Chretien: The Politics of Disregard
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It's ten a.m. and the alarm clock that is the future of Canada is once again blaring. We've hit the snooze button enough times that we're seriously behind now. What to do, what to do?
While it's understandable that Jean Chretien and his Liberals have rendered us too exhausted to think about getting up, the fact remains that the future awaits and we simply cannot be a part of it as long as we remain in bed with the covers drawn so far over our heads that we cannot see the world outside, nor hear its call. We cower there, not realizing that each time we hit that snooze button, the more we allow to pass us by.
This is not to say that there isn't understandable reason for doing so. Is it not natural to want to hide and retreat from all things nasty? Certainly we can all understand this, but there are those of us who have realized that the only way to eliminate all things nasty from our lives is to throw back the covers and respond to the alarm clock - confronting them head on. While indeed nasty, the prospect of yet another Liberal government is something we must climb out of bed and face if we desire a brighter future.
Canadians are not fighters.
By and large, Canadians have embraced the well-earned reputation that we'd rather put up with something than fight about it. We revel in the glory of taking what some argue is the "higher road".
Jean Chretien has also earned himself a reputation, and it is because of our apathetic taking of that "higher road" that he holds the distinction of being known as "Teflon Jean". Nothing sticks to him. Nothing... and it's our fault. We've rolled over and pulled the old woolen blanket over our heads, allowing our future to be shaped by the politics of disregard. Without realizing what we've done, we've accepted the message that the way to handle a bully whose legacy is his disregard for anyone and anything other than his own ambitions and self, is to retreat under the covers, hoping that if we stay there long enough, he'll go away.
The bullying.
What do you call a boy who has no regard for the authority of his parents, no regard or care for how he treats other children, no regard for whether or not he does what he says, who has no common sense, who intimidates other children and who has no regard for the faith of his family? What also, do you call a boy who in the use of these traits, pushes other children around to his own benefit?
Chances are, you call him a bully.
Jean Chretien is that bully, albeit fully grown. Perhaps that makes this all the more a reason for Canadians to get out of bed and realize that leaving a bully to do his bullying only guarantees that more people will be hurt. Where bullying is involved, no road is definitely not the high road and woolen blankets might make us feel temporarily secure but eventually, we all have to come out from under the blanket. Bullies are always still there when you come out... often with new ideas on how to torment you.
Jean Chretien is like the boy with no regard for authority. Gleefully, he announces his name "unequivocally" cleared by the investigation into his lobbying for a $615,000 loan for Yvon Duhaime in 1997.[1] Hardly. Explains Conservative leader Joe Clark, "Mr. Chrétien gets off on a
technicality. This does not exonerate the Prime Minister." and I have to agree. Being unable to be held responsible for a wrong simply because of a flaw in a set of laws does not "unequivocally" clear one of having done the wrong, it simply means that the hands of others are tied in their ability to punish one for having done the wrong. Mr. Chretien shows that he is that little boy with no regard for authority. The message we hear loud and clear is that the bully will do whatever he pleases so long as he can get away with it.
Jean Chretien is like the boy with no regard for how he treats other people. Like his mentor, the late Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Chretien has never shown much regard for those of us west of Ontario or for that matter, Canadians anywhere who doubt his Liberal vision for Canada.
Jean Chretien is like the boy with no regard for whether or not he does what he says. Perhaps the saddest example of this yet, was given to the Canadian people during the televised election debates. Following a poor and embarrassing performance, Mr. Chretien was asked to tell Canadians what he had been able to do for Canada through his terms as Prime Minister. Despite the many promises made to the Canadian people, none so memorable perhaps as those made through the infamous "red books", Mr. Chretien was at a loss to "unequivocally" state anything positive he had actually done for Canadians.
Jean Chretien is like the boy with no regard for common sense. Mr. Chretien (and partners), after suffering considerable losses on it, sold the Auberge Grand-Mère in Shawinigan to Yvon Duhaime in 1993. Mr. Duhaime, considered a "very high global risk" by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), was not able to secure the 615,000 loan he sought in 1997. Mr. Chretien admitted last week, to telephoning François Beaudoin, then president of the BDC, on behalf of Mr. Duhaime. Mr. Duhaime subsequently defaulted on the loan, and Mr. Chretien attempts to maintain he did nothing wrong. In fact, Mr. Chretien claims that those (including Conservative Party leader Joe Clark and Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day) who have pushed for investigation, are ruining his "good name" and demeaning the "political process". Where is Mr. Chretien's common sense? Where Mr. Chretien not to have engaged in such a questionable endorsement and overstepping of authority, there would be no questioning of his "good name". Where is Mr. Chretien's common sense in realizing that just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should? Technically, every seven year old boy in Canada canset fire to their neighbour's fence with little consequence. Does that meant they should?
Mr. Chretien is like the boy who intimidates other children. Recall the pepper spray fiasco, recall his threats to Alberta and Quebec and recall his improper comments to female reporters. Notice now that Mr. Duhaime has informed La Presse that without the approval of Mr. Chretien, he could not talk about the current situation regarding the BDC loan. Agreeing to speak upon approval from Mr.Chretien, Mr. Duhaime was then not able to speak to the media following the refusal of the Prime Minister's press secretary. No explanation was given as to why Mr. Duhaime needed Mr. Chretien's permission before speaking, but this writer is sure that Canadians are smart enough to understand the reason despite the reason not being given. Bullies generally don't have an explanation for why they bully.
Jean Chretien is like the boy with no regard for the faith of his family. While professing to be a "devout" Catholic, Jean Chretien has done the equivalent of "flipping the bird" at the Catholic Church. Standing firm in his support for abortion and non-support for the family unit, he has blatantly advocated abortion while speaking at a Catholic High School[2] . Despite the fact that Pope John Paul II has clearly stated that devout Catholics must place defense of life before all other issues[3] , despite the fact Canadian Archbishop Marcel Gervais of Ottawa has publicly chastised him for his position on life issues[4] , despite the fact that honest to goodness devout Catholic Canadians are outraged at his blatant disregard of the Catholic faith, he remains steadfastly insistant that he is a "good" Catholic.
Perhaps Mr. Chretien's lack of common sense as well as his lack of regard for his faith is also responsible for why he views himself a "good" Catholic while picking up public endorsement from none other than pro-abortion, secular humanist Dr. Henry Morgenthaler himself[5].
Vindication
While Canadians might be reluctant to shed their image of politely unanimated "tolerance", we must realize that in remaining "tolerant" of a man so deeply intolerant of anything he doesn't personally approve of, we risk subjecting ourselves as well as our children and their children to a country that has accepted being bullied into submission. Because we dare not give the impression that we are "radical", we instead allow ourselves to be lied to, pushed around, robbed and laughed at while we hide beneath the blanket. We hope that if we cower there long enough, the bully will go away and we'll be able to come out and enjoy life. We haven't realized that while we were hiding under the blanket, the bully has stolen our lunch money, kicked in our fence and in general, left our world an ugly place.
Wake up Canadians. Get out of bed, throw off that blanket and confront the bully. Canada is much more than a stomping ground for Jean Chretien. Refuse to give Jean Chretien our lunch money for even one more day. Refuse to tolerate his repeated disregard for common sense, refuse to tolerate his intolerance for anything that doesn't benefit Jean Chretien. Refuse to tolerate his disregard for family and refuse to tolerate his disregard for faith. We can do this. Standing up to a bully might make us feel queasy, make us quake in sheer terror as we rise instead of hiding, and simply say NO to his demands for his desires. It is however, the one act that will assuredly make us feel the most pride. Stand up to Jean Chretien this November 27, confront the bully with all the strength you have to offer... your vote.
Sources:
[1] National Post article, "Ethics boss: no rules, no foul", November 22/00 (see http://www.nationalpost.com/h ome/story.html?f=/stories/20001122/)
Copyright 11/00 by Sass Seagal. Not to be reproduced in any fashion, in whole or in part, without written consent from the author. All rights reserved.
by WFL founder, Sass Seagal
[2] Lifesite Daily New article, "Canadian Prime Minister Promotes Abortion at Catholic High School", November 1/00 (see http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2000/nov/001101.html#1
[3] Evangelium Vitae, "The Gospel of Life" , Pope John Paul II, 1995 (see http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031995_evangelium-vitae_en.html)
[4] Lifesite Daily News article, "Ottawa Bishop Slams Prime Minister's Comments at Catholic School", November 3/00 (see http://www.lsn.ca/ldn/2000/nov/001103.html
and
Lifesite Daily News article, "Pro-Lifers Praise Archbishop's Frank Comments about PM", June 1/00 (see http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2000/june/000601.html#1
[5] Lifesite Daily News article "Morgentaler's Nov 20th statement delivered in a press conference today", November 21/00 (see http://www.lsn.ca/ldn/2000/nov/001121.html#1
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