And then you encourage those young minds to think for themselves, and to forge their own identity, based on a deep and wide base of thought and knowledge. We encourage that in our young people at home, at school, at work, and in the community because we believe it will allow them to become the best possible human beings that they have the potential to become. Culture has for too long been regarded as peripheral to the thinking and action of the Big Boys who make international economic and trade decisions. Culture is the heart and soul of a nation and a central force in every human life. Culture is what gives us individual and societal identity.
Culture is what is passed on through the ages.
Cultural security leads to an openness to the world. An internationalist approach to affairs. A willingness to trade. The opposite is also true. It is unfortunate that for too long, thoughtful cultural discussions have often been hijacked by trade policy disputes.