cktimes.ca Archives for The Pastoral Lens
The Pastoral Lens
From the Rodney Dangerfield Files
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
If I say the name 'Rodney Dangerfield' what is the first thing that comes to your mind? I'll bet it's his famous line, "I don't get no repect!" Well, Rodney's not the only one. These days respect is a rare jewel in our society, and nowhere is this more absent than in the treatment of our prime minister. Let me say that I do not agree with everything Stephen Harper has said or done, but I do know this. He is our prime minister, the leader of our country, and possessor of the highest office in the land. It is for that reason that I feel he deserves respect. One can disagree with a person in authority and still show them the respect that their office deserves.Having said this, I bring to your attention a news report that came out on the weekend about 21-year-old Brigette DePape. Working on a one-year contract as a page at Parliament Hill, DePape concocted a plan to protest the policies of Stephen Harper and to do so during the recent Throne speech last week. DePape, who used an alias so as to keep her family from realizing her plans, concealed a folded sign underneath her skirt as she passed by the senators on her way to the Senate for the Throne speech. Then, at a key time while Mr. Harper was watching the governor general give his speech, she unveiled her sign. It was in the shape of a stop sign and simply said, "Stop Harper." She was escorted out immediatley, questioned, and then fired from her job as a page.
I don't know what came over me but I found out about this from a friend posting the article on his facebook page. He was quite in favour of it, but I had a different opinion. I got into the 'discussion' and soon found out that I was a lone ranger on this subject with those commenting on my friend's facebook wall. In fact, even my friend misunderstood me and turned against me. I stated in my last post that we would have to 'agree to disagree' on this matter. Although this young lady has the right to state her opinions and stand in protest to make her point, clearly there is a time and a place for it. When she accepted the 12-month contract as a page she accepted it with the full knowledge of what was expected and how she should conduct herself. If she disagreed with our prime minister so vehemently she had every right to tender her resignation and state her reasons for doing so. In my opinion she took clear advantage of her privileged position to set up a platform for her own cause. Her actions were disrespectful and done in poor taste.
