One of Harper's "ordinary people?" Not me.

Now I'm worried.

All this time, I considered myself an average, run-of-the-mill Canadian. I earn my money, enjoy spending time with my family and my friends, own a couple of cars and a house in the suburbs (all with the banks' help), and spend some of my leisure time reading, watching some television and every so often, attending live theatre or concerts. Now Stephen Harper tells me I'm extraordinary for paying attention to and supporting the arts in Canada. "Ordinary people," as far as He of the Blue Vest is concerned, would rather turn on the TV after a hard day's work and watch "Are you Smarter than a Fifth-Grader" or Fox News, not a bunch of wealthy writers or actors at a grand "gala" somewhere, whining about their grants. This is another one of those comments from our Prime Minister which makes me think that if we ever give this party a majority, this country will go straight to hell in a handbasket.

While these statements no doubt appeal to the Tim Horton's/plaid shirt/baseball-cap masses which make up a good proportion of Steve's "base," I don't for one minute believe it reflects the thoughts of most Canadians, especially if they really reflect about how much the arts in this country means to our selves, our culture and our national identity. But rather than read me rant about it, spend a few minutes with Canadian author Margaret Atwood:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080924.wcoarts25/BNStory/politics/home

It behooves all of us extraordinary Canadians to show this clown (who gets a big grant from us every year) the door on Oct. 14.

Father