Sparked by Stephen Harper's recent insensitive 'condolences' to the people of Venezuela on the passing of Hugo Chavez, I was pleased to see a letter in The Star demonstrates that recognizing the ironic has not been lost on those outside the Conservative fold:
Re: Hugo Chavez: Venezuelans can build a better future now, says Prime Minister Stephen Harper, March 5
Our Prime Minister said on the death of Hugo Chavez: “I hope the people of Venezuela can now build for themselves a better, brighter future.” I would first remind Stephen Harper that Venezuela elected Chavez with a 54 per cent majority. Harper rules with a measly 40 per cent and acts as if he has a majority. Chavez improved the lives of the poor in his country, whereas Harper has rarely mentioned the poor let alone tried to improve their lot. The big corporate guns and Washington did everything in their power to oust Chavez and yet he prevailed until now. I think that what Harper is really speaking of when he speaks of “people” are the rich people who ran Venezuela like a private enterprise before Chavez was elected. I hope Canadians are listening to Harper when he speaks of democracy and people and freedom because it doesn't include the poor.
Larry Bruce, Georgetown
On second thought, maybe the above letter is less an observation of irony than it is of our Prime Minister's arrant hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy and irony go together, Lorne, like toast and jam.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Owen, although I suspect the ultra conservative mind can recognize neither.
ReplyDelete