Spirit Quest

Intestinal Dysfunction on a National Level

By The Reverend Doctor Hanns F. Skoutajan

“Quest,” that means "search", and for me search pertains to the weekly quest for a topic for this column. I try to be topical, that is having my thoughts relate to what is happening around me at the time. I must admit that this may not be evident, not always, to the reader. But today I am somewhat perplexed about what will have happened in the intervening time between my filing this story and its appearance in cyberspace.

Canada, the peaceable nation, is going through a revolution. As every revolt it takes time to develop and come to a boil. There are internal ructions that precede the volcano's eruption.

I recall standing on a viewing platform across the valley from Mount Arenal in Costa Rica. That volcano is one of the most active in the world. Not much was happening then but from the lip of the crater there was a thin red line of lava flowing down the mountain side. Nothing did happen while I stood there, to my chagrin. The mountain did rumble from time to time like a bad stomach but that was all.

Canadians have recently experienced some stomachaches, have in fact expelled some gas from their body politic that has fouled the nation’s atmosphere.

Last September Canadians went to the polls unnecessarily. I would go so far to say that it was an illegal election inasmuch as there was a date set for Canadians to go to the polls next fall, and inasmuch as the government was not defeated. There was really no reason except that the prime minister felt that parliament was “dysfunctional”. Over the past year the Liberal opposition did everything to keep the status quo by abstaining or absenting itself from non-confidence motions that the government seemed to relish. Dysfunction? Undoubtedly there were ulterior motives in the opposition, serious doubts about winning a test at the ballot box. Finally Harper  believed that he could win, even get a majority. What resulted was another minority, albeit a bit larger.

Minority governments have often been quite effective; it took cooperation and a will to make it work. When the election was lost and won Harper announced that he would rule as if he had a majority. Noble but foolish. 

What we have seen happening in the past few days (weeks) since Minister Flaherty’s ill conceived but revealing, economic statement is the result of arrogance and ideology. The volcano blew its top. The excrement interfaced with the air conditioner. 

I agree that surgery should always be the last resort. But there are times and conditions, ask editor Carl, when there are no alternatives. The scalpel has to be drawn across the skin and yes, there will be blood.

I believe that there is a spirit at work in the nation. The spirit seeks to work toward an equilibrium. No one faction can have their own way. Any government must always be a coalition that takes into consideration the concerns of all its factions.

That spirit is alive and well even in our dysfunction.