Justin Trudeau’s One Mistake

   

 

 

 Comments.    Considerations.     Questions.

                          by Kenneth Bagnell

      

     A long time ago, when I was a university student in the Maritimes, I overheard a young women, a senior student, say something to a girlfriend that just might be said by our young Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau: “I’m a soft spoken type, I don’t throw chairs, just tantrums…” Odd, but understood at least partly. Unfortunately, that young woman long ago, didn’t realize something: throwing a tantrum, particularly in public and even worse if you’re a public leader is to make a great mistake. Especially when you are a Prime Minister. Our own Justin Trudeau, as a result of his momentary loss of self-control, has now to endure a ritual of political challenges; the road to outcome sure to be painful. When he rose last Thursday and apologized his expression was embarrassing amid his caucus members. A photo in The Globe & Mail showed about 20 caucus members, every single one with a face of stone. It was, to me, one of the most stern news photos I’ve seen in years. For instance I mention three of most grim looking senior Liberal office holders: Liberal finance critic Scott Brison of Nova Scotia, Liberal House Leader Dominic LeBlanc of New Brunswick, and Adam Vaughan of Toronto, who holds the prestigious office of Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister. They seemed to have locked jaws. Obviously this is highly unfortunate. Justin Trudeau, I’m truly sad to say, has done himself a bad deed maybe one that can yet have considerable consequence. Why?

      Mainly because he presents as a fine young man with the style, manners and character of a true gentleman. Then, on May 18, he virtually threw it away. He was provoked by an episode during the Commons dealing with a policy decision: the time to be given to debate on our most important social matter: the Liberal government’s legislation on doctor facilitated death. The Conservative whip, a man named Gord Brown, was crossing the floor (for political reason) when he was impeded by opposition MPs, some said to be NDP. Justin Trudeau then rose and appeared to push his way through the gaggle of members to block Mr. Brown. Mayhem ensued. During this upset, Trudeau elbowed his way, and is said to have struck the controversial NDP member Ruth Ellen Brosseau of Quebec. When things calmed down she told this to the Canadian Press: “I got elbowed in the breast and it hurts. It was very painful.” Opposition members also claimed that the gentlemanly Prime Minister shouted during the melee as he crossed the floor: “Get the f… out of the way.” A lot of us, influenced by his image and gracious manners, can hardly believe he would ever speak that way. We may be mistaken. Maybe not. He just lost his temper and that was that. Next day he began to apologize, apologize and apologize again.  Rona Ambrose, our current Conservative opposition leader says his apologies were offered 16 times. Imagine the mortification Trudeau has endured.

         A serious but instructive irony followed next day. It’s an event that the media –so many of its members being cynical secularists — rarely cover: the annual parliamentary prayer breakfast, an event that has taken place for over 50 years, attended by members from all sides, the longest regular event on Parliament Hill. Perhaps its inherent nature will make a very positive contribution to these unfortunate days if taken seriously. Naturally, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was there, and given his role, he rose, opened the Bible at the New Testament and turned to the beautiful and insightful Book of Romans, written by Paul the Apostle around 56 AD. He read from Chapter 12, and we need not speculate if he had chosen it. The chapter includes this representative and instructive passage: “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable… For by the grace given to me. I bid everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him… bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them… live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, never be conceited…..”

     I don’t know about you, but I trust Justin Trudeau’s sincerity and intentions for us all and for himself. He made a mistake, a highly impetuous one.  But he has apologized often and sincerely. His chapter from the New Testament should be read by every Canadian with ourselves as well as our Prime Minister in mind. I for one, am as utterly sure of his sincerity as I am of the wisdom in the passages of Romans which he chose. Let’s move on to deal with the many and crucial issues we face and which should have no distractions to impede resolving them.

 

                                 30

 

 

Past blogs are archived on my website: your comments are welcome there: www.kennethbagnell.com.