Harper on the International Stage

Chantal Hebert today writes of Harper's international dilemma. It's worth a read.

But here's something else.

While Canadian news sources wax rapturous and ridiculous about Harper's various pronouncements about global warming or Putin or missile shields or what have you not one extra-national or international news source as much as mentions his name or Canada.

The notion that Canada plays a significant role, let alone the foolish delusion that Canada has any influence to wield, is solely our own.

Every day while in the UK I read at least one newspaper, more usually two. Most days I would find and read another in a café or pub. (One of my travelling companions is a Reuters editor after all and is professionally addicted.) I watched BBC News, SKY News.

The number of times Canada was mentioned in any context whatsoever?

One.

NHL box scores.

Harper or the Canadian Prime Minister was mentioned not at all.

Today I perused six or eight online news sources regarding the G8 meetings.

Again - no Canada and no Harper.

We ourselves may be the only people on the face of the earth who think that what we say or do matters internationally and we periodically become so obsessive about it that our behaviour borders on delusional.

Why else would we elect an Elmer Fudd look-a-like parochial goof on the idea that Canada could somehow come back from some unspecified elsewhere when he himself has never been anywhere and has accomplished nothing outside of academia or the precious halls of a think tank?

We need to grow up about the nature of the world and our place in it.