It's tight but a slim majority of Canadians support Prime Ministers Harper's position on the Israel/Lebanon crisis. Harper is supporting Israel's right to defend itself. Not surprisingly, Quebecers are less than enthusiastic. If there is one thing Quebecers have remained consistent on is their steadfast refusal to partake in any war. In a way, they are right. If there is no direct interest to Quebec or Canada why fight?
Here's the thing. It's an important issue. It's an international issue. We are part of the international system. We want to play a role in that system - especially if we want to project Canadian 'values' whatever they may be. I'm not sure staying neutral for the sake of staying neutral is an honorable thing.
Everything in Canada comes down to votes and what Quebec thinks. That's what happens when you ignore your international role and remained focused on domestic issues - you become small minded and narrow in your intellectual scope.
With Harper, while this strategy remains, at least he is leading the country and has taken a refreshing stand. For 15 years we were a backward, bankrupted bunch of buffoons. Now some integrity has been restored.
Stephen Harper is a different leader Canadians were accustomed to - he's an economist rather than a lawyer. We may disagree with him and his party on certain if not many issues but it is nice to see Canada becoming a medium player again.
"For 15 years we were a backward, bankrupted bunch of buffoons"?
ReplyDeleteFunny, I seem to have slept through that bit.
Backward, by legalising gay marriage, almost decriminalising dope, and refusing to be bullied into participating in the invasion of Iraq?
Bankrupted, by running a surplus that was handed to the conservatives?
Buffoons? Yes, but certainly not any more buffoonish than the clowns in power now.
Or maybe this passage was intended to be ironic? (I appreciate a good bit of alliteration regardless.)
I like aliteration too. I couldn't resist. In my opinion, those are secondary domestic issues. On the wider and more important aspects that sustain national sovereignty (somewhat an oxymoron in Caada these days) the Liberals took buffoonery onto another level. Public health is in shambles (if we use waiting times and equipment as parameters), our reputation as peacekeepers was more myth than reality as our military was allowed to whither, our economy performed well but it remains semi-diversified, our foreign policy was not driven by principles or values but political expediency and lest we forget the shameless and rudderless behaviour they showed during the 1995 referendum. Inter-provincial barriers continue to make a mockery of this country, they lied about the GST in their tired little Red Book and continued to pander to Quebec. Above all, they were perhaps one of the most corrupt bunch of immoral politicians in years. Mulroney may have made nepotism into n art form but Chretien and his cronies were outright criminals in some ways and they laughed in the apathetic Canadian public face. What they did with Adscam is no better than what we see in third world tin-pot countries. They thought to be above Parliament and acted as such. Yes, we have moved closer to a North American alliance (pushed by both parties) but to many Canadians this is not necessarily a bad thing. Mel Hurtig may have his views on this issue but I am not convinced. Frankly, I was not impressed by how Canada chose to deal with Iraq. History will no dout judge us poorly on this - Iraq still has a chance of succeeding odds notwithstanding. Harper is bringing back the concept of leadership in this country. The civil service has been reinvigorated. It's not necessairly the party per se but how an political organism projects itself to its own people and abroad. Here I think the Conservatives are miles ahead of any Canadian party. I have no idea what and how the Conservatives do. Maybe they are buffoonsin waiting but we needed a change. After the intellectual bankruptcy we saw with the Liberals I welcome the Conservatives. We all should. If they mess up then we have a big problem because the Liberals still don't get it. Darn, no aliteration here. But I do appreciate a good old fashioned debate. Keep it coming!
ReplyDeleteYour response has brought to life certain dormant long-term questions I have wrestled with in times past.
ReplyDeleteGive me a week, or possibly a month (I am frequently without internet access during the summer) and I *will* deal with your Canada-hating comments.
Would it be dishonourable to acknowledge them on my own weblog, rather than here in "Comments Corner"?
This comments GUI seems uncommonly stuffy...
Your call...
Pags, it's your call. But I do want to clarify one thing. This is not Canada-hating. This is 1990s Liberal party-bashing. Big difference. The problem with me is that I know my Canadian history unlike so many. There is no doubt this country took a wrong turn somewhere. It succeeds in spit of itself. Many aspects of nationhood that make up a great nation are absent here - though I am aware we have many great points. Many great scholars, academics, former diplomats or commentators have admitted as much. It's not enough to say 'we're great and we smell lovely' anymore. There are enough of us to warrant concern. Canada is my home and I defend it. However, I will not defend the inexcusable. If Harper messes up I will be the first to say so. I hold no particular allegiance to any party. It's easy to be center in Canada because we don't have a true Conservative versus Liberal heritage anymore. In a way, that's why I am happy Harper is values-oriented (whether we agree with them or not) leader whereas Chretien was a political operator that was independent from ideas or values. I'm on the side of Canada and its history. Say what you must but I vigourously challenge that this is Canada-bashing. Look forward to reading your response. Where do you live?
ReplyDeleteYou have to also admit that it's nice to finally have 2 1/2 parties back in Parliamentary debates. The 90s were unhealthy politically speaking. Taking the position that "well, at least it's the Liberals" or "the devil you know" or "they are all the same" as many Canadians did only erodes democratic choices. The Cons. are offering options and, well, Canadians have responded.
ReplyDelete