Smallc Posted June 24, 2009 Report Posted June 24, 2009 Romeo LeBlanc, the former governor general, has died in his home in southeastern New Brunswick after a lengthy illness. He was 81.LeBlanc was the first Acadian to hold the post, serving from 1995 to 1999. A state funeral is planned for Memramcook, N.B., but there are no further details. CBC Link May he rest in peace. Quote
Moonbox Posted June 24, 2009 Report Posted June 24, 2009 Not to sound insensitive, but I really don't see why this is front page news. Quote "A man is no more entitled to an opinion for which he cannot account than he is for a pint of beer for which he cannot pay" - Anonymous
Smallc Posted June 24, 2009 Author Report Posted June 24, 2009 Really? When the former defacto leader of a country dies, it shouldn't be front page news? Quote
Moonbox Posted June 24, 2009 Report Posted June 24, 2009 He's a symbolic leader of the country and at that, only a representative of the symbolic of another country. The Governor General is an almost useless part of our government and at that, is an appointee. Put a suit on a monkey and it could serve as our GG. Maybe then Canadians would pay the position more notice. Quote "A man is no more entitled to an opinion for which he cannot account than he is for a pint of beer for which he cannot pay" - Anonymous
Smallc Posted June 24, 2009 Author Report Posted June 24, 2009 As was proven in December, the position isn't only symbolic. Your lack of respect for the position also doesn't take away from its importance within our system. Oh, and by the way, many countries have symbolic non elected leaders. The former Governor General of Canada has died, and we should afford him all the resect that he deserves as a result. Quote
Smallc Posted June 24, 2009 Author Report Posted June 24, 2009 Even better....you don't care? Don't read it. Many young and old Canadians respect and admire the position...whether or not people from the sandwich generations do is irrelevant. Quote
Topaz Posted June 24, 2009 Report Posted June 24, 2009 Remember him and he was one of the finest GG but he did more in his life beside being the GG and so if you don't know you should the following..... http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090624/...al/obit_leblanc Quote
Moonbox Posted June 24, 2009 Report Posted June 24, 2009 As was proven in December, the position isn't only symbolic. Your lack of respect for the position also doesn't take away from its importance within our system. Interpreting a technicality every 20 years is hardly justification for the position. There's little to no importance in it. We're hardly going to be remembering Michelle 10 years from now on her groundbreaking contributions. Oh, and by the way, many countries have symbolic non elected leaders. The former Governor General of Canada has died, and we should afford him all the resect that he deserves as a result. The same respect we give anyone who dies. Read the obituary, move on. We're all capable of reading the news, and given that this topic is unlikely to elicit any real discussion beyond my sarcasm, what were you expecting in posting it? Even better....you don't care? Don't read it. Many young and old Canadians respect and admire the position...whether or not people from the sandwich generations do is irrelevant. I'm from the same generation as you. Practically nobody respects and admires the position. Look up some polls. Most Canadians don't even know who our head of state is. Out of the minority that do, how many do you think admire and respect a symbolic appointed position that has little or no power to directly influence Canada? Quote "A man is no more entitled to an opinion for which he cannot account than he is for a pint of beer for which he cannot pay" - Anonymous
Smallc Posted June 24, 2009 Author Report Posted June 24, 2009 (edited) As I've already said, your lack of understanding of the position hardly diminishes it's importance...and it is important...all of the time.. Young Canadians overwhelmingly support the monarchy and the Governor General. Edited June 24, 2009 by Smallc Quote
Smallc Posted June 24, 2009 Author Report Posted June 24, 2009 And as I've already said, we are far from alone in having a non political mostly ceremonial head of state. Quote
Smallc Posted June 24, 2009 Author Report Posted June 24, 2009 I don't even know why we're arguing about this. Canada's former Head of State (Acting) has died...it's sad, and it's news. Quote
Smallc Posted June 24, 2009 Author Report Posted June 24, 2009 And just in case the job is still thought to be unimportant: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinio...article1176785/ Quote
capricorn Posted June 24, 2009 Report Posted June 24, 2009 Canada's former Head of State (Acting) has died...it's sad, and it's news. Romeo LeBlanc died and I feel.....nothing. However, I send my condolences to his family. Quote "We always want the best man to win an election. Unfortunately, he never runs." Will Rogers
Moonbox Posted June 25, 2009 Report Posted June 25, 2009 As I've already said, your lack of understanding of the position hardly diminishes it's importance...and it is important...all of the time.. Young Canadians overwhelmingly support the monarchy and the Governor General. I understand the position every bit as well as you. I just don't exaggerate its importance or the amount of respect that people have for it. The governor general does very little other than show up at parties and meetings and maybe once in awhile has to make an actual decision. The role is largely ceremonial, and far from necessary. And as I've already said, we are far from alone in having a non political mostly ceremonial head of state. Who cares? Really? And just in case the job is still thought to be unimportant:http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinio...article1176785/ Nothing in that article whatsoever shows the job is in any way important and irreplaceable. The GG's is somewhat akin to Paris Hilton's. Show up at parties/events, get paid, sign a few pieces of paper etc... I don't even know why we're arguing about this. Canada's former Head of State (Acting) has died...it's sad, and it's news. What I had for breakfast could also be considered news. We can all read the news on our own. I'm simply commenting on the inanity of the thread. The former governor general died. Okay. Thanks. Anything else to add to that we all didn't read on the actual news sites? Were we expecting a good discussion here? No? Don't bother posting it then. Sorry. I don't mean to be rude Smallc but if everyone posted every little tidbit they see online we'd be drowning in bore. Quote "A man is no more entitled to an opinion for which he cannot account than he is for a pint of beer for which he cannot pay" - Anonymous
Oleg Bach Posted June 25, 2009 Report Posted June 25, 2009 Romeo LeBlanc dealt in good faith - was of good nature...and was loved because he cared... I salute him. Quote
Smallc Posted June 25, 2009 Author Report Posted June 25, 2009 (edited) retracted. sorry. Edited June 25, 2009 by Smallc Quote
Smallc Posted June 25, 2009 Author Report Posted June 25, 2009 (edited) Look, I understand what you're saying, but I have a great deal of respect for our institutions and the people that hold the positions...all of of them. I thought it was important news. If you didn't care, you didn't have to read it...or comment. Edited June 25, 2009 by Smallc Quote
g_bambino Posted June 25, 2009 Report Posted June 25, 2009 I understand the position every bit as well as you. This: He's... only a representative of the symbolic of another country. Would suggest otherwise. By your words, you're describing a Governor General in 1899, not 2009. Perhaps you need some updated textbooks? Quote
Smallc Posted June 25, 2009 Author Report Posted June 25, 2009 I was thinking the same thing Bambino....but I didn't see the point in arguing about it any further. Regardless of the the feelings of some, LeBlanc will get the state funeral that he deserves, and a not insignificant portion of the nation will be watching....and if I can be part of that portion, I will be. Quote
Argus Posted June 25, 2009 Report Posted June 25, 2009 (edited) Even better....you don't care? Don't read it. Many young and old Canadians respect and admire the position...whether or not people from the sandwich generations do is irrelevant. I respect the position. I never respected Romeo Leblanc, however. He was pretty much a dull drone in all things, from MP to cabinet, to senate to GG Edited June 25, 2009 by Argus Quote "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
Smallc Posted June 25, 2009 Author Report Posted June 25, 2009 And that's fine, I simply was posting it here because it Canadians federal life and politics it really is a big story even if it isn't much of a debate. Quote
Moonbox Posted June 25, 2009 Report Posted June 25, 2009 I was thinking the same thing Bambino....but I didn't see the point in arguing about it any further. Regardless of the the feelings of some, Oh please. I didn't misunderstand anything about the position. Officially, the Queen is still our head of state and the GG's role in almost every respect is purely ceremonial. LeBlanc will get the state funeral that he deserves, and a not insignificant portion of the nation will be watching....and if I can be part of that portion, I will be. Practically nobody will be watching it. Pretend otherwise all you want. I don't care, but people generally don't watch funerals for people they don't know. Quote "A man is no more entitled to an opinion for which he cannot account than he is for a pint of beer for which he cannot pay" - Anonymous
g_bambino Posted June 25, 2009 Report Posted June 25, 2009 Oh please. I didn't misunderstand anything about the position. Officially, the Queen is still our head of state and the GG's role in almost every respect is purely ceremonial. Oh, please, indeed. You conveniently leave out the fact that you said the Governor General is the representative of another country's head of state. Unless you've got some facts to prove that Canada is still a colony, you were wrong in your description of the viceregal office. It's also interesting to note that you decided to add the "in almost every aspect" caveat to your earlier claims of total ceremonialism. Perhaps you are learning that the Governor General is not, despite common appearance, merely a useless decoration. Quote
Moonbox Posted June 26, 2009 Report Posted June 26, 2009 Oh, please, indeed. You conveniently leave out the fact that you said the Governor General is the representative of another country's head of state. Unless you've got some facts to prove that Canada is still a colony, you were wrong in your description of the viceregal office. The Queen of England is Canada's head of state. The GG is her representative and acts on her behalf in Canada. That's her job. It's also interesting to note that you decided to add the "in almost every aspect" caveat to your earlier claims of total ceremonialism. Perhaps you are learning that the Governor General is not, despite common appearance, merely a useless decoration. Way to reach man. The GG is a ceremonial role that has to make a decision that matters maybe once every 10-20 years. I already said that here. It's a symbolic position and totally unnecessary. Tell me how and why we need that and what part of the job would be difficult to replace. Quote "A man is no more entitled to an opinion for which he cannot account than he is for a pint of beer for which he cannot pay" - Anonymous
Smallc Posted June 26, 2009 Author Report Posted June 26, 2009 The Queen of England is Canada's head of state. No....the Queen of Canada is Canada's head of state, and though that office and the office of the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is occupied by the same person, the offices and the positions are quite separate. Quote
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