A Note on the Naming of Things
Mar. 9th, 2011 09:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
grav_ityCanada is rebranding its government. Which, frankly, I'd never even thought about, because it's so unbelievably stupid, and since the news broke I haven't given it much thought at all because I kind of thought it was a joke? Or that Harper couldn't possibly be quibbling about this when the Middle East is on the edge of goodness knows what and there is some new natural disaster every day.
But he is, and I am...bamboozled. And also really, really angry.
Americans do this, I think. This is my impression, anyway. You have "The Bush Administration" in a way that we don't. But the word "administration" implies...paperwork. Service, even. Getting there early in the morning and starting the coffee. And we do have things like "Martin Economics". And most of us learned the word "prorogue" thanks to Harper anyway.
But what Harper is proposing, what he's put into action, is different. On our freaking letterhead, it no longer says "Government of Canada". It says "Harper Government". And that is ten THOUSAND kinds of wrong. And I'm not saying that because I didn't vote for his party. I'm not saying that because I've actively campaigned for other candidates. I'm saying it because I AM CANADIAN, for God's sake, and while I am forced to admit that man represents me internationally in politics, there is NO WAY IN HELL he gets to name it after himself.
(Unofficially, it's been "The Harper Government" for a while. But that's just us talking about ourselves. He's making it our name. In the freaking records. And that just...I can't even.)
(This is worse than during the Olympics when he asked us to go "against National character" and cheer for our own team. SERIOUSLY? SUCH A JERK, SOMETIMES!)
The world is on fire, and I'm complaining about the name. But at the same time, I don't think it's an excuse to pull a fast one (and that's one thing that Harper is very, very good at, for all he promised transparency). I wish Joe Clark, who I actually kind of respect despite his party, would say something scathing. I'm sure Rick Mercer has (and if anyone would like to provide the link, I'd be grateful).
Mostly, though, I'm just...floored. That someone suggested this. That someone thought it was a good idea. That no one said "Um...just a moment, here." That this happened at all.
And I want my government back.
+++
Links:
Glen Pearson
But he is, and I am...bamboozled. And also really, really angry.
Americans do this, I think. This is my impression, anyway. You have "The Bush Administration" in a way that we don't. But the word "administration" implies...paperwork. Service, even. Getting there early in the morning and starting the coffee. And we do have things like "Martin Economics". And most of us learned the word "prorogue" thanks to Harper anyway.
But what Harper is proposing, what he's put into action, is different. On our freaking letterhead, it no longer says "Government of Canada". It says "Harper Government". And that is ten THOUSAND kinds of wrong. And I'm not saying that because I didn't vote for his party. I'm not saying that because I've actively campaigned for other candidates. I'm saying it because I AM CANADIAN, for God's sake, and while I am forced to admit that man represents me internationally in politics, there is NO WAY IN HELL he gets to name it after himself.
(Unofficially, it's been "The Harper Government" for a while. But that's just us talking about ourselves. He's making it our name. In the freaking records. And that just...I can't even.)
(This is worse than during the Olympics when he asked us to go "against National character" and cheer for our own team. SERIOUSLY? SUCH A JERK, SOMETIMES!)
The world is on fire, and I'm complaining about the name. But at the same time, I don't think it's an excuse to pull a fast one (and that's one thing that Harper is very, very good at, for all he promised transparency). I wish Joe Clark, who I actually kind of respect despite his party, would say something scathing. I'm sure Rick Mercer has (and if anyone would like to provide the link, I'd be grateful).
Mostly, though, I'm just...floored. That someone suggested this. That someone thought it was a good idea. That no one said "Um...just a moment, here." That this happened at all.
And I want my government back.
+++
Links:
Glen Pearson
