1—Today’s makes-me-happy thought!
Tina Keeper, star of the aboriginal CBC drama North of 60, is expected to confirm that she is going to run for the Liberals in the Manitoba riding of Churchill in the next election.
Excellent news. Not only is she a talented actress, a strong advocate of social issues, and an amazing role model for both women and natives all across Canada, she’s also running against MP Bev Desjarlais, who was kicked out of her caucus for voting against same-sex marriage. We should all be happy at the prospect of replacing a loser — out-of-touch with modern life — with the winning potential of a candidate such as Ms. Keeper.
As a side note, if you haven’t caught an episode of North of 60 in reruns…what the hell is wrong with you? Watch it, and you too will realize (a) the breathtaking scope of this series, (b) the talent of Ms. Keeper, and (c) why only public broadcasting can bring you such glorious programming.
2—Today’s BITE ME candidate!
I nominate Quebec poet Raymond Lévesque, who insults the Governor-General, the Canadian people, and my intelligence with his ridiculous posturing, as relayed in today’s Globe and Mail:
Governor-General Michaëlle Jean has found herself snagged in a fresh controversy in her home province of Quebec after a high-profile sovereigntist announced he would not accept a lifetime achievement award from her.
Raymond Lévesque, a poet and iconic figure in the separatist movement, has refused the Governor-General’s Performing Arts Award in part because of comments Ms. Jean made in her maiden speech in September.
While widely lauded by English Canadians, Ms. Jean’s call for an end to two solitudes drew some criticism in Quebec, where she was taken to task for not mentioning Canada’s French fact and its two founding peoples.
“There are two nations in Canada, and I found it insulting that she doesn’t recognize that we’re a distinct people,” Mr. Lévesque, 77, said yesterday in an interview. “We can remain in Canada, but at least we should be recognized as distinct. I found it very vexing.”
I try not to be crude most of the time, but Mr. Levesque can blow it out his ass! His posturing is nothing more than medieval tribalism and petty nationalism that belongs down in the black 20th century pit of jingoistic narcissism from which it gestated! Canada has no more time for separatist crap — the 21st century is about Canada as a pluralistic, multicultural, global society, where ALL cultures blend together as one.
Mr. Levesque is a dinosaur. The sooner we encourage the extinction of him and his kind, the better off we will all be! And if Jacques Parizeau is listening, please feel free to join Mr. Levesque in oblivion…
