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Mark Steyn : Flag of Convenience (Mark contemplates some recent Canadian lowjinks)
The Western Standard ^ | May 3, 2004 | Mark Steyn

Posted on 05/14/2004 11:15:35 AM PDT by quidnunc

Three revolting performances assailed Canadians within the space of 48 hours the other day:

1) The Prime Minister’s stirring “We shall fight them on the beaches [of Norway]” speech.

2) Svend Robinson’s press conference, which was either his farewell to politics or his audition for the forthcoming Coconut Grove dinner-theatre production of La Cage Aux Folles.

3) Madame Khadr’s rousing “My name is Maha and I AM CANADIAN!” non-alcoholic Molson ad.

The last performance reminds us that Canada, like the Bermuda ensigns fluttering from Paul Martin’s “Canada Steamships”, is a flag of convenience. Just as some dodgy vessels find it more convenient to travel the world on Bermudan or Liberian papers, so too much of the human traffic finds it more convenient to travel the world on Canadian papers — ships that pass in the night, so to speak.

The Prime Minister is not himself Bermudan, despite his business interests. If the Governor of the colony were to spring a sudden speaking invitation on Mr Martin, it would be unreasonable to expect him to be able to deliver an address on aspects of Bermudan history. Alas for us, it’s apparently also unreasonable to expect the Prime Minister of Canada to be able to deliver an address on aspects of Canadian history:

“Sixty years ago, Canadians were working alongside their British and American allies planning for the invasion of Norway and the liberation of Europe,” Mr Martin told 350 members of what’s left of our armed forces at CFB Gagetown. “Today, it is every bit as important that Canada step forward — just as we did during the invasion of Norway.”

The Norwegian references, like the rest of the speech, passed the scrutiny of who knows how many speechwriters and aides in the PMO. No one thought, “Hey, that doesn’t sound quite right. Remember the 40th anniversary of D-Day in 1984, when the G-G couldn’t make it, and Pierre didn’t want Canada represented by the Queen so he inserted himself into the ceremony as the embodiment of the Dominion’s wartime effort? I could swear all the road signs as we drove from the airport were in French, not Norwegian.”

-snip-

(Excerpt) Read more at steynonline.com ...


TOPICS: Canada; Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: anotherdamnexcerpt; canada; marksteyn

1 posted on 05/14/2004 11:15:36 AM PDT by quidnunc
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To: quidnunc
“Today, it is every bit as important that Canada step forward — just as we did during the invasion of Norway.”

Canada is lost - why don't we just get this over with and let Alberta join as the fifty-first state?
2 posted on 05/14/2004 11:39:33 AM PDT by Rummyfan
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To: quidnunc

Beaches of Norway???

All all the Grits idiots or is it just most of them?


3 posted on 05/14/2004 11:50:25 AM PDT by GreenLanternCorps (Hit Tagline, Win Suit - Abe Stark)
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To: quidnunc

4 posted on 05/14/2004 11:52:44 AM PDT by GreenLanternCorps (Hit Tagline, Win Suit - Abe Stark)
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To: quidnunc
“Today, it is every bit as important that Canada step forward — just as we did during the invasion of Norway.”

He's just pinin' for the fjords!

5 posted on 05/14/2004 12:24:38 PM PDT by AZLiberty (Of course, you realize this means war! -- Bugs Bunny, borrowing from Groucho Marx)
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To: Rummyfan

Yes!


6 posted on 05/14/2004 1:23:24 PM PDT by gymbeau (Alberta: the 51st State! Now, more than ever!)
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To: GreenLanternCorps
All of them!
7 posted on 05/14/2004 1:37:46 PM PDT by Little Bill (John F'n Kerry is Swine, I want to see the Ms's tax returns!)
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To: AZLiberty
“Today, it is every bit as important that Canada step forward — just as we did during the invasion of Norway.”

Actually, as I recall (from the history books, being much to young to have witnessed it first hand - lol), weren't Canadian troops the primary assault force at the invasion of Dieppe?

You know, the one in Norway where they were thrown back? The one that failed.
8 posted on 05/14/2004 2:11:10 PM PDT by Gorjus
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To: quidnunc

Our resident Canadians are silent on this thread...weird isn't it? :p


9 posted on 05/20/2004 10:46:21 PM PDT by NZerFromHK
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