Roger Varley has been in the news business almost 40 years with The Canadian Press/Broadcast News, Uxbnridge Times-Journal, Richmond Hill Liberal and Uxbridge Cosmos. Co-winner with two others of CCNA national feature writing award. In Scout movement over 30 years, almost 25 as a leader. Took Uxbridge youths to World Jamboree in Holland. Involved in community theatre for 20 years as actor, director, playwright, stage manager etc. Born in England, came to Canada at 16, lived most of life north and east of Toronto with a five-year period in B.C.
Three"what now" events
Four days: three major stories. A news junkie's heaven!
It started on Friday with the wedding of Prince William and Kate. Millions of people around the globe tuned in to watch the pageantry and splendour of a royal wedding in Westminster Abbey, with a handsome prince and his beautiful bride front and centre on the world stage. It was an event that even the most jaded would find it difficult to grumble about.
Although it was overshadowed somewhat by the ghost of William's mother, Diana, most of us, I think, merely revelled in the joy of a young couple, so obviously in love, sharing their happiness with whomever wanted to partake. The outpouring of genuine good will from the multitudes who gathered in London and attended parties around the world bodes well for William and Kate.
But what now for the royal couple? It would seem the media – particularly the dirt-digging, barrel-scraping London dailies – have learned from their past treatment of Diana and are going to cut William and Kate some slack. The fact that the couple will spend much of their time on the Isle of Anglesey, where the bridegroom is stationed as a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot, will go a long way to restricting the intrusiveness of the media mobs. It was the media's insatiable lust for the tawdry that resulted in Diana's death. I don't think the media will find much for their front pages with this couple and so, to a great extent, William and Kate will be able to get on with their lives.
It was a news story that made me happy.
Then, on Sunday, the world learned of the killing of Osama bin Laden. Not too many of us, I believe, are shedding any tears over this terrorist's demise.
But what now for the world? Although the so-called experts are cautioning us that there are still many terrorist organizations out there with the sole purpose of wreaking death and destruction on the West, I think the loss of bin Laden will have pretty much the same effect as the death of the guerilla leader, Che Guevara. Once Che, an enormously popular folk hero in Central and South America, was killed, the appeal of revolutionary movements in that part of the world dropped drastically.
To be sure, terrorist factions in Muslim countries will continue with their cowardly acts, but many of them are aimed at their own people and it is highly unlikely there will be another 9-11. Now, if only someone could take out Mullah Omar of the Taliban.
It was a news story that made me happy.
The next day brought the Canadian general election. This was a news story that did not make me completely happy.
I am happy that the NDP made such big gains and I am glad that the separatist Bloc Quebecois is, to all intents and purposes, relegated to the history books. I am delighted that Green Party leader Elizabeth May finally won a seat in the House of Commons
But what now for Canada? The so-called political pundits and analysts will have a feast with the results and their implications for weeks, if not months, to come. The fact is, however, that only one man – Stephen Harper – can really answer “what now?” With a convincing majority – and that also means control over all Commons committees – there is nothing to stop him from passing any legislation he sees fit any time he wants. He showed a strong disinclination to work with other parties when he had a minority: what makes anyone think he will listen to the NDP official opposition now that he has all the votes he needs?
That part of the story makes me unhappy.. And what makes me particularly unhappy – and puzzled – is that four out of 10 Canadians seem to think that it is no big deal that Harper's Conservatives were found to be in contempt of Parliament. Indeed, those Canadians handed Harper absolute control of the very institution he disdained.
It seems to me that if the Conservatives faced no repercussions for being in contempt of Parliament, there is little reason to believe they will change their ways.
Tell me, am I wrong?
