Keepitsimple Posted January 12, 2015 Report Posted January 12, 2015 Don't know where he finds the time to create such a well-written piece of history........it's well worth the read - especially for those who might not have had an in-depth exposure to Canadian history. Sir John A. Macdonald, our first prime minister, famously described himself as a practical man. He even jokingly called himself a mere “cabinet maker.” He seldom had much to say about lofty constitutional, political or legal theory. Instead, he cultivated a reputation as a man who, while others philosophized, got things done: It was a small vanity.Unfortunately, historians have taken him too much at his word. They will concede that Macdonald was sufficiently crafty to steer the Fathers of Confederation towards a union of the British North American colonies and territories. Yet they give him little credit for having either a grand vision or a deep understanding of the principles upon which its success was ultimately based (or indeed, of even having any principles at all).As a disservice to his memory, this would be bad enough. However, if we are to treat his contribution to the founding of our federation as unprincipled horse-trading, it is the country itself we sell short. Article Continues.................................. Link: http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/01/09/stephen-harper-reflects-on-canadas-first-prime-minister-sir-john-a-macdonald/ Quote Back to Basics
Shady Posted January 12, 2015 Report Posted January 12, 2015 Stephen Harper continues to impress! I wonder what Justin would write? Quote
PIK Posted January 12, 2015 Report Posted January 12, 2015 Justin would write that he was nothing but a bribe taking drunk with no vision for the country. That is what the MSM is doing now, trying to make him look worse then he really was. Quote Toronto, like a roach motel in the middle of a pretty living room.
Smallc Posted January 12, 2015 Report Posted January 12, 2015 Justin would write that he was nothing but a bribe taking drunk with no vision for the country. That is what the MSM is doing now, trying to make him look worse then he really was. Can you imagine a similar thing happening in the US to George Washington? I actually think that the Canadian public won't buy the whole smear of Sir John A. His positive accomplishments (the creation of this amazing country) far outweigh any negative personal shortcomings. Quote
WestCoastRunner Posted January 12, 2015 Report Posted January 12, 2015 Can you imagine a similar thing happening in the US to George Washington? I actually think that the Canadian public won't buy the whole smear of Sir John A. His positive accomplishments (the creation of this amazing country) far outweigh any negative personal shortcomings. His shortcomings weren't only personal. If we want to throw accolades upon him, we should also examine his controversial policies like the treatment of the chinese and aboriginals. I don't believe there is a smear campaign, just an honest look at his legacy. Quote I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass. - Maya Angelou
Smallc Posted January 12, 2015 Report Posted January 12, 2015 It's difficult to properly judge the past through the prism of the present. Quote
WestCoastRunner Posted January 13, 2015 Report Posted January 13, 2015 It's difficult to properly judge the past through the prism of the present. It's not difficult at all to examine one's legacy in the context of the times. Quote I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass. - Maya Angelou
Smallc Posted January 13, 2015 Report Posted January 13, 2015 In the context of the times, he wasn't particularly racist. In the context of the times, he was a drunk...so what? He birthed a nation. Quote
WestCoastRunner Posted January 13, 2015 Report Posted January 13, 2015 In the context of the times, he wasn't particularly racist. In the context of the times, he was a drunk...so what? He birthed a nation. While praising him, let's also examine his negative policies. Quote I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass. - Maya Angelou
WestCoastRunner Posted January 13, 2015 Report Posted January 13, 2015 In the context of the times, he wasn't particularly racist. In the context of the times, he was a drunk...so what? He birthed a nation. And JT kissed a bride on the cheeks. So what? Quote I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass. - Maya Angelou
Smallc Posted January 13, 2015 Report Posted January 13, 2015 I don't recall caring about that. Quote
WestCoastRunner Posted January 13, 2015 Report Posted January 13, 2015 I don't recall caring about that. Many did. Quote I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass. - Maya Angelou
Smallc Posted January 13, 2015 Report Posted January 13, 2015 And that didn't make sense either. Quote
cybercoma Posted January 13, 2015 Report Posted January 13, 2015 He birthed a nation.That's a stretch. He was a railroad man, interested in lining his pockets with the citizens money and a drunk to boot. Sir John A is no Washington. Quote
Keepitsimple Posted January 13, 2015 Author Report Posted January 13, 2015 That's a stretch. He was a railroad man, interested in lining his pockets with the citizens money and a drunk to boot. Sir John A is no Washington. I guess you didn't read the article and put yourself back in "the times". You can't imagine how important a railway was back then - no cars, planes, no telephones. Even the telegraph was in its infancy and usually followed the route of the railways. Why is it so important to some people to disparage a great Canadian? Pierre Trudeau was a philanderer, a communist sympathizer and the initiator of much of the debt the country is still faced with......yet we don't focus on those personal foibles to tell the "truthful story". Why should it be different for John A. - who's been dead for over 100 years? Quote Back to Basics
Wilber Posted January 13, 2015 Report Posted January 13, 2015 That's a stretch. He was a railroad man, interested in lining his pockets with the citizens money and a drunk to boot. Sir John A is no Washington. He was a lawyer. He was tainted by the Pacific scandal but still managed to form four more majority governments before his death. The railway was a condition of BC joining Confederation and without it, Canada as we know it wouldn't exist. Quote "Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC
Black Dog Posted January 13, 2015 Report Posted January 13, 2015 I guess you didn't read the article and put yourself back in "the times". You can't imagine how important a railway was back then - no cars, planes, no telephones. Even the telegraph was in its infancy and usually followed the route of the railways. Why is it so important to some people to disparage a great Canadian? Pierre Trudeau was a philanderer, a communist sympathizer and the initiator of much of the debt the country is still faced with......yet we don't focus on those personal foibles to tell the "truthful story". Why should it be different for John A. - who's been dead for over 100 years? LOL wut. I don't understand the harm in pointing out that, in addition to a lot of significant accomplishments, this guy was also a scumbag Quote
jacee Posted January 13, 2015 Report Posted January 13, 2015 (edited) -sir-john-a-macdonald-s-200th-celebrated-protested-downtown-hamilton/ Free speech is always with us. I think Canadians are deeply and quietly patriotic. If we weren't, we'd have been US states long ago. But we have never been big on publicly revering our history. We know there are flaws, and it just isn't our nature. Harper would like to see more adulation, but he's being disappointed repeatedly. Oh well. . Edited January 13, 2015 by jacee Quote
cybercoma Posted January 13, 2015 Report Posted January 13, 2015 I guess you didn't read the article and put yourself back in "the times". You can't imagine how important a railway was back then - no cars, planes, no telephones. Even the telegraph was in its infancy and usually followed the route of the railways. Why is it so important to some people to disparage a great Canadian? Pierre Trudeau was a philanderer, a communist sympathizer and the initiator of much of the debt the country is still faced with......yet we don't focus on those personal foibles to tell the "truthful story". Why should it be different for John A. - who's been dead for over 100 years? Sure. A railway was important. Oil is important too, but nobody in their right mind would be ok with an oil executive as the PM while he's currently sitting as the CEO. Quote
Smallc Posted January 13, 2015 Report Posted January 13, 2015 -sir-john-a-macdonald-s-200th-celebrated-protested-downtown-hamilton/ Free speech is always with us. I think Canadians are deeply and quietly patriotic. If we weren't, we'd have been US states long ago. But we have never been big on publicly revering our history. We know there are flaws, and it just isn't our nature. Harper would like to see more adulation, but he's being disappointed repeatedly. Oh well. . Ever since about 2010, I'd say that your ideas of who we are doesn't March public sentiment. Several polls have shown Canadians moving from quietly patriotic to being loudly so. Quote
jbg Posted January 13, 2015 Report Posted January 13, 2015 (edited) Deleted Edited January 14, 2015 by jbg Quote Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone." Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds. Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location? The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).
jbg Posted January 13, 2015 Report Posted January 13, 2015 (edited) Deleted Edited January 14, 2015 by jbg Quote Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone." Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds. Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location? The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).
Keepitsimple Posted January 13, 2015 Author Report Posted January 13, 2015 (edited) Sure. A railway was important. Oil is important too, but nobody in their right mind would be ok with an oil executive as the PM while he's currently sitting as the CEO. Before I say you are mistaken, perhaps you can provide a cite that explains when MacDonald was CEO of a railway company? You previously called him a railroad man. In fact, he was a lawyer and a career politician, serving as Prime Minister for 19 years. I'll await your enlightenment. Edited January 13, 2015 by Keepitsimple Quote Back to Basics
jacee Posted January 13, 2015 Report Posted January 13, 2015 Ever since about 2010, I'd say that your ideas of who we are doesn't March public sentiment. Several polls have shown Canadians moving from quietly patriotic to being loudly so. Harper would like that, has spent a lot of our money on it, but I'm not seeing it. You're going to have to provide a link to support that claim. We are a country of three founding peoples. Until we find a reason and a way to celebrate that appropriately, the response from Canadians will always be mixed. . Quote
Smallc Posted January 13, 2015 Report Posted January 13, 2015 http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/politics/canadians-more-willing-to-display-patriotism-survey-finds-1.1189422 Quote
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