Remember "the Canadian caper"? When Ayatollah Khomeini was in power in Iran, a gang of students attacked the US embassy and took a large number of hostages. A small number of US diplomats managed to evade the students and lived in fear for their lives for a few days, until they were covertly given shelter by the Canadian embassy, led by Ambassador Ken Taylor. At great risk to themselves, Taylor and his staff (and family) kept the Americans safe until a plan was put together to get them all out of Tehran, by providing them with fake Canadian identities. Once the Americans were away, Taylor and his staff also fled the country before the balloon went up.
As an aside, it was a miracle that the Iranians did not rumble what was going on, as it was an open secret in Ottawa. I vividly recall a mid-level official at the Department of Finance, with whom I used to deal, dropping heavy hints about "what a great job Ken Taylor is doing on behalf of the Americans in Tehran". How many others must have known?
In any case, Hollywood has now got around to making a movie about the whole affair: Argo, directed by and starring Ben Affleck. And guess what? The role played by the Canadians, without whom none of this would have been possible, has been virtually airbrushed out of the frame. It's now a rip-roaring thriller in which the CIA, turned into good guys for once, drive the whole rescue themselves. By all accounts it's a great show and an early runner for the Oscars, but it's raised more than a few hackles north of the border. Ken Taylor, now in his late 70s and living in New York, was given a special screening and voiced a few concerns, to which Ben Affleck responded by amending a brief narrative screen at the end of the movie -- when everyone is standing up and putting their coats on -- to give Canada just a smidge more credit. Merci, Ben!
Does any of this matter? I mean, we're all wearily accustomed to the American mass media rewriting history in order to put more bums in seats. But let's consider an earlier example that has a particular resonance right now: the War of 1812, which began with a last, ill-fated attempt by the newly-formed United States to grab Canada from those pesky loyalists. Know much about that? If you're American, chances are the only thing you might be able to summon up is a folky little number called "The Battle of New Orleans".
You know the one -- "In eighteen-fourteen we took a little trip". Yes, the war dragged on for two years, even though the main issue was settled much earlier; the reason the entirely inconsequential skirmish in New Orleans made it into song was that it took that long for the American side to scare up a victory. Prior to that, an alliance of British, Canadian and native forces had inflicted a series of defeats on the invaders all around the Niagara region. Further, the British had captured Detroit and even sallied up the Potomac to set fire to Washington, just to show they could.
If all of this has been largely written out of history Stateside, be sure nothing could be further from the truth in Canada. My new hometown of Niagara on the Lake bristles with Bicentennial flags (you buy them at the municipal offices -- very Canadian!) and just this past weekend there was a re-enactment of the pivotal "Battle of Queenston Heights". The CBC pitched in with a factual but irreverent documentary "War of 1812: been there, won that", which is unlikely to show up any time soon on PBS.
These days, Queenston is best known as the Canadian side of one of the three bridges that carry traffic between the US and Canada in the Niagara region. Appropriately, the tone of the Canadian remembrance of these events is very much one of celebrating the subsequent 200 years of amity between the two countries. But there's a lesson for Ben Affleck here: you can try to rewrite history to make your team look like the good guys, but the good guys have very long memories.
Monday, 15 October 2012
Thursday, 11 October 2012
History mystery
When I moved to Canada for the first time, back in the mid 1970s, my wife was anxious for me to visit one of Toronto's most "historic" buildings, Casa Loma. It's a rich man's baroque folly, and as the name suggests, it is indeed a house on a hill. I wasn't unduly impressed: the house was only completed around 1920. As I pointed out to my wife, my parents' house in London was a full quarter of a century older, and nobody had ever been moved to call it historic.
Within days of our return to Canada, there was a fresh reminder of how shallow the pool of history can seem on this side of the Atlantic. The Federal and Nova Scotia governments have stumped up a good chunk of change to refurbish and refloat the "historic" schooner Bluenose II, and the relaunch in Lunenberg attracted large crowds and coast to coast media coverage. Bluenose II was first constructed in 1963! She's a handsome vessel, but she's not exactly historic in the same sense as HMS Victory or the Vasa, is it? Even the original Bluenose, of which the current ship is a replica, was only built in the early 1920s.
Still, there are some bits of genuine history that can stir passions in these parts. Aside from the Bluenose, the other big media story that greeted us on our arrival was a plan for Canada to share diplomatic facilities in a small number of locations with the UK. This sort of thing goes on all the time without any fanfare, but some bright spark decided to make an announcement about it, mainly to give a bit of substance to a visit to Ottawa by the UK Foreign Secretary, William "the Mekon" Hague.
Bad idea! From the public reaction, you'd have though that Canada was planning a tryst with Satan. The public outcry was muddled, to put it mildly -- one letter writer referred to the Brits as the "tea and crumpets crowd", while others denounced their bellicosity -- but it was sufficiently heartfelt that the big announcement was hastily buried, though no doubt the actual sharing of fax machines and doormen in obscure foreign capitals will go ahead anyway. The facts -- that Canada has been effectively independent since 1867, that the two countries have fought numerous wars together, are members of the Commonwealth and the G8, and enjoy innumerable family ties -- counted as nothing against the perceived slight to Canada's sovereignty and its delicate sense of self esteem.
There is, of course, one thing that can offend Canadians even more readily than a run-in with the old colonial power, and that's being dissed by the United States. And there's a fresh instance of that going on right now -- which will be the subject of the next posting.
Within days of our return to Canada, there was a fresh reminder of how shallow the pool of history can seem on this side of the Atlantic. The Federal and Nova Scotia governments have stumped up a good chunk of change to refurbish and refloat the "historic" schooner Bluenose II, and the relaunch in Lunenberg attracted large crowds and coast to coast media coverage. Bluenose II was first constructed in 1963! She's a handsome vessel, but she's not exactly historic in the same sense as HMS Victory or the Vasa, is it? Even the original Bluenose, of which the current ship is a replica, was only built in the early 1920s.
Still, there are some bits of genuine history that can stir passions in these parts. Aside from the Bluenose, the other big media story that greeted us on our arrival was a plan for Canada to share diplomatic facilities in a small number of locations with the UK. This sort of thing goes on all the time without any fanfare, but some bright spark decided to make an announcement about it, mainly to give a bit of substance to a visit to Ottawa by the UK Foreign Secretary, William "the Mekon" Hague.
Bad idea! From the public reaction, you'd have though that Canada was planning a tryst with Satan. The public outcry was muddled, to put it mildly -- one letter writer referred to the Brits as the "tea and crumpets crowd", while others denounced their bellicosity -- but it was sufficiently heartfelt that the big announcement was hastily buried, though no doubt the actual sharing of fax machines and doormen in obscure foreign capitals will go ahead anyway. The facts -- that Canada has been effectively independent since 1867, that the two countries have fought numerous wars together, are members of the Commonwealth and the G8, and enjoy innumerable family ties -- counted as nothing against the perceived slight to Canada's sovereignty and its delicate sense of self esteem.
There is, of course, one thing that can offend Canadians even more readily than a run-in with the old colonial power, and that's being dissed by the United States. And there's a fresh instance of that going on right now -- which will be the subject of the next posting.
I'm baaaack!
Back in Canada, back online and back to the blog. Remember the old days, when you could get a phone line installed in 24 hours? We've moved on from there -- it now takes two weeks, because the process is so much more complicated, what with the broadband connection, cable TV and all the other stuff to be attended to.
Anyway, all this delay gave me plenty of time to think about what to write about once connectivity with the universe was restored, so the first real posting will follow very shortly. Thanks for your patience, and thanks for stopping by.
Anyway, all this delay gave me plenty of time to think about what to write about once connectivity with the universe was restored, so the first real posting will follow very shortly. Thanks for your patience, and thanks for stopping by.
Sunday, 16 September 2012
So long, sucker!
I haven't been blogging about the hassles and travails of our ongoing move back to Canada. I figure nobody wants to see a grown man cry. However, there was one quite spooky incident on our last day in the old house....
Once all our furniture was out of the way, we gave the place a good cleaning. It was a tip when we bought it, and we were determined not to leave it the same way. Our venerable Miele vacuum cleaner was clearly struggling to cope with all the dustbunnies and cobwebs. Literally as I finished the very last stair, an ominous red light came on and the machine gently expired!
So it's gone to vacuum cleaner heaven, or at least to the municipal dump at Garston, where I have been such a frequent visitor over the last two months that they are naming one of the skips after me.
Next posting on the blog will almost certainly be from our new base in Canada, as we fly out later this week. Budget deficits, separatist government just elected in Quebec, hockey season cancelled because of a strike -- doesn't seem like much has changed in the fourteen years we've been away. Still, plenty to blog about!
Once all our furniture was out of the way, we gave the place a good cleaning. It was a tip when we bought it, and we were determined not to leave it the same way. Our venerable Miele vacuum cleaner was clearly struggling to cope with all the dustbunnies and cobwebs. Literally as I finished the very last stair, an ominous red light came on and the machine gently expired!
So it's gone to vacuum cleaner heaven, or at least to the municipal dump at Garston, where I have been such a frequent visitor over the last two months that they are naming one of the skips after me.
Next posting on the blog will almost certainly be from our new base in Canada, as we fly out later this week. Budget deficits, separatist government just elected in Quebec, hockey season cancelled because of a strike -- doesn't seem like much has changed in the fourteen years we've been away. Still, plenty to blog about!
Monday, 10 September 2012
NIMBY to the max!!
The small city where I've lived for the past dozen years, St Albans, has a lot to offer residents and visitors alike. Extensive Roman ruins, a stupendous Cathedral, lovely parks, a 100-year-old street market, and more besides. Well worth a trip! But don't worry if you can't get here any time soon. The locals are determined to preserve the place like a bug in a lump of amber.
Want proof? Just take a look at last week's issue of the local freesheet, the St Albans Review. On the front page was a story about how residents of one of the outlying villages, Colney Heath, are up in arms about plans to build a plant to dispose of food waste using anaerobic digestion. The objections appear to be largely based on fears of bad smells, which suggests they don't know what "anaerobic" means.
On the next three pages of the paper we learn that:
* locals are objecting to plans to expand nearby Luton airport, citing fears of noise and increased traffic;
* city council has rejected plans for development of housing on a former industrial site in the city centre, on the grounds that it contains an inadequate amount of low-cost housing. The site has been a vacant eyesore for well over a decade -- earlier plans for a supermarket were rejected after a long battle;
* there are fears that the government will approve a planned rail freight depot just south of the city. This has been the subject of a long-running battle, and the activists are girding up for another round;
* plans for a new hotel on the south side of the city are attracting strong opposition, because it would encroach on "precious" greenbelt land, even though the land in question is both (a) inaccessible and (b) blighted by the nearby M25 motorway.
Five anti-development campaigns in four pages -- surely some kind of record! I'm not passing judgment on any of the individual proposals, but as Messrs Cameron and Osborne flounder around trying to get the economy moving, this kind of local obstructionism is just about the last thing they need.
Oh well, we're only here for one more week anyway. Wonder if things will be any different in our new home town in Ontario? I'm betting they won't.
Want proof? Just take a look at last week's issue of the local freesheet, the St Albans Review. On the front page was a story about how residents of one of the outlying villages, Colney Heath, are up in arms about plans to build a plant to dispose of food waste using anaerobic digestion. The objections appear to be largely based on fears of bad smells, which suggests they don't know what "anaerobic" means.
On the next three pages of the paper we learn that:
* locals are objecting to plans to expand nearby Luton airport, citing fears of noise and increased traffic;
* city council has rejected plans for development of housing on a former industrial site in the city centre, on the grounds that it contains an inadequate amount of low-cost housing. The site has been a vacant eyesore for well over a decade -- earlier plans for a supermarket were rejected after a long battle;
* there are fears that the government will approve a planned rail freight depot just south of the city. This has been the subject of a long-running battle, and the activists are girding up for another round;
* plans for a new hotel on the south side of the city are attracting strong opposition, because it would encroach on "precious" greenbelt land, even though the land in question is both (a) inaccessible and (b) blighted by the nearby M25 motorway.
Five anti-development campaigns in four pages -- surely some kind of record! I'm not passing judgment on any of the individual proposals, but as Messrs Cameron and Osborne flounder around trying to get the economy moving, this kind of local obstructionism is just about the last thing they need.
Oh well, we're only here for one more week anyway. Wonder if things will be any different in our new home town in Ontario? I'm betting they won't.
Monday, 3 September 2012
Oscar the Grouch
Back in the 1980s, the BBC's satirical puppet show Spitting Image ruffled a few yarpie feathers with a little ditty titled " I've never met a nice South African". Sadly, the great Paralympian runner Oscar Pistorius has just lived down to that slur, with his complaints about his defeat in Sunday night's 200 metres final. According to Pistorius, his conqueror, Alan Oliveira of Brazil, only won because he was using "blades" -- artificial legs -- that were longer than the regulations allowed.
The International Paralympic Committee has quickly denied the charge, and Pistorius himself has issued a grudging sort-of-apology, regretting the timing of his outburst but standing by the accusation itself. Here's a suggestion, Oscar: watch a video replay of the event. Over the last 50 metres or more, Oliveira's legs were pumping dramatically faster than yours were. That's why he won.
It's such a shame. Pistorius has been a superb athlete who has done much to bring Paralympic sport into the mainstream. Now he risks going into the history books as a sore loser.
The International Paralympic Committee has quickly denied the charge, and Pistorius himself has issued a grudging sort-of-apology, regretting the timing of his outburst but standing by the accusation itself. Here's a suggestion, Oscar: watch a video replay of the event. Over the last 50 metres or more, Oliveira's legs were pumping dramatically faster than yours were. That's why he won.
It's such a shame. Pistorius has been a superb athlete who has done much to bring Paralympic sport into the mainstream. Now he risks going into the history books as a sore loser.
Saturday, 1 September 2012
Not dead yet
The UK economy keeps refusing to roll over and die, but the media stubbornly refuse to credit any good news that comes along. I've written before about the continuing strength in the labour market, which is surely incompatible with the declines in GDP that ONS has reported for the last three quarters. Then again, ONS has now revised its estimate of the fall in GDP in Q2 from the original figure of 0.7% to "only" 0.5%.
That's still not a good number, but ONS itself had estimated even before the data were released that the extra holiday for the Queen's Jubilee would cut GDP by 0.5%. So it seems as if the economy may at worst be stagnating rather than shrinking -- not that you'd be able to deduce that from the press coverage.
Yesterday Nationwide reported that its widely-followed house price index posted a 1.3% increase in August, the strongest monthly figure in two years. The firm made the mistake of describing its own result as "surprising", and analysts were quick to follow, attributing the result to thin sales volumes, counselling against reading too much into one month's data (never a consideration when the data are bad!) and warning that the positive trend was unlikely to last.
The prize for the gloomiest take goes, as it so often seems to, to the business section of The Times. (Paywa££-protected). The headline on its report: "Jump in house prices fails to dispel gloom". Well, if that's how you report it, what do you expect?
That's still not a good number, but ONS itself had estimated even before the data were released that the extra holiday for the Queen's Jubilee would cut GDP by 0.5%. So it seems as if the economy may at worst be stagnating rather than shrinking -- not that you'd be able to deduce that from the press coverage.
Yesterday Nationwide reported that its widely-followed house price index posted a 1.3% increase in August, the strongest monthly figure in two years. The firm made the mistake of describing its own result as "surprising", and analysts were quick to follow, attributing the result to thin sales volumes, counselling against reading too much into one month's data (never a consideration when the data are bad!) and warning that the positive trend was unlikely to last.
The prize for the gloomiest take goes, as it so often seems to, to the business section of The Times. (Paywa££-protected). The headline on its report: "Jump in house prices fails to dispel gloom". Well, if that's how you report it, what do you expect?
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