Friday, September 1, 2023

Word Without Thoughts

 


Just another short post today. There is a scene in my favourite Shakespearean play, Hamlet, in which King Claudius, who killed his brother and stole his crown, is suddenly overcome with guilt. He prays ardently in his chapel, hoping for God's forgiveness. There is but one catch: he is unwilling to give up the crown and pay the price for his treason. The prayer ends this way:

My words fly up, my thoughts remain below:
Words without thoughts never to heaven go.

I couldn't help but think of that speech while watching Ford and Steve Clark try yet again to 'apologize' and admit the process was flawed, while keeping all the benefits of the crime - the selloff of Greenbelt lands to the tune set by wealthy developers like De Gasperis and Michael Rice.

While the electorate may not be God, I have a pretty good suspicion that the public display of contrition by Mr. Ford and Mr. Clark will not move voters at the next election to grant absolution.

That's all for today, another busy one.


2 comments:

  1. Hasn't seemed to affect Prime Minister Trudeau yet. Why would you expect any other politician to be different? AN

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  2. Actually, AN, my expectations of politicians are quite low. What strikes me as extraordinary in this case, however, is the blatantness of the wrongdoing here, and the assumption that we are too stupid to remember these crimes at the next election.

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