Wot's That Odour?

Whoa! We've drifted backward into the Middle Ages where talk of fire and brimstone and the devil and his spawn represented the common parlance of the time. But educate people and such absurd reflections of another time and space are seen as ludicrous, the sign of ignorance and stupidity. Then, on the other hand, perhaps not. Here is Canada's brilliant academic, an expert on human relations and humanitarianism, and he smells sulphur.

There, on the front page of Canada's worthy national newspaper, the National Post, are two photographs juxtaposed. On top, one of Michael Ignatieff, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, and the Official Opposition. My ... he looks ... sadistically malicious. Reminiscent of what one supposes Satan might actually look like. If one is to believe all the cartoonish depictions of that feared and despised non-presence.

Under the photograph of a rictus-pleased Satan ... um, Ignatieff ... one of the Prime Minister of Canada. Stephen Harper's photograph depicts an angelic, resigned patience. Suffering yet another verbal attack from the adversarially-smoking mouth of his political opponent. Who has labelled him the devil incarnate for only the devil leaves behind the unmistakable odour of sulphur, right?

This passes for intellectually elevated banter? Pleasing Mr. Ignatieff by his cleverness? So pleased he sees no need for embarrassment, although his puckish statement has the public gawking in disbelief. Although the tall, dark and gaunt Ignatieff bears no resemblance to the short, dark and hugely oval Hugo Chavez who also dabbles in dark thoughts of Satan when remarking on the presence of his political adversary, he now presents quite as stupidly absurd.

Even the quotes attributed to their public representatives, their mouthpieces for public edification reflects the differences in the two men as public figures, as representative statesmen. Here is Mr. Ignatieff's press secretary claiming justification for the 'whiff of sulphur': "...quite evident when one faces the Conservative government on a daily basis. Secrecy, dirty tricks in committees, sole-source contracting, the smearing of officials, the bully tactics, the broken promises (elections, accountability, Senate), etc."

Why, sounds like business as usual. Sounds descriptive of a string of Liberal-led governments, in actual fact. Was he describing his own party, perforce? Doubtless so - some of them convinced they were devilishly clever, come to think of it, when in reality they were just tediously ethically challenged bordering on corrupt, and that really does have an awful stench trailing after it.

And then, in contrast, the spokesperson for Mr. Harper, Dimitri Soudas, whose message is clear and concise: "Mr. Ignatieff's comments reflect more on him. Canadians expect substance and he clearly doesn't have any."

Clearly, he does not.