Probably way more. If we're going to be a "postnational" state, good luck figuring out what 'national security' means. And what would a postnational consensus about 'terrorism' look like?
Jun 16, 2022·edited Jun 16, 2022Liked by Terry Glavin
"But the diplomatic own-goal the Russians scored on Canada’s open net last Friday might give you some sense of the cluelessness of the Fort Pearson fuerdai caste and its detachment from the real world, and even from the Canada that exists west of the Lakehead."
Terry: Your great National Post column today defines what I just decided to call the Constant Solitude plaguing us here in Canada.
"West of the Lakehead" figuratively includes East of Riviere du Loup or North of Sudbury......
Terry, I need some perspective because I just can't see how so many people (including you) are comfortable saying that the January 6 riot was an "attempted coup." I understand the impulse to reach for that label, I just don't understand how so many smart people can look at a rag-tag group of angry citizens, only a very few armed with anything more than indignation, and conclude they were part of a coordinated effort to overthrow the government. You, more than most, know what a bona fide coup looks like. Well-armed men coordinate to take key hostages by force and control key positions. People die - not of strokes or suicide but by machine-gun fire.
I realize this is US politics but in my view it has a direct connection to your Year of the Graves essay. Media everywhere, including CBC, are making wildly overblown statements about Jan 6 that are not only factually incorrect, they do a disservice to the significance of the wrong that was actually committed. CBC reported that 5 people died at the riot. In truth only 2 died that day. One was shot by police and the other had a stroke. The other 3 sadly died in the weeks and months following of suicide.
I'm not making any excuses for what happened that day and I believe there are many who should be punished. I also believe there was an important violation of democracy, if only symbolic. But to suggest it was an attempted coup? Where is the evidence to support that? Appreciate some insight into your thinking here.
BTW if the inquiry was to find that there was no justification in enacting the EA then what? I guess since it was supported by the NDP, Justin will tell us it is a learning moment for the rest of us. Are there any real consequences? I doubt anyone would tender their resignation over it.
When I see 'postnational' my mind to pre-Albania. But that is just me.
I don't think anyone has a friggin idea what is going on. And everything is like inflation; the undeniable evidence proves that the decisions you made a decade ago were misguided.
The bifurcation I believe are the economic exigencies. At one time media needed a very broad audience to sell advertising to pay for the deforestation of northern Quebec and Ontario to print and distribute the papers. So you needed to reflect the interests of the broad community, the reward being all the marketing dollars of the largest and most prosperous economies in existence. Those vast sums were used to hire the obstreperous, stubborn and smart bunch that make up the pantheon of journalists that we of a certain age read with interest to find out what was going on.
Now the economics drive media into silos; you reflect the interests and opinions of a small group characterized by socio-economic or ideological status who also happen be attractive to advertisers who are looking for well monied silos.
And in Canada you can get some cash from government, or not if you are Rebel news.
More than any specific issue, many which are frightening, this scares me. A politician can get his druthers massaged endlessly and easily dismiss other media as misinformation, racist, denialist. The only feedback mechanism is when things fall apart.
Terry, as a fellow formerly engaged in the security of our once great nation I am truly mortified by what you have laid bare. It is incomprehensible that a people could be so distracted and disabused from reality but then this seems to have been Justin’s plan all along. Frightening how effective it’s been.
"But the diplomatic own-goal the Russians scored on Canada’s open net last Friday might give you some sense of the cluelessness of the Fort Pearson fuerdai caste and its detachment from the real world, and even from the Canada that exists west of the Lakehead."
Terry: Your great National Post column today defines what I just decided to call the Constant Solitude plaguing us here in Canada.
"West of the Lakehead" figuratively includes East of Riviere du Loup or North of Sudbury......
Terry, I need some perspective because I just can't see how so many people (including you) are comfortable saying that the January 6 riot was an "attempted coup." I understand the impulse to reach for that label, I just don't understand how so many smart people can look at a rag-tag group of angry citizens, only a very few armed with anything more than indignation, and conclude they were part of a coordinated effort to overthrow the government. You, more than most, know what a bona fide coup looks like. Well-armed men coordinate to take key hostages by force and control key positions. People die - not of strokes or suicide but by machine-gun fire.
I realize this is US politics but in my view it has a direct connection to your Year of the Graves essay. Media everywhere, including CBC, are making wildly overblown statements about Jan 6 that are not only factually incorrect, they do a disservice to the significance of the wrong that was actually committed. CBC reported that 5 people died at the riot. In truth only 2 died that day. One was shot by police and the other had a stroke. The other 3 sadly died in the weeks and months following of suicide.
I'm not making any excuses for what happened that day and I believe there are many who should be punished. I also believe there was an important violation of democracy, if only symbolic. But to suggest it was an attempted coup? Where is the evidence to support that? Appreciate some insight into your thinking here.
Thanks
BTW if the inquiry was to find that there was no justification in enacting the EA then what? I guess since it was supported by the NDP, Justin will tell us it is a learning moment for the rest of us. Are there any real consequences? I doubt anyone would tender their resignation over it.
When I see 'postnational' my mind to pre-Albania. But that is just me.
I don't think anyone has a friggin idea what is going on. And everything is like inflation; the undeniable evidence proves that the decisions you made a decade ago were misguided.
The bifurcation I believe are the economic exigencies. At one time media needed a very broad audience to sell advertising to pay for the deforestation of northern Quebec and Ontario to print and distribute the papers. So you needed to reflect the interests of the broad community, the reward being all the marketing dollars of the largest and most prosperous economies in existence. Those vast sums were used to hire the obstreperous, stubborn and smart bunch that make up the pantheon of journalists that we of a certain age read with interest to find out what was going on.
Now the economics drive media into silos; you reflect the interests and opinions of a small group characterized by socio-economic or ideological status who also happen be attractive to advertisers who are looking for well monied silos.
And in Canada you can get some cash from government, or not if you are Rebel news.
More than any specific issue, many which are frightening, this scares me. A politician can get his druthers massaged endlessly and easily dismiss other media as misinformation, racist, denialist. The only feedback mechanism is when things fall apart.
Terry, as a fellow formerly engaged in the security of our once great nation I am truly mortified by what you have laid bare. It is incomprehensible that a people could be so distracted and disabused from reality but then this seems to have been Justin’s plan all along. Frightening how effective it’s been.
Please keep removing the blindfolds.
Great read. Can't wait to read what's to come.
Looking forward to the next instalment.
"Americaland!" Nice play on a fools move.