Canadian Self-Satisfaction

Generations of Canadians have sewn little Canadian flags onto their backpacks when travelling abroad, in order to avoid being taken for US-Americans. At its most vapid, this tradition is probably inspired by nothing more than a vague, self-satisfied notion that Canadians are great and US-Americans are stupid. The more cognizant have some idea that the USA has created a lot of enemies in the world either through arrogance, imperialism or both, whereas Canada "doesn't have any enemies." (Which is a nicer way of saying that most people don't really know who the fuck we are.) Then there are Canadians who realize that if Canada is well regarded it's because of things like peace-keeping, the landmines ban, the relative impartiality on the world stage, and the reputation of being a tolerant, welcoming society.



Well, this torture thing is going to change all that, unless we do something about it. And, like I've been saying for the past few days, we CAN do something about that. But it has to be serious. Those among our politicians who have committed war crimes must be tried and punished by the Canadian justice system. And then, in the aftermath of this, the idiots who got us into this mess must GODDAMN LISTEN to those of us who knew that the Afghanistan "mission" would be a disaster if we tried to "build democracy" in a half-assed, cynical fashion.

And I've focused on this because it's the easiest way to have a huge effect on our debased political culture. This is so clear that we have two options as Canadians: Throw harper's fat ass in prison, or allow our country to go on record as being an international war criminal, aided and abetted by an apathetic populace.

But, if we choose the path of righteousness, and impose the rule of law upon a lawless government, we mustn't stop there. Fired up from our victory, we should then turn our attention to other areas where Canada's politicians disgrace this country and invite the scorn and hatred of the rest of the world:

Punish the Killers of Robert Dziekanski.

Shut-down the Alberta Tar Sands project.

Reform the Afghan "mission" (with the start being pulling Canadian troops and replacing them with UN troops from suitable Muslim countries).

Provide huge reconstruction aid to Haiti's government and CEASE AND DESIST the harrassment of Lavalas and BRING ARISTIDE BACK TO HAITI.

Condemn the dictators of Honduras.

Be a leader in the response to global warming.

Recognize and rebuild the sovereignty of the First Nations.