Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - April 10, 2005, Winnipeg, Manitoba The View ? 2005 Winnipeg free press a division of up Canadian Rudy Redekop / president Winnipeg free press editorial Board Winnipeg free press newspapers limited partnership members Are Terence Moore Gerald flood Catherine Mitchell Tom Oleson cartoonist Dale Cummings Murdoch Davis / publisher published seven Days a week at 1355 Mountain Avenue sunday april 10, 2005 Patrick Flynn / Deputy editor submissions to the View from the West Are Welcome. Winnipeg Manitoba r2x 3b6, pm 697-7000 Freedom of Trade b4 from newest associate editor Contact associate editor John Sullivan 204 697-7293 / a member of the Manitoba press Council Liberty of religion John Sullivan 697-7293 a forum for ideas and opinion Equality of civil rights the Power of deep conviction t he Seattle Street demonstrations against free Trade in december 1999 were huge in numbers and in political Impact ? the launch of the anti globalization movement that shaped political debate in the Early years of the new millennium. The anti global Izeris estimated that 50,000 people took part. The True figure May be higher or lower than that but it was More than 10,000 and less than 100,000. In that context what Are we to make of the millions who turned up in Rome last week for the funeral of Pope John Paul ii religious leaders anxious to fill the pews of their half empty churches May be studying those densely packed throngs trying to discern what they prove about the marketing of religion in the 21st Century. But beyond the marketing Success the crowds represented they seemed to show something Worth noticing about these times and about this civilization. Church attendance has been declining pretty steadily in Europe and North America for several decades. The teachings of John Paul ii and his Church on birth control Are disregarded by most people including roman catholics in the Industrial societies. His teachings on abortion have been rejected by most parliaments. His teaching on ordination of women is rejected by Many people within and without his Church and is contrary to the sexual Equality ethic that pre vails in Europe and North America. His attempts to improve the sexual practices of his priests have seemed weak and ineffectual. By these lights he should be a marginal figure representing a discredited organization. His life and his death should not matter. Yet the streets and the University campuses and the sports grounds of Rome were not wide enough to accommodate the millions of people who wanted to be there to wait in line All Day for a glimpse of John Paul a mortal remains to be near the Basilica or at least some where in the same City during his funeral. Such an intense outpouring of love by such a Large and diverse Public May have been seen previously in this civilization but not often. In much of the Public debate All things Are reduced to monetary values or to evaluations of shifting Power and influence. John Paul talked about values of another kind about god and the spirit about moral duty and love. The people who responded to him so strongly last week evidently found that Power and Money Are not the Only values nor even the main values. They quarrel with his teachings on Many Points such As birth control and the role of women but he talked about things that mat Ter and that others were not Able to talk about so Well. Popular artists also talk about intangible values but you never saw such a crowd turn out for John Lennon at his death or for Frank Sinatra at his. It is not enough to talk about the great subjects ? you also have to know something and have something urgently important to say. John Paul lived under communist Rule in Poland and he provided part of the spiritual foundation for the revolt that drove communists from Power in one soviet bloc state after another. He used one of his Early encyclicals to Tell the Story of saints Cyril and method ius who brought the Christian gospel to the slavs show ing indirectly but forcefully that Central Europe was part of Christendom Long before it was part of the soviet Empire. He knew something ? something that mattered deeply and that others had forgotten. The encyclicals he issued ? 14 of them during a 26?year papacy ? testify to the breadth of his interests the depth of his learning and the Rigour of his thought and expression. They Are not an easy read. Most of the peo ple who dropped everything last week to go and show their love for him had probably not read his encyclicals. But they know he wrote them and they know that he had thought and studied Long and hard about things that mat Ter. Everyone knows those things matter ? things like sin and redemption things like purpose and death and eternity ? and Here was someone who knew How to talk about them clearly and with authority. Even if you wanted to disagree with him on certain Points it was hard to dismiss him because he clearly knew and understood something that others did not. It has become trite to denounce the superficiality of thought and conversation that can be seen in the mass Media and in casual social gatherings. The top grossing movies and the Best Selling books Are often displays of ignorance and celebrations of cheap thrills. But that is a function of mass marketing not an expression of the values that people treasure and cling to. John Paul was Pope for 26 years during which he invited his Church and All humanity into a deep and caring relationship with himself and through him with the god whose news he preached. Books and movies Are marketed to make a Quick commercial Success in the first week on the Market. Some of them score big on the ephemeral terms set for them. John Paul aimed higher and offered More and millions of people walking where millions More would have been Happy to walk responded. Peo ple Are quite prepared to think and talk about the diff Mission impossible dumping Chr Tien a soiled baggage divert that train to its proper destination one Jean by Gordon Gibson Chr Tien. This will be incredibly controversial. In the Early Days of the transition there was a full blown and bloody civil War inside the Liberal party Between mar p aul Martin is in serious political Trou tin and Chr Tien operatives. A sort of truce was ble. That is As obvious As the fact that reached but now the Battle must be re engaged and he is Jean Chr Tien a successor and those this time it will be to the political death. Two facts Are intimately linked. I have known or. Martin a Long time. He is both an honest Man and an intelligent one. That kind of person if or. Martin is to have any Chance of surviving would have had nothing to do with the machination Sas prime minister his strategy must Deal with the described by Jean Brault ? activities which Accord Chr Tien legacy More vigorously than he has so far. Ing to columnist Christie Blatchford would qualify the Liberal party As a criminal organization under it will not be pretty. The Law. A word first about the Gomery evidence to Date. Or. Martin can effectively make that Case for per it is damning but incomplete. Allegations remain Sonal honesty. He can remind us that it was he who launched the whole investigation so determined is he to be corroborated connections to be confirmed. To get the truth. He can and must say that those guilty there is not As yet a proven link from the swamp will be pursued to the the Federal liberals in Quebec to actual Ottawa but that is not enough. The Public wants and is anti politicians or the prime ministers office. But led to political blood and that is where or. Chr Tien comes in. That is where or. Martin has to convince because there has been such an enormous break singly Lay the ultimate blame for the Case it is now very probable that these gaps or. Chr Tien denies any knowledge of these things. Will be filled. It is a predictable reaction. It May be True. His lawyer feigns horror on his clients behalf re the unfolding one credible songbird ? former group action owner evidence. But for the Man or woman at the top As Jean Brault ? has Sung in such detail and with such president Truman used to say on All great questions apparent sincerity that the Stonewall of denial has the Buck stops Here. Been broken. Enough names have now been named the fact is the one at the top sets the tone. I worked enough leads opened up to follow that others will crack in Ottawa As a ministerial aide under Lester Pearson in their turn and an increasingly and As executive assistant to Pierre Trudeau. Or. Pear detailed web will be Woven son ran a squeaky clean government. In the Early Days around the conspirators going there was a Story that another ministerial assistant right to the top wherever that from Quebec As it happened was involved in influx is. Ence peddling. He was right away out on his ear and those old enough to re Mem All staffers were emphatically told to clean them Ber the watergate scandal in the selves. United states which brought or. Trudeau another Luebecker was also a straight Down president Nixon will Arrow. He had no time for patronage. I remember an recall that the Case was going occasion when he called me into his office and gave me nowhere until an obscure oper a letter from a constituent asking for a favour in the Active by the name of Alexander awarding of a contract. A copy had gone to the minis Butterfield testified out of the Ter concerned i think. The pm told me to take the let Blue that the presidents office Ter and Tell that minister that he was to make whatever was secretly taped. That was the beginning of the end. Decision was right. The interests of the constituent something like that will happen Here. Were not to weigh in the balance and the pm did not but a new poll is already out showing a drop for the want to hear anything further about it. Libs and an Advance for the conservatives Partick knowing them personally i have no doubt but that Early in Ontario. Could there be an immediate elec Joe Clark and John Turner set the same standards. I do Tion in theory the bloc can move a non Confidence not know or. Mulroney and that brings us Chrono motion next thursday and a government defeat would logically to Jean Chr Tien. Cause a general election on May 30. For some Quebec the corrupt and Sleazy dealings that Are emerging Sovereign lists this is a dream scenario ? a Federal took place on or. Chr Tien Swatch. This could never election that causes turmoil in Ottawa significantly have happened unless the perpetrators sensed a cer increases bloc seats and frees the highly popular Tain laxity or tolerance at the top. And it could never Gilles Dueppe to return to Lead the parti quebecois. Have happened if the Man at the top had put in place but no the conservatives wont co operate with that. Proper control systems to watch the very sponsorship their strategy is Clear. They will leave the liberals program that he personally instigated and signed off twisting in the wind a watergate phrase As the on. Or. Chr Tien should carry the political can on this Gomery investigation unfolds. More evidence will one and for the survival of his party or. Martin must accumulate. Stephen Harper will watch the polls like ensure that. A Hawk and choose his time. The former prime minister pleads that unusual Mea if and when it appears that English Canada is ready sures were justified against the Sovereign lists and in to dump the liberals Quebec has Long since made that defence of Canada. This is blowing smoke in Desperak decision then they will move to defeat the govern Tion. It is to laugh. The idea that que Beckers could be ment in parliament. That gives them a Spring window bought off on a fundamental constitutional Issue by until mid june. Failing that they will have to wait until Ottawa logos at fish and game shows and far less parliament reconvenes in september. Or. Gomery a Likely venue sat a total Cost of $250 million is insult full report is scheduled for late fall. Ing to them. And Quebe cers Are insulted. The complicating analysis is figuring out what Paul that is another deeper reason for or. Martin to Dis Martin can do about All of this. Yes he is in big trouble. Tance his party from or. Chr Tien. The net result of but on the plus Side he is also still the prime minister these scandals is a much enhanced Chance of a pm which gives him the advantage of some respect due the government at the next provincial election a refer office Many resources and some control Over timing. Wendum to follow and a vote to separate. Forget the on the minus Side he is also beset by other prob clarity act. It always was Chr Tien nonsense might lems. Kyoto for example is a looming disaster. Cana ily unimpressive to new York Bankers the Day after a a has so dragged action Over eight years since the yes vote on any Sovereign list question signing that already we physically cannot comply with unless dramatically cleaned up no Federal Liber this treaty another Tim bomb legacy of or. Chr tie nals will be Able to credibly speak for Canada in Quebec and the government has no idea How to say that in a when that time comes. That is a High duty and the politically acceptable Way. So it will continue to pre soiled Chr Tien baggage must be off loaded to meet tend and the press for now will continue to believe. That test. But As or. Martin Dodges All of the other bullets he still has the Gomery train coming Down the tracks Gordon Gibson is a Vancouver based commentator. Right at him. What to do he has to pull the switch and his address is . During a Large percentage of my 51 years five lord Black 2005? not As Long As any Jingle was left in a single pocket. Ous and ? we live in interesting times. Pattison raised in working class East end Vancou alone in Vancouver and four other cities. Yes can months three weeks three Days and 13 hours pacify because there a Money in free. The three new kids allegedly Vancouver is prosperous. The publish i scientifically tested first Day reception of 24 ver and today on the worlds billionaire list. Or. Pat West which is also a partner in competing metro. In Standard time and still counting As a new on the Block Are competing for advertising Money ers of the new papers sized up the situation and ? As hours. Strategically placed in a restaurant Over Tison owns a Magazine distributor a chatter of radio and which also owns the Sun the province and a extra Perman an air of self mocking defeatism Hung Over with the four established dailies available in the area in Montreal and Toronto ? sniffed an untapped or looking one of its Orange boxes in the downtown Core stations car dealerships the grocery Chain save on Host of suburban Vancouver papers As Well As the the newsrooms of this nation and beyond. The Vancouver Sun and the province and two under tapped Market that existing papers despite i watched fascinated for 40 minutes As indifferent foods and much More and is not known for invest Victoria times colonist and global television a we were dinosaurs. Cultural climate change would National dailies the Globe and mail and the nation relentless efforts weren to reaching the Golden persons passed by. At last one Man wearing a tie ing giddily or losing his Money lightly. Its Early heavy player in Vancouver and Victoria. Eventually destroy us dry up Al Post. Demographic of the 18-to-34 age group especially and scarcely the image of the Young non Reader that Days but almost every and in 24 hours is for Patti initial reaction to the three papers was not uni prints watering holes. A circulation War looms. Expect casualties. Andeen women and mostly commuters. The new papers strive to reach and to Hook for the son companies verbally warm. A panellist on Bill goods popular extra this television thing had Pitt vice president Media for an advertising com first on the track was metro Vancouver. For a rest of their Reading live removed a copy. Most deliciously the president of his news group Conw program deplored we re fighting a War on come along. People explicitly Pany under stately told the weekly business in Van tabloid the inaugural issues looked quite sober and but then a Man at the next table having first stud is former new democratic party Premier Glen ignorance and these Arent our one caller stayed Home to watch the Hon Couver they wont All almost disappointingly reliable. It claimed a remark red the Globe business Section idly began Reading Clark. Or. Pattison with a keen Eye for Talent of any vowed that he a never buy the province again and by moaners i love Lucy and still at the very least Mcluhan a obsequies for Able distribution of 145,000, in 2,500 signature Green 24 hours. And read. And read. Clearly More than persuasion gave or. Clark a Job after his bruising scorned can West a Sun province monopoly ? in fair other favourites even stayed the newspaper As an institution appear As Prema boxes. The five minute Max read dismissively attributed to reign and or. Clark worked his Way up the ranks. Ness begun by Southam ? As having Way too much read up for abcs late news with Ture As the famous reports about Mark Twain a death. Then 24 hours materialized with More Colour and commuter freebies by fans of real newspapers. It is a wickedly funny turn of the wheel of Fortune. Control Over what Vancouver ites read. A woman Earl Cameron. No one was its True that newspapers in most markets have been sharper layout including on almost every Page a most wondrous is the tangle of ownerships. Metro As Premier or. Clark had withering opinions of the aged 44 drily noted that she was thus no longer tar known to Home to read decorous by losing circulation for years hedging their boxed vertical column headed briefly containing is a venture of swedish based metro International Media and once singled out the Vancouver Sun As gated by the newcomers. The new York times. Few bets by entering the world of the web. But their Core two sentence steroids. Quick reads indeed but s.a., to corp. Of Toronto and Winnipeg elitist and out of touch with Ordinary people. This for my part looking at that list of Media moguls knew what Marshall Mcluhan business survives due to much More Eye Appeal hardened journalists would have to concede text West. Its printed by the Black press group ? not his led the papers editorial Board to banter about dress some in fierce Competition elsewhere but in genial slightly was up to ? millions seconded new technology Clever marketing targeted Reader Book examples of tight writing. Lordship but Victoria based publisher David Black ing elegantly for an upcoming meeting with him. Partnerships Here i have an equally genial question Goldie hawn a Marshall Mcluhan what re you ship energetic promotions and tightened costs. They the third paper is the strangely named dose. Its a considerable presence in his own right. Its stories Only one member however was silly enough to Actu what would we in the Media be saying if for exam Doin ? but everyone knew he was up to no Good Ridden themselves of most of the Craft unions that More nakedly aimed at the Low end of the demo Are by its own staff to Reuters and to add to ally Don a Tuxedo and wave a Gold pocket watch ple general motors Ford and Daimler Chrysler Sim when party comes before duty the allegations that emerged from the Gomery us of All canadians who expect ethical ? and Legal ? of the 154 needed to form a majority government. With inquiry this week Are a potent reminder of Why demo behaviour from their political leaders. Some 130 seats they would be in a situation similar to racy is Best served when political parties rotate in and so what Are canadians to do in the face of these Rev that of the liberals now ? they would form a govern out of office periodically. Relations ment but would have to cobble together support from the liberals who think of themselves As the coun if they Are found guilty the individuals who alleged other parties for each vote in the House. Lims around the world. The dignity of All people. Try a natural governing party sometimes lose sight of by defrauded the Canadian government will presume but the conservatives would have a further diff i believe that the most important legacy what better Way for a Muslim to the distinction Between the party and the government ably face serious penalties. But what about the other culty they would presumably win no seats in Quebec. Of this Pope will be his affection for All describe the Pope than in the words of the of Canada ? this time apparently laundering gov beneficiary of these unsavoury activities the Liberal the party has virtually no organization in Quebec lit people of the world ? particularly those our an 5 82 and you will find the Ern ment Money through and party if Brault a testimony is True the liberals Bentle Chance of attracting High profile candidates and no struggling to survive against All Odds ? nearest in love to the believers muslims Agency executives before using edited to the tune of a million dollars after its Orga basis from which to build political support. The by is and the neglected populace of the devel those who say we Are that is it for partisan political purpose Niezers extorting funds from just one of the advertising the sole beneficiary of que Beckers disgust with the Oping world. He was instrumental in bring because amongst them Are men devoted is. Firms involved in the scandal. Liberals. Ing attention to the plight of palestinians to learning and men who renounced the in the aftermath of the 1995 beyond this the party was allegedly Able to exceed so How could Stephen Harper govern with less than while consistently preaching against Vio world and they Are not Quebec referendum this blur the election expenses limits imposed on political Par a majority of seats and no representation from que Lence. He also was an open advocate for inspiring within us the desire to work ring of the line Between party ties by the Canada elections act by having Brault Shell Bec the conservatives would have two options. The peace and spoke against the War in Iraq. Together with humility in the service of and state was coupled with a out for party expenses on the sly and pay political first and most probable would be to try to govern on courageously in 2003, he said no to War humanity is surely the greatest of Pope sense that the Liberal party a operatives to work on the party a behalf. This Means their own while working behind the scenes with the War is not always inevitable. It is always a John Paul ii a achievements. Role in preserving National that the Liberal party could have outspent its rivals bloc to gain support on key votes. In order to have defeat for Unity justified almost any Active by breaking the Law. Quebec representation in a tory Cabinet the party John Paul a openness to dialogue with Aftab Sabir of Calgary Ity. Since confederation it has Many of the apparent breaches of the elections act would have to turn to the Senate. But there Are now different Faith groups has inspired Many is a Board member of the Council on fallen to National political Par can to be prosecuted because the seven year statute of Only three conservative senators from Quebec two roman Catholic churches around the american islamic relations Canada. Ties to play a key role in hold limitations has expired. If the party is charged for Ille of whom Are anglophone. Ing the country together by brokering differences Gal expenditures in the 2000 election Campaign the so the government would have to appoint addition Between French and English. In the modern Era this maximum penalty for any one offence is $25,000. This Al senators from Quebec and then bring them into cab role has fallen predominantly to the Federal liberals seems to be an inadequate consequence for so pro inet. This probably would to play Well in the party a and under Jean Chr Tien a leadership it formed a Core found a breach of the Public Trust. Western base where Senate Reform is an article of Mission of the party in government. In reality the probable consequence for the liberals Faith. To the outside observer the alleged actions of the will come at the ballot Box. Even though the party is but the alternative would be received even More Liberal party organizers in extorting Money from and now led by Paul Martin who has no Clear personal ties poorly in English Canada a formal coalition govern Agency owner Jean Brault appear to be simple extor to the corrupt practices in question the distinction ment with by members in Cabinet. The Prospect of Tion. But i suspect that in the minds of the party will be too Fine in the eyes of Many voters. As prelim avowed separatists holding Cabinet posts in Ottawa is officials aware of these activities they were rational Inary opinion polls suggest Many English canadians bizarre yet not entirely beyond the realm of pos Sibil sized As the Price we pay to maintain National Unity. And que Beckers want to administer punishment to the Ity. Describing one of these incidents Brault spoke about party that displayed such blatant disregard for the this is Jean Chr Tien a legacy. His misguided being asked for contributions not to the party but Law. Attempts to hold the country together no matter what to the cause of federalism presumably. Certainly which brings us to the tragedy of Canadian politics. The tactic have left us with no credible federalist party this rationalization has been at the Core of most of for voters outside Quebec will be faced with the up Flat in Quebec and a perception by voters throughout the Mer prime minister Jean Chr Tien a comments on the Able Choice Overlook the liberals corrupt practices in country that our Only truly National party is too Ethi sponsorship program ? a Noble crusade to save the that province and return them to government or elect Cally bankrupt to govern. Country marred Only by a few Small mistakes. A conservative government that would Likely have lit ironically the Man who fought for Canada through needless to say the liberals who engineered this the Choice but to work closely with the bloc quebecois out his career has now propelled us into a period of scheme were profoundly out of touch with contempt when governing. Remarkable and precarious political instability. Rary que Beckers who do not see their loyalty As some the tories now hold 99 of 308 seats in the House of thing to be bought or won with a display of flags. And commons. Even if they were to pick up 30 seats from Lisa Young teaches political science they were also out of touch with the fundamental Val the liberals in the next election they would be Short at the University of Calgary. John Paul nearest in love to muslims world and especially in North America to by Aftab Sabir follow his Lead and enter into ecumenical Bridge building. He truly actualized the the passing of Pope John Paul ii has led lesson if someone is digging a Well grab to an enormous outpouring of love and a grief from people around the world. Many there Are three main lessons that the Are also reflecting on the legacy of the ecumenical Community can take away Popes life and his accomplishments. Oth from the Popes life. The first is forgive ers Are assessing the challenges now fac Ness which is an attribute with immense ing the Vatican. Potential to heal wounds and promote sol it is interesting to note that some of the Darity Between people. In May of 1981, Popes conservative positions that Many an assassination attempt left the Pope catholics especially in the West find Dif with wounds to his Abdomen left hand ficut to agree with Are supported by mus and right Arm. More than two years later lims. These include such things As in december 1983, after having already abstinence outside of marriage and oppo forgiven him the Pope went to visit his sit Ion to same sex unions and the practice attacker in prison. This spirit of forgive of homosexuality although islam does Ness has tremendous potential in bring allow for family planning and ing the worlds differing divorce. Populations together. The Popes legacy of speak secondly raising ones voice the ing out on political and social to bring attention to the plight issues from a purely religious of the poor and marginalized of religiosity perspective has brought society advancing their cause empowerment to Many in our of muslims to the world stage. This is religious communities and absolutely critical Given the encouraged what some Secu deserves rapidly increasing Divide lariats May see As blurring the Between Rich and poor. John separation lines Between respect. Paul spoke of the obligation the Church and state. Rich have to share their wealth it is a number of elements of with the poor a concept shared catholicism Are significantly by islam Scall for a mandatory impossible different from islam and it is poor due called Zakiah payable no Surprise that John Paul ii not for by All muslims. Disagreed with islamic theolo thirdly remaining True to by. Still in his Book crossing example ones principles and beliefs the threshold of Hope he said while at the same time pursue nevertheless the religiosity of to Admire ing dialogue and Communia muslims deserves respect. It is Tion with others and treating their impossible not for example to each human being with dignity Admire their Fidelity to in spite of their socioeconomic Fidelity to prayer status or ethnic religious and muslims also appreciate the prayer cultural differences. This is fact that John Paul ii was the Why Pope John Paul a efforts at first Pope to visit a mosque and outreach Are so important for to kiss the our an the Muslim holy Book. All of us to appreciate. He understood that through this gesture an unprecedented solving the worlds problems requires that sign of respect he won the hearts of mus people have Mutual respect and honour ;