Ben’s latest blog post was on the subject of  The Joy Kogawa Fonds from the field trip our ASTU class took to the Rare Books Museum.

In his blog post, he compares letters written to Joy Kogawa by regular adults, some children, and former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. He mentions that, compared to the other letters, Pierre Trudeau’s letter seemed fake and borderline rude.

I too, read this letter at the Fonds, but I had a different opinion. I remember thinking, “Wow, the former Prime Minister of Canada wrote Kogawa a letter telling her he was excited to read her book?! That’s about the coolest thing in the world!”

However, after reading Ben’s blog, I’m being forced to reconsider my opinion. Compared to the other letters, Trudeau’s letter was insubstantial and lacked a real connection. I never really noticed before because I wasn’t comparing it to other letters. I was, in a way, starstruck, and taken aback that Pierre Trudeau took time out of his day to type out a letter to an author I was reading. It was exciting for me at first glance.

But in reality, Pierre Trudeau, or a representative of him, printed out 50 words on government official letterhead, and mailed it.

I do understand that the Prime Minister is busy with probably far more important things but I don’t think that an extra 10 minutes fleshing out a letter would have killed him.

Perhaps he relied too heavily on everyone reacting to his letter the same way I first did, and not analyzing it like Ben did.

Whatever the case, Ben’s blog did a great job comparing the different types of letters, and I’m glad I got to read it and form a more cumulative opinion on Pierre Trudeau’s letter.

By: Naima M.