My new hero: Michaelle Jean
Okay, so she’s not exactly my new hero. Despite being primarily a ceremonial position, I think the role of the governor general is pretty sweet.
The reason for being in my spotlight lately is Michaelle Jean’s decision to participate in eating and hunting seal during her trip to Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. Half the world is up in arms over it, decrying the industry as inhumane and revolting. Someone even compared Jean to Sarah Palin, which I think is unfair and irrelevant. Others are calling her Braveheart and applauding the GG for standing up for what is a way of life for the Inuit.
I’m with them.
This is where my non-animal friendly side comes out. No, I don’t want to see baby seals clubbed to death. But I’d rather that than watch the Inuit lose their livelihood and culture. It’s how some of them survive and a few animal rights groups shouldn’t be enough to stop it. It’s a contentious issue, and I understand why Prime Minister Stephen Harper doesn’t want to take a stance and risk alienating other countries over it.
That’s why Jean was a good person to stand up for it. As an nonpartisan leader, she was able to participate in the seal hunt without putting a political party on PR clean-up duty. The majority of comments I’ve read on the Internet and news stories are impressed a voice of authority has finally spoken out for the Inuit, instead of letting the discussion be dictated by other nations and organizations.
As I blogged about recently, Canadians are often too worried about what other people think to share their opinions. Whether or not people agree with her position, we should be glad Jean decided to firmly take a side in this whole debate. It’s about time someone did.
What do you think?
Cheryl
newfcollins said,
May 29, 2009 at 11:04 am
Good for her.
Taller Rant said,
May 29, 2009 at 11:06 am
I don’t think that the GG consciously took a position at all on the seal hunt at all despite what many believe. What she did was take a stand to respect the values and traditions of others and not pass judgment on others for having different beliefs. She was respecting their civilization, their way of life by participating in something that is a norm for them. Her actions had nothing to do with the large commercial seal hunt and it was certainly not a nod in favor of it.
It could be argued that Jean’s stance was an affirmation of a cultural relativism and an expression of acceptance of the point of view of others—tolerance?
I hope one day she travels to Spain to take in a bull fight. What will the European anti-sealers say then?–probably nothing.
Cheryl said,
May 29, 2009 at 11:21 am
By choosing to “respect the values and traditions” – even if she didn’t mean it – the GG took a side. Even if it wasn’t a conscience decision, Jean’s actions have become Canada’s response to international outrage over the seal hunt.