Nelson Mandella, "I'm sharing the Order of Merit with who...?"
Hey, apparently there is a fire sale on the Queen's Order of Merit!
In the greatest devaluation of an award since Morgentaler was given the Order of Canada, today it was announced that Jean Chretien was awarded the Queen's Order of Merit yesterday - sharing that award now with Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandella, T.S. Eliot and Florence Nightingale.
What?!?
Yup, this is no April fools post - it's true. Queen Elizabeth II, clearly feeling the effects of the advanced stages of dementia, awarded Chretien the Order yesterday.
Every paper in Canada today has the same question, "Why?"
The little guy from Shawinigin was a lackluster Prime Minister, just slightly less inept than Joe Clark, however, where he did excel was in the area of bringing his party, almost single-handedly, into disrepute by being at the helm of the Adscam fiasco. Anyway you cut it, he has given Canada nothing of positive distinction, and, at he end of the day, his shoes will always carry the stench of having walked through the Adscam debacle.
Mr. Small-town cheap makes it big.
It's an embarrassment to all Canadians.
And, sadly, it truly cheapens the award for those who truly deserve international recognition, people like Nelson Mandella, Mother Theresa, T.S. Elliott and Florence Nightingale. On behalf of all Canadians, I apologize to them for this inglorious offence.
Reason enough to remove any vestiges of connection between Canada and this pointless Monarchy.
11 comments:
Wow. Now you're speaking for Nelson Mandela as well as all Canadians and are representing the opinion articulated in every paper in the country?
Delusions of grandeur much?
Nelson Mandela is an unrepentant Marxist whose party murdered its way to power.
Chretien can only dream of being as worshiped as that man, but he does share some similarities in that they both used thuggery to get their way.
I wonder how long it will take for the above commenter to be mentored by one of his co-partisans?
Actually, a good proportion of CPC supporters do believe Mandela is a terrorist because Conservative MP Rob Anders told them so.
*sigh*
TG, you're so predictible.
How about stepping out off that ledge and putting your own thoughts out there? Do you think Chretien did anything of such significance as to put him in the company of the other recipients?
(And kursk, I happen to disagree with your characterizatino of Mandella. The restraint showed by him in helping to lead to a relatively peaceful change in power and avoid an all-out blood bath after the treatment of blacks under apartheid is reason enough for every white South African to kiss his feet.) I do have questions over his political views, which appear to have clearly moderated, however, as is so often the case, what us Capitalists fail to acknoweldge is the creation of a communist state so frequently follows upon the worst excesses of tyranical so-called "capitalist" rule.
I heard hockey great Bobby Orr didn't want his Hockey Hall of Fame
Membership because Alan Eagleson was to be inducted in the HHOF. What would we say if he got the Order of Canada? Does he deserve it? Maybe we're going a little to far.
Do you think Chretien did anything of such significance as to put him in the company of the other recipients?
What is this about again? The Academy Awards? The Golden Globes? Canada's Most Smartest Prime Minister?
Yes, I am predictable (although I like to think of it as consistent). I don't care what people believe but I'm critical of how they argue their cases (which I think you'd appreciate, Counsellor). I just think it's really presumptuous for you to claim to speak for all the people you did in this post.
Chrétien kept us out of Iraq. For that, he has my undying respect. I could on about other things...95 referendum, good fiscal management, endowment of university research chairs...but frankly, I don't feel like arguing with people whose memory doesn't go further back than last week.
The low-class smears about stealing bazillions from the national treasury need be put to rest already. If you want to talk about "small town cheap," look no further than that.
Face it. You don't like Chrétien because you're an Albertan and you hate Eastern Canadian politicians.
Born into a poorer rural family and was the 18th of 19 children, he suffered from a physical disability since childhood. He was elected to represent his federal riding for 32 of 41 years and by virtue of leading his party headed our government for 10 years. No politician is squeaky clean and everyone has done something in their past that they’re not proud of, even, I suspect Nelson Mandela. I understand that being named to the Order of Merit is the Queen’s prerogative. I’m not sure what her reasons were, but I might hazard a guess that partisan politics weren’t one of them. Besides which of the living Canadian prime ministers would you have had her name? Brian Mulroney?
Ok.. here's my non-partisan spin.. if I was going to give the award to any one Prime Minister (get ready to fall over TG) I'd give it to Trudeau.
He very ably managed this country through a period of terrorist activity by the FLQ, he (not Chretien) repatriated our Constitution and brought in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.. which, in my mind, is the single most significant piece of legislation brought to bear in Canada by any Prime Minister since John A. Macdonald.
Now - I think the Courts have in some respects abused the intent of the Charter, but the concept of the State being subject to the Rule of Law, which was not truly inherent in this Country until the Charter is monumentally important. My vote goes, therefore, to that perrennial enemy of Alberta, Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau.
Ya, and Lester Pearson and MacKenzie King also received this award.
You know what - it's the Queen's own personal award and she can give to anyone she wants without your opinion, views, partisanship.
It's HER choice - not yours. Get over it.
Hey, how come Conartist Black still has his order of Canada? Double-standard anyone?
if I was going to give the award to any one Prime Minister (get ready to fall over TG) I'd give it to Trudeau.
The recipient of the Order of Merit has to be living.
TG, yes, I'm aware of that.. I'm just saying IF he was alive, he is about the only PM worthy.
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