The Unbearable Lightness of Being Paul Martin
If the French Revolution were to recur eternally, French historians would be less proud of Robespierre. But because they deal with something that will not return, the bloody years of the Revolution have turned into mere words, theories, and discussions, have become lighter than feathers, frightening no one. There is an infinite difference between a Robespierre who occurs only once in history and a Robespierre who eternally returns, chopping off French heads. Milan Kundera, The Incredible Lightness of Being
In his novel the Czech author Kundera explores the idea of the eternal return, the philosophical concept that everything recurs as we once experience it.
Canada is enduring a period of the eternal return of Liberal governments. When the time comes to respond to polls or to cast ballots in federal elections sufficient numbers of us fail to recognize the signs of history repeating itself. The ravages that Liberal policies have inflicted on our country’s economics and its culture become “mere words, theories and discussions – light as feathers and frightening no one.”
Kundera writes also about how bearing burdens brings us closer to the earth and makes our lives more truthful and real. Conversely, the absence of burdens makes a man’s life light and such a life “become(s) only half real, his movements as free as they are insignificant.”
Mr. Martin has the air of one who has not borne great burdens. The latest imbroglio over his ill-considered appointment of Ms. Jean to the post of Governor-General is but another reminder of how unsuited Mr. Martin is for his role. If we are to believe the words of his own advisor Helen Scherrer (former Heritage Minister, defeated in the last election she is now on the staff of the PMO), she is the person who put Ms. Jean’s name on the list and who urged Mr. Martin to nominate her.
Scherrer’s description of Martin’s excitement over the prospect of one of his favourite French language CBC personalities becoming the GG is a chilling read as it reveals the lack of gravitas on the part of Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin's response was consistent with the scenes of him giddy with excitement at sharing the stage with rock star Bono. In these moments the image of Mr. Martin is one of unbearable lightness.
Mr. Martin seems never to have had a friend like I had in my law school classmate David. For some reason still unknown to me I was reasonably popular amongst my first year classmates and was elected as class rep on the Law Student’s Association. In my second year I was elected social director, which made me responsible to organize social functions and most agreeably to roam the campus during the first 6 weeks of the term to find suitably attractive candidates for Law Queen (there was no question about the gender of law queen in the late 60’s in Saskatoon). Understandably, these responsibilities and the perquisites that came with them had a certain self-aggrandizing effect on me that I did not immediately recognize. When someone suggested to me that I should put my name in the ring for LSA president, I gave it some serious thought and sought counsel from some friends.
My friend David offered his frank opinion - “You shouldn’t run because you would do a lousy job”. Hurt, I said, “What do you mean? I did a good job as social director and you voted for me. “You would do a lousy job because you only want the president’s job for the status it gives you. You don’t really want to do the job of president”, said David. He was right of course and I was wise enough or at least chastened enough to abandon all thoughts of a political career.
Mr. Martin only wanted the job for its status and to fulfill the legacy that eluded his father. His apparent effectiveness as Finance Minister masked his lack of credentials as a leader. Mr. Martin has risen to the top and it is now clear to many that he has not the weight with which to maintain his perch, and his unbearable lightness sees him shift and twist with every zephyr of polled opinion.
Meanwhile our national state of delusion leads us ignore all signs of how adrift we have become. What will happen should the real burdens facing our world press down on Canada? Will Mr. Martin have the courage of a Tony Blair to say, “the rules have changed”? It would take a remarkable transformation for him to do so.
In his novel the Czech author Kundera explores the idea of the eternal return, the philosophical concept that everything recurs as we once experience it.
Canada is enduring a period of the eternal return of Liberal governments. When the time comes to respond to polls or to cast ballots in federal elections sufficient numbers of us fail to recognize the signs of history repeating itself. The ravages that Liberal policies have inflicted on our country’s economics and its culture become “mere words, theories and discussions – light as feathers and frightening no one.”
Kundera writes also about how bearing burdens brings us closer to the earth and makes our lives more truthful and real. Conversely, the absence of burdens makes a man’s life light and such a life “become(s) only half real, his movements as free as they are insignificant.”
Mr. Martin has the air of one who has not borne great burdens. The latest imbroglio over his ill-considered appointment of Ms. Jean to the post of Governor-General is but another reminder of how unsuited Mr. Martin is for his role. If we are to believe the words of his own advisor Helen Scherrer (former Heritage Minister, defeated in the last election she is now on the staff of the PMO), she is the person who put Ms. Jean’s name on the list and who urged Mr. Martin to nominate her.
Scherrer’s description of Martin’s excitement over the prospect of one of his favourite French language CBC personalities becoming the GG is a chilling read as it reveals the lack of gravitas on the part of Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin's response was consistent with the scenes of him giddy with excitement at sharing the stage with rock star Bono. In these moments the image of Mr. Martin is one of unbearable lightness.
Mr. Martin seems never to have had a friend like I had in my law school classmate David. For some reason still unknown to me I was reasonably popular amongst my first year classmates and was elected as class rep on the Law Student’s Association. In my second year I was elected social director, which made me responsible to organize social functions and most agreeably to roam the campus during the first 6 weeks of the term to find suitably attractive candidates for Law Queen (there was no question about the gender of law queen in the late 60’s in Saskatoon). Understandably, these responsibilities and the perquisites that came with them had a certain self-aggrandizing effect on me that I did not immediately recognize. When someone suggested to me that I should put my name in the ring for LSA president, I gave it some serious thought and sought counsel from some friends.
My friend David offered his frank opinion - “You shouldn’t run because you would do a lousy job”. Hurt, I said, “What do you mean? I did a good job as social director and you voted for me. “You would do a lousy job because you only want the president’s job for the status it gives you. You don’t really want to do the job of president”, said David. He was right of course and I was wise enough or at least chastened enough to abandon all thoughts of a political career.
Mr. Martin only wanted the job for its status and to fulfill the legacy that eluded his father. His apparent effectiveness as Finance Minister masked his lack of credentials as a leader. Mr. Martin has risen to the top and it is now clear to many that he has not the weight with which to maintain his perch, and his unbearable lightness sees him shift and twist with every zephyr of polled opinion.
Meanwhile our national state of delusion leads us ignore all signs of how adrift we have become. What will happen should the real burdens facing our world press down on Canada? Will Mr. Martin have the courage of a Tony Blair to say, “the rules have changed”? It would take a remarkable transformation for him to do so.
posted by Ben Buan | 10:46 p.m.
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