How it should happen

To Steyn’s credit, he may have offered the first olive branch when he said as I was closing the show, “would you guys like to go for dinner?” One of the lawyers immediately said, “No!” They may not have broken bread, but they did continue the dialogue.

What became clear is that the rancor that started the evening was gone by the end of it. We’re now trying to see whether we can bring all four participants back some time towards the end of the month, in hopes of having a somewhat calmer discussion about the actual arguments in Steyn’s book. We didn’t get to much of that last night because so much time was taken up with questions about whether Maclean’s was practising good journalism or not. steve paikin

No legal bullshit, no complaints…a conversation.

The Socks are learning a lesson which, if they have the wit to get it, will stand them in good stead in Canada. The lesson is simply this - I can disagree with you but I can still want to have you sit down to dinner. That is civilized. The Socks have a choice, be civilized or be the butt of thousands of jokes and slurs as to their understanding of the law, of Canada and, frankly, of good manners.

Whether it is on TVO or before the SCC, the Socks will learn their manners and how a civilized disagreement is carried out. If they do not they are not worth having in Canada. For fun and fury - without the obligation to be polite or civilized - there are plenty of Islamic Republics which will be more congenial.

Written by jay on May 8th, 2008 with 6 comments.
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Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com WL Mackenzie Redux
#1. May 9th, 2008, at 12:12 AM.

Perhaps the socks will learn enough from the second exposure with the free press stunt pilot to “get it”.

“It” being the concept of being a functional member of a civil liberal democratic society who do not threaten your fellow citizens with ruinous heavy handed government intervention every time someone disagrees with you….and that having a differing opinion is not “racism” or “hate” it’s called exercising a right to dissent…something evidently lacking in the sock’s cultural maturity.

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com Alan
#2. May 9th, 2008, at 1:27 AM.

Note, too, that this was possible through the integrity and flexibility of that wonderful instance of public broadcasting that is TVO and not another public broadcaster which would be too weighed down by its own self-reverence. I caught a bit of it but exercised my freedom to not care that much about position takers but am happy to see the offer of dinner was made.

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com john begley
#3. May 9th, 2008, at 2:37 AM.

dinner indeed…..as tho dining and conversing civily with lady macbeth or heinrich himmler would have altered the course of events one jot…..these people are ideologues with the robert conquest ‘one big idea” baggage….they are NOT philosophers….

as spengler said last week…we are enjoined to love our enemies…even more so after we have had to kill them…remember always these detestable arrogant little puppies are the enemy…the front line fifth columnists of jihad….no number of dinners will ever soften their resolve to weaken and ultimately destroy us.

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com john begley
#4. May 9th, 2008, at 4:18 AM.

ah let me pass you another serving of goat fricassee Kumera old man….more mushrooms Muneeza my dear ?…and delicate blossom Fatima ,perhaps you’d care for another glass of this absolutely sterling sound as a nut ice water…..just going to pop out for arf a mo’ my friends…i’ll be right back my dears…just stepping out for a shot of old overholt and a quick toke…be right back darlings…stay the way you are…don’t go changing on me while i’m gone now!!

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com john begley
#5. May 9th, 2008, at 12:31 PM.

now…seriously….the one i’d LOVE to spend some time dining with or otherwise is M Simard….the fourth musketeer who once the heat came on rapidly distanced himself from the rest…i’ll wager HE could offer some insights..

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com john begley
#6. May 11th, 2008, at 8:52 AM.

hakkaf!….

So!..as i was saying in a roundabout manner was who the hell is M Simard and what’s he up to thesetimes and what does thimk of the whole HRC imbroglio nowtimes and why did he dissociate hisself from the proceedings that he moved along and ….oh gee…so many questions that a real journalist rather than an ever so humble dilettante such as mesself would shirley(TM) be asking…..perhaps he just may roll over on his former buds….mebbe he’s seen the light and the truth by now and is contributing to the CPC…mebbe he’s tatting a pitcher of mark steyn onto his very own pillow……..mebbe he’s sitting at home absolutely ACHING for that frickin fone to ring and kathy shaidle is on the other end ready to set him free.

howsabout some of you inquiring minds in ‘taranto’ get on the stick here and run down some new dope on this Simard “lead’ …..i’m strictly an idea man mesself but rest assured i’m available 24/7 for clarification on how to proceed.

currie ? yer in charge while i’m gone…the rest of you carry on as you were.

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