‘a trinket.’
By Stephen Gray
Bauble: “a child’s cheap trinket.”
Trinket: “anything small and of little value; small
piece of inexpensive jewelry.”
(National Dictionary, 1941 Edition)
It would appear that the ring stolen by Svend
Robinson, while he was still an M.P. was only ‘a
bauble’ or ‘a trinket.’ That is what the judge in the
case is quoted as saying in a press report regarding
the theft. One wonders how the jewelry owners feel
about their expensive jewelry being described as
baubles and trinkets. Still, if the ring was only ‘a
bauble’ or ‘a trinket’ perhaps that explains the
paltry sentence the judge handed down. After all, if a
stolen $64,000 ring is only a ‘trinket’ why all the
fuss? But theft is supposed to be theft no matter how
small or big, and the criminal usually gets the
sentence that fits the crime. I guess stealing this
‘bauble’ is not much of a crime, for there was no
criminal record or jail time given. Though some
cynical people might ask the $64,000 question: Would
an ordinary Joe or Jane have gotten off so lightly?
Mr. Robinson has a past history of run-ins with the
law:
“1994: Pleads guilty to criminal contempt of court for
participating in an anti-logging blockade on Clayoquot
Sound. Was at bedside of Sue Rodriguez, who was
suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease, when a doctor
helped her commit suicide.”(CANOE C-NEWS,August 6,
2004.)
Mr. Robinson seems to bear a charmed life in the
courts of the land. His lawyer was quoted as saying,
that the theft: ‘Was a cry for help.’ It would appear
the court answered his cry, as witness this report:
“Former NDP MP Svend Robinson has received a
conditional discharge after pleading guilty to
stealing an expensive diamond ring from an auction.
Robinson faced a range of penalties from absolute
discharge to a maximum of 10 years in prison. The
conditional discharge means Robinson receives no jail
time and no criminal record if he meets a series of
conditions. The conditions include 100 hours of
community service.”
(CTV News, August 6, 2004.)
Oh well, at least after Mr. Robinson finishes his
“community service” he could someday be back on the
political scene. According to a newspaper report:
“Political watchers have said Robinson's sentence
won't bar him from again running for a seat in the
House of Commons,...” Doesn’t that make you feel good?
Should he eventually return to parliament he should
feel right at home with the Liberals. After all what’s
a stolen $64,000 ring compared to $100 million missing
in the Liberal Adscam Scandal. A bauble compared to
big bucks!!
Still, Mr. Robinson did receive support from a Liberal
M.P. a Red Tory, oops I mean a Conservative M.P., and
an NDP M.P. That old saying: “Politics makes strange
bedfellows” surely rings true; no pun intended.
Other support came from prominent people, including a
former judge. I guess it helps to have a judge in your
corner when you are cornered. Mr. Robinson is a lawyer
and what could be nicer than someone in the legal
profession speaking up for you. I mean, unions should
not be the only ones entitled to sing; “Solidarity
forever.” It is nice though, to see the legal
profession come down with a sentence that suits them
all. One might say justice did ring true to form. Is
that an awful pun? A cynic might say: It was judicial
Canadian consistency for those of favored status.
Still, I don’t think there was any “reading in” in
this case. Anyway, all's well that ends well.
“Justice” has been served. The bauble or trinket was
returned, just another piece of cheap jewelry that had
its day in court. Though, some might disagree with
the judge in this case describing a $64,000 ring as ‘a
bauble’ or ‘a trinket.’
Stephen Gray
August 7, 2004.
graysinfo@yahoo.ca website:
http://www.oocities.org/graysinfo