25 / 04 / 2008
Another “bilateral deal” by the Conservative Government of Canada, this time with… St-George as Patron Saint of the Former Yugoslav Republic.
St-George: a “Bilateral Saint”
Montreal, 23 April 2008
Less than six months after the Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity), the Hon. Jason Kenney was thanked by members of the Former Yugoslav Republic (FYR) Community of Toronto for calling their country of origin by a self-called name, he did it again! In the tradition of the Conservative Government of Mr. Harper, this time it appears that he struck another “bilateral deal” with… St-George as Patron Saint this time.
And he did that in his straight-forward-no-nonsense wishes for a “Happy St-George Day”. For the Secretary it seems that sensitivites of other constituent communities in Canada are irrelevant. Last October thousands of Canadians of Greek origin protested in front of the Parliament Hill against the Government’s decision to recognize the Former Yougoslav Republic with a “borrowed” name that belongs to Greece.
For tens of hundrends of years, St-George, born of Gerontius and Polychronia, a Greek father and a Palestinian mother in a part of Armenia, has being considered as the Patron Saint of many peoples and countries, including Greece, that the Secretary of “Multi”culturalism did not mention either out of ignorance, or out of choice, the latter being more probable.
He did mention Bulgaria, however, amongst other Balkan Slav-countries, without realizing that he brought the Christian populations of Bulgaria and the Former YugoSlav Republic even closer, sharing not only the ethnic roots and language, but a cultural and a religious past as well. And that is, as Mr. Kiro Gligorov said, slavic!
It is very unfortunate, but Just however, that the upcoming elections in the US and the neutral stand that Canada kept earlier on in April during the NATO Summit in Bucharest, may create additional questions again about the Secretary’s judgement or lack thereof.
In the mean time, the Truth, just like Life, always finds a way. And for his wishes and statement we can thank him and most certainly St-George…multi-laterally!
There is an old song In Greece about the quality of character of the people that are named after St-George: “Whereverer there is a “George”, there is Gold”! And for those of Greek origin in the multicultural mosaic of Canada or anywhere else in the world people understand greek: “Opou Giorgos kai malama!”
Thank you St-George, Happy Greek Easter as well to ALL!
PS. The Greek Orthodox Church celebrates St-George on the 23rd of April, or the 3rd day after Easter, so this year it is not celebrated on the 23rd of April, but the week after.
RELEVANT LINKS
- Statement by the Hon Secretary of State(Multiculturalism & canadian Identity) on St-George’s Day
- Will St-George be slayed as England’s Patron Saint?
- Speech by the Hon. J.K. on the occasion of an event of Appreciation for the Decision to recognize FYR by its consitutional name
Office of the Honourable Jason Kenney, PC, MP,
Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity)
Alykhan Velshi
Director of Communications
alykhan.velshi@pch.gc.ca
Ari Perry | 25 / 04 / 2008 | LEADING OPINION | Tags: "VARDARSKA" YES, "MACEDONIA" NO!, Americas, Canada, INTERNATIONAL, INTERVENTIONS |
Comments
One Response to “St-George: a “Bilateral Saint””
Thanks to you for posting an exhibition of ignorance on the part of government officials, e.g.minister and aide, that we have now become accustomed to such blunders!
Today’s headlines attest to the fact that the PM has his own way of doing things and doesn’t quite care of the reckless comments of his ministers. I hope that some Members of Parliament are enlightened enough to bring such idiotic deeds on the part of their colleagues to the floor of the House of Commons. The rest of us can sit back and marvel at this comedy of errors!