The CBC license approval has been delayed by the CRTC.
My spin, for what it’s worth: this gives the Cons some time to spin the benefits of privatizing / gutting the MotherCorp. Mark my words.
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Scribbling some perspective on Canada, Ottawa and whatever else crosses my mind…
The CBC license approval has been delayed by the CRTC.
My spin, for what it’s worth: this gives the Cons some time to spin the benefits of privatizing / gutting the MotherCorp. Mark my words.
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We have fairly suddenly become a nation of Hawks. War is good and it is necessary. Wave the flag mightily. Buy the best of the best for the troops.
Support the troops, dammit!
Our identity as brokers of peace and the keepers of peace is perhaps forever gone.
For some time now, the Harper government has appealed to Canadians’ sense of loyalty and patriotism in order to advance its own policies. Keep ’em waving the flag, they say, and we can pretty much say or do whatever we want.
In the broader context, Harper’s glorification of the armed services appears to fit his goal of stirring a new Canadian patriotism. Canada Day was an example as crowds of unprecedented size, displaying hero worship for non-heroes, turned out to cheer on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. As Harper beamed, Prince William spoke in superlatives about the work of the Canadian forces in Afghanistan.
Appeal to the base instincts and the insane purchase of those lemon fighter jets will be overlooked. We have to protect the troops! Are you against the troops having the best equipment? They say. Or like the bumper stickers say (and it ain’t a good policy unless it can be described on a bumper sticker)
If you’re not behind the troops, feel free to stand in front of them…
The Harperites love these bumper stickers. And dyed-in-wool conservatives love the military and Harper is at their lead.
Understand that despite the fact I am a pacifist, I acknowledge the need for the military in some circumstances in today’s world. And indeed, many of those who serve in the military deserve the respect of Canadians – especially those who perished in that ridiculous quagmire called Afghanistan. But I am very much against the glorification of the military. For example, having a military presence at citizenship ceremonies is in my mind completely ludicrous! The subtle support of our troops that has been the tradition of we Canucks has been something I have always been proud of.
Not so subtle anymore.
Of course, this begs the question: what will Harper do to keep the military front and centre in people’s minds now that the combat mission is over? Let’s see… those damned Swedes have been a bit cheeky lately… c’mon, my military friends… whaddya think???
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