En Cha Hun.
Due to typesetting this is not quite the way the UNBC motto looks, but the sentiment behind the words is what I think is more important.
When I arrived at UNBC in 1994, we were introduced to this motto by Iona Campagnolo, our chancellor at the time. I had a chance to sit with her one day and talk about its meaning.
She told me it means "he/she also lives."
I asked how she interpreted those words. Her reply was that it was more than simply respecting all living things - not a mere recognition of the living world around us. Rather it was the idea that we should respect the differences amongst us.
Her view was everyone thinks differently, looks at the world differently, has different beliefs, and may have views which are not consistent with our own but that is okay. After all, he/she also lives.
We got into a long discussion about science and world views after that. Iona was a great person to have a conversation with and she certainly challenged me intellectually as a young professor. I have many times thought about our conversation and the meaning of our motto over the years.
To me, it is more than simply saying that everyone should have the right to free speech and to expressing their point of view. Rather, it is about recognizing that different people can have very different views of the world and yet we should still strive to get along.
I have been reminded of this over the past several months as I listen to Donald Trump expound his views to the American electorate. He is a bully. He is dismissive.
He has proposed torture and murder. He is in favour of one of the most massive deportation exercises every proposed - making Stalin look like a wimp - and still he gets applause.
His view of the world doesn't seem to recognize others might not think the way he does. His approach does not recognize there might be other ways. It is a "my way or the highway" view of the political world.
And sadly enough, his view seems to be winning.
I am also reminded of the scene from the movie The American President in which Michael Douglas, playing Andrew Shephard, says: "America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say 'You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.'"
This is perhaps why Trump is winning. Respecting the views of others and defending their right to free speech means that bullies everywhere can stand center stage and advocate opinions at the top of their lungs.
And because they are bullies, they think they are right. Because others listen to their voice, they believe they must be saying something important. Truth be damned.
This is the scary thing about the American presidential election. Trump's speeches have a very loose association with the facts. He doesn't care. He is on a roll and it doesn't matter if he has to make stuff up.
When he is called to task on his rhetoric, he drops into ad hominem attacks and personal insults. He talks over everyone else. He treats those around him with contempt.
He does not respect that others also live.
Does this matter to us? After all, we are Canadians and live in a completely different country. The Donald is not going to be our president.
I would suggest it does.
If he is successful in gaining the Republican nomination - and that seems highly likely at this point - he will then engage in a similar campaign against the Democrat candidate. He might just win.
The world according to President Trump would be a very different place.
Canada depends heavily on the United States as a trading partner and ally. What happens when he builds a wall between us? Not necessarily a physical wall but certainly an economic wall.
What happens if he defaults on loans to China? What happens if he does force mass migration of millions of immigrants?
A world with Trump as the single most powerful player would be scary. I don't think Trump is an ignorant man and I suspect that if he is elected, he would radically tone down his remarks.
But the problem to me is one of respect. If you do not respect others and are not willing to recognize or listen to their point of view, how do you move forward as a civil society?
Maybe someone should explain En Cha Huna to him.
