Archive for May, 2011
This is a Local Pub, For Local People
by admin on May.27, 2011, under Uncategorized
The Globe and Mail, Canada’s only newspaper that’s left that’s worth half a damn, reported some interesting new bits on Steve-O Harper thumbing his nose at anybody not in his Conservative cabal. Hell, this guy has some sort of messianic complex. He’s no longer content just with ruining Canadian democracy! No, now he’s taking on the world! You go, Stevie! Show ‘em all!
The entire rational world is backing Barack Obama’s avowal that the 1967 borders between Israel and Palestine are what should be respected in peace negotiations, and everybody sane supports him in this, including the leaders of 6 of the other G8 nations. Who doesn’t? Our pre-eminent and benevolent leader of course, PM Harper. Now to be honest, I really don’t really want to get into this issue, as it’s a lose-lose proposition. If you argue one way, you’re accused of anti-semitism, and if you argue the other way, you’re accused of cultural insensitivity. However, if I had to choose, I would agree with 7 of the most powerful leaders in the world, not the one idiot standing to the side. “Mr. Harper clearly is the odd man out on this one, and it won’t do him any favours” says a British official. This British official obviously knows absolutely nothing about Canadian politics. Stephen Harper, it seems, doesn’t much care what anybody else thinks.
Second ‘fuck the international world’ moment of Canada’s week. Harper pledges not to commit any Canadian funds to building democracy in transitionary Africa, again, going against, well, everybody else who matters. He thinks the international institutions should do it, like it’s an either/or proposition. Maybe we could support it a bit too Stephen, or are you just not such a big fan of democracy?
Part 3: we’re still playing hardball with Russia over the Arctic. Now, Russia is not exactly known as the easiest negotiating partner, that’s for sure, and I respect Harper’s attempts to fight for Canada’s interests up there (although maybe not his reasons. Can we not give the whales at least one place to go where we’re not constantly trying to drill their blowholes for oil?). However, then I find out that the Norwegians managed to successfully negotiate with Russia. Have you seen them? Lovely people, but they look like Ahab, and ALL they care about is oil (it’s what’s made them one of the richest countries in the world). If they can do it, so can you Steve. Let’s see a little effort.
So why is Harper taking such a hardline against the other 6.740.000.000 people on this earth who aren’t Canadian? Well, he’s made it clear all he cares about are domestic interests, and the people seemed to respond to that in the last election. Still, he’s got four years now to do what he wants, so why pander? Harper is shrewd, and what does he hope to gain from this? Does he have so much disdain for the rest of the world (and a great proportion of Canada) that he thinks he can just ignore them? He didn’t care about what we thought under a minority situation, so why not massage your ego and play on a world stage now, when we can’t hurt you? Oh wait, maybe I answered my own question. It’s short man syndrome. The one guy who has no power decides to make himself look big by hiding the bully’s toy. Way to go, man. However, keep in mind, Steve, you DO NOT represent my Canada, so try to remember 60.4% of the population who didn’t vote for you, okay?
Meanwhile, big kudos to Jack Layton for vowing not to heckle in Parliament, and to return some sense of dignity to the most undignified gathering in the land. Politics aside, it’s a classy move for any party to take, and I hope he sticks to it. Maybe if Stephen Harper took up a similar pledge, I’d have a little more respect for the blank-eyed automaton.
Meanwhile, I call for the rest of the G8 to kick us out already. We are not that important and obviously aren’t reasonable enough to play with the big boys, so cut the dead weight and return to the G7. Also, have a song. At least we can dance our way to the apocalypse. I think this one is particularly apt.
Sincerely,
One Man, Shouting at the Aether
