Religious Freedom, designed to champion religious freedom around the world. For those who have questioned, especially in a time of deep austerity, the need for such an office, activities within and among the world's three great monotheistic religions during the recent Holy Days -- in order of birth Judaism, Christianity and Islam -- provide a ready answer. There is much work for Canada to do.

Demagoguery is not an accusation that stings very much nowadays. Almost anyone can be accused of being a demagogue for saying almost anything, and one's inclination is merely to shrug it off with a snort.

I must admit, I don't spend too much time reading comments posted to news stories. Beneath a cowardly shroud of anonymity, too many spew venom and hate and extraordinary ignorance. But there are times when I will scan a few pages worth of comments, hoping for an illuminating and pithy remark, a wonderfully unique approach to an idea, a few sentences that challenge me, a laugh. Most of the time I'm disappointed and eventually bored.

There are those who blow in bellowing and bloviating, without a scintilla of critical thinking or reading comprehension. Those who troll around for any opportunity to trumpet their confirmation biases.