It’s always interesting to see what journalists choose to write about for Christmas day publication. We get the usual mix of pre-New Year summaries and predictions, a few sugary pieces on the meaning of Christmas and how we should just be nice (as though it takes the holiday season so commercialized that such messages usually come across as a feeble, guilt-ridden obligation), and the lame writings on the meaning of Christmas - what it should be, is it dead, this is a Christian country, blah, blah, blah.
So it was delightful to wake up to Susan Riley’s column entitled Season’s Kudos.
No one wants a catalogue of complaint during the season of peace and good will. No one needs reminding of the dispiriting, aimless state of federal politics. So let's focus, instead, on what was good about the year just ending.
First, Canada has been well-served by brave and selfless public servants and some stubbornly independent watchdogs. Their exploits are rarely as visible, or heroic, as the work performed by our committed troops in Afghanistan, or by firefighters and others who are always first on the scene of a natural disaster. But in the face of the Harper government's abiding mistrust of its bureaucracy, we should celebrate those who risk jobs, or promotion, by simply insisting on science, sound research and past experience over the impractical, or ethically dubious, schemes of their political masters.
Ms. Riley mentions Munir Sheikh, Pat Stogran, Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page, Auditor General Sheila Fraser and gives overall praise to the work of public servants. She briefly acknowledges that not all public servants are good little boys and girls but closes by saying -
...we're not dispensing lumps of coal today. Just gratitude to the honest, hardworking, fair-minded professionals working for us, and the larger good, in an atmosphere considerably less congenial than Santa's workshop. We know you're there.
Season’s kudos to you Ms. Riley. You serve the public well also through your insightful, fearless writing.
Monday Afternoon Links
9 hours ago
3 comments:
You always see the best work from the public service when the government is not working. That should not be surprising since when the government is working you wouldn't be able to tell that someone is actually doing their job. What is hearting is watching the public service continue to do their job in the face of government opposition. I am especially happy to see that at this time of year someone has taken the initiative to recognize those who have been to often public critized or demonized. Kudos to those public servants and those who take the time to remember them.
Season's Greetings, 900 ft jesus!
I was happy just not having to answer the damn alarm clock for two consecutive mornings.
Now, if I could only figure out how to avoid certain family members next year, I'd be golden!
Have a good week!
season's greetings, Christian.
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