I've had my own regrettable exchange with the man (something about the present catching up to me, and the future leaving me in the dust), who congratulated me (accused me) for my role in returning Canada to colonial status. The temptation is to do as he has done and lash out, but two people wrestling in the mud only gets both dirty. Better to keep calm and carry on (egad, there's that Britishness again).
It is strange thing though for a reputable historian to be ashamed of his country's inheritance, who adamantly wants to sever all identifiable links and ties with the past. He's an odd fish: a pro-military Liberal republican who will chastize anyone for holding anti-American views, but who himself is anti-British to his very core. He would probably deny this, but why else can he not fathom the thought that our britishness (small b) is inextricably part of our national identity. He finds it 'appalling' and 'abjectly colonial'.
Make no mistake, what is really going on is a simple return to normal. After forty years of pretending we were not a monarchy (successive governments have done their best to diminish and belittle it), we have a prime minister who is actually (shock!) loyal to Canada's heritage and traditions and is deliberately turning the clock back to its proper time. He is making the country into "a very unLiberal Canada" for the obvious reason that a nation's heritage should not be owned by any one particular political party, and the 8.1 percent who agree with Jack are having an extremely difficult time of it. The present has finally caught up to them, so to speak, and their political future is very bleak indeed.
The last word goes to a commenter,
If, after waking in the morning, Mr. Granatstein isn't embarassed by this petulant rubbish, then his family ought to be deeply concerned for him. Jeffrey Simpson who wrote a similarly contemptuous piece last year should sue him for plagiarism.
Pierre Trudeau entrenched the monarchy in the Constitution Act, 1982 as part of a deal to get his precious 'Charter of Rights and Freedoms'. After three decades of Liberal governments pretending that it was abolished, the current government is re-introducing Canada as it actually is with an ancient Crown covered in maples.
The only thing leaking in Mr. Granatstein's fantasy is his once-admired reputation.
Jack Granatstein: Winning the award for "the lowest overall tone".
Interesting, sir.
ReplyDeleteI would have loved to go on, but then that's me.
On a related note, my latest poll at Wilson Revolution Unplugged showed no votes for this being a return to colonialism.
Congratulations on your victory in this case.
As the 'comenter' quoted above, may I underscore my point that whilst there has been in the past and can be in the present intelligent discussion concerning the future of the monarchy in Canada, it is somewhat disturbing to be habitually presented with such vitriolic diarrhea from Mr. Granatstein.
ReplyDeleteEver since the welcome restoration of the titles 'RCN' and 'RCAF', the man has, by all acounts, become unhinged. It is perhaps further evidence of the penetrable depth of the Liberal malaise following their disastrous performance and loss of support in the country.
It must be very difficult for one who is regarded, not only by his peers, but indeed by his own self, as a preferred member of Canada's entitled Liberal elite that has dominated Canadian culture since Lester Pearson's launching of a 'New Canada'.
That elite, that has included Liberal personages from the media, the arts, universities and the like, is now rendered void of influence in matters of state. The ability to define Canada at whim and by virtue of the Liberal brand no longer applies. Stephen Harper, the Conservatives, and the circumstances of the political landscape through three elections have permitted the non-Liberal and actual Canada to re-emerge.
The monarchy is no longer regarded in government as a relic of the past but very much an important, desirable, effective and essential part of the Canadian identity.
Behold! The monarchy exists and transcends the narcissistic self-aggrandisement of those who would pretend to own the throne. They simply cannot accept that they have lost, not only their power, but their ability to dominate Canada's public face.
Mr. Granatstein's childish rants against, not only the monarchy, but all things 'British' are somewhat disturbing for a grown man with a claim of 'letters'. It reveals the Liberal demons within that apparently drive the man at his core and even trump the academic credentials that have otherwise brought him due recognition.
It's all very sad to see the man self-destruct like this.
I think our one pip wonder was scarred early in his military career by a British-minded Canadian army officer, and has been resentful ever since.
ReplyDeleteThe man has become unhinged simply because his position was wildly inconsistent to begin with. Your average John and Mary Timbit can hold inconsistent worldviews simply because they don't bother to take them to their logical conclusions. To be blunt, their lives are full to the overflowing with job, family, sports, cars, hobbies, renovations, etc. etc. (all as it should be). Many of them would see nothing inconsistent with belief in Liberalism and an expanded Canadian military. Hell, being born of Greek immigrant stock, there's a whole lot of this in my own family. My father was and is a great admirer of Trudeau, yet vastly proud of the Canadian Armed Forces...won't hear a word of criticism against 'em (he has also condemned what he sees as the pro big-business stance of the Conservatives as "Communism"!). Granatstein however is a scholar and historian, with the leisure, knowledge and technique to understand that ideas have consequences. His mind is now grinding it's gears upon realizing, at some level, the basic truth of Canadian Liberalism: The Big Red Machine was a very big tent of disparate interests cobbled together solely for the purpose of electoral victory and legislative control. The justifying ideology was a pretty thin and ragged fig-leaf at the best of times. Now... at least the NDP and Conservatives are halfway convincing that their respective party philosophies mean something. The Liberal party's '60's and '70's version of Canadian Nationalism has long shown its gimcrack and cobbled-together character. Canada's British heritage is becoming more visible again, demonstrating the deep structure that makes (and always made) Canada, not only prosperous and free, but even possible at all.
ReplyDeleteI really wouldn't talk about being left in the dust by the future if I were him. Nobody likes self-pity by projection.
Good grief, did I say 'commenter', I meant "partner-in-crime".
ReplyDeleteYes indeed my dear Beaverbrook. Yes indeed!
ReplyDelete'Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of things brought together'
So said Vincent Van Gogh (presumably whilst copus mentis.)
Given the long swing of the pendulum away from Liberalism, it would be fair to call Granatstein a modern day reactionary. Reactionary was once a derogatory term levelled at old-fashioned conservatives for their knee-jerk reactions to everything that smacked of reform and progress, but today it would be more apt to label dinosaur Liberals as such who can't stomach restoration or the rebound of tradition of any kind.
ReplyDeleteGood letter in the Ottawa Citizen today sticking it to Jack.
ReplyDeleteHere's the link: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/letters/Royal+satire+flop/5965090/story.html
ReplyDeleteGranatstein has been embarassing himself since at least the 1960's ...
ReplyDeleteThe monarchy is safe in Canada, have no fear of that. It’s Australia you have to worry about. Can anyone here believe the Australian “government” has NOTHING PLANNED for the Queen’s “Diamond Jubilee”?
ReplyDeleteAustralia’s government will not even strike a medal in for our Queen’s 60 year on the thrown because it is “un-Australian”!
Mr Byers, I've spoken to the MP in charge of a Jubilee medal and it will go ahead. She said that our so called ''PM'' will get the final say. As a matter of fact I've just come across this http://www.norepublic.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3581&Itemid=65
ReplyDeleteIt ain't going ahead in Australia - Kate Lundy said there would be no jubilee medal because such a medal "is not part of the Australian system of honours". Unfortunately John Howard did not mint one in 2002 for the Golden Jubilee so unfortunately they are following his precedent. :-(
ReplyDeleteTo make the point (sadly):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/australia-shuns-medals-to-mark-queens-accession/2420028.aspx