I’m not going to pretend that today requires my vote in some critical history-changing way. Everybody already knows where I stand on the issue, I trust. So although I’m going to enjoy watching as the results and analysis comes in on our new NDP prime minister (I jest) I don’t plan on influencing either.
I do think that the best article that has been penned on this subject so far comes from a fiscal conservative after my own heart, Lawrence Solomon:
It’s a free country. Don’t vote if you don’t want to, no matter how many people try to badger or bully you into rearranging your day to suit their agenda. If they’d rather stand in line for an hour or two to cast a ballot that has a one-in-a-trillion chance of being the deciding vote, more power to them. If you’d rather enjoy a beer with your buddies or catch up on your chores, more power to you.
On a more important note, has Barack Obama really lost his mind? First he thinks it’s important to ensure Muslim sensibilities are not inflamed (a near impossible task) by refusing to show body evidence of the death of one of history’s biggest mass murderers. Then he quietly gives that same murderer a proper religious funeral at sea before the body has been displayed for all to see.
These Yanks have no idea what they’re doing. Billy Shakespeare knows how to display a tyrant:
SIWARD
He’s worth no more
They say he parted well, and paid his score:
And so, God be with him! Here comes newer comfort.
Re-enter MACDUFF, with MACBETH’s headMACDUFF
Hail, king! for so thou art: behold, where stands
The usurper’s cursed head: the time is free:
I see thee compass’d with thy kingdom’s pearl,
That speak my salutation in their minds;
Whose voices I desire aloud with mine:
Hail, King of Scotland!
No one cares if you vote or crap your pants..Like you say it is a free world..So maybe you would prefer crapping your pants..Who knew??
I only agree that if one has no opinion, or feels one doesn’t have an important stake in the results, or is equally turned off by all Parties, or even worse the young people who don’t have a clue about the issues: Then it may be better to not vote rather than voting for something important like a smile or who you would rather have a beer with !
By the way, Adrian, the above is directed as a general remark to readers, and I respect your decision, although I wish you would vote the way I would like.
In the other discussion thread we already tried to convince you otherwise ( some with more respect than others )
As to the Bin Laden thing burring him at sea could and will probably inflame the Muslim World and giving him a documented proper burial might have been a better idea showing respect for the Religion but not necessarily respect for Bib Laden himself.
Not creating a pilgrimage site for a martyr could have been handled differently maybe ( don’t know how though ? ).
Dude, your meds…
I think they could have burned him in a crematorium. No more shrine. I also think they could have shown his dead body to bring better closure to the whole thing. The conspiracy theorists won’t rest now.
I always wonder when Governments seem to make bone head mistakes if they ever sit down first and figure out what the negative optics of what they are doing will play out i.e. look at any decision from the opposite side to anticipate the consequences ?
Getting expert advice about cultural or religious sensibilities might be a good idea also.
Now if what you want is to offend or insult as part of your strategy it would be one thing but stumbling along and offending by accidents is not intelligent.
Burn bridges only if you are ready to fight a total war or don’t fight at all !
I think Obama was pandering to Muslims again. And in typical fashion the strategy backfired. They’re still angry at him, they still mourn his death and they still don’t think he was given a proper funeral.
Watching the results tonight: Conservative majority although narrow is welcome as it should mean an election-free period of at least 4 years. Even though the CPC increased its popular vote AND increase the number of seats, my LEAST favorite minister, Lawrence Cannon, was defeated. He always seemed like DFAIT was too much for him, and I’d love to see the new CPC star, Chris Alexander, get that portfolio. AND my least favorite opposition MP, Mark Holland, appears to have been defeated in Toronto: I would’ve happily endured another CPC minority if it meant the end of Mr. Holland. At this writing the Bloc are down to 3 SEATS! Dust bin of history, etc.
I look forward to it. It’ll be funny to see the left’s “scary” Harper image shattered. But then again, cutting $7 million is scary, so maybe it won’t.
I hope to see a more relaxed and open Harper who can now let down the drawbridge to the castle and not have to be as defensive as he had to be with a minority Government and a hostile media: I don’t expect him to be warm and fuzzy, but I expect that we might see him smiling more often and maybe show himself more to Canadians in ” human form ”
LOL. No more RoboHarper?
Maybe ?
My understanding from watching the TeeVee is that, to reduce the “inflamed passions” of the Muslim “street” the body was washed according to Muslim custom, and a Muslim cleric was on hand when they threw it over the side of the aircraft carrier.