Both last night and today, for reasons that should be obvious, I did something I normally do not recommend-- I listened to the speech of Stephen Harper. What came of it is hardly surprising; within minutes of the reports out of Ottawa that something had happened many of us, myself included, knew that Harper would find a way to spin this into an assault on free assembly, free association and dissent. His career of secrecy, deep authoritarian principles and a determined dedication to all things western imperialism and exploitation indicated his regime would move to make it so that people who do things like express this thought will be monitored more than ever. Sadly, he was accurately predicted. What frightens me more is the realization that he has been waiting for this moment with such glee, that when he spoke last night-- after much delay, hammering out the right words until he was late with his own address-- he was enjoying himself. You could sense, about two words into his little speech, how he was living a dream. Now, he believes, he can smash us all and force through his planetary destroying vision of ultra-militarism combined with imprisoned dissent. There is little doubt that this came at the right time for him, too. Oil prices are being deliberately manipulated downwards, using up international reserves from Saudi Arabia. Climate has begun, though horribly tied to capitalist schemes, to move onto the top agenda of international discourse by virtue of the fact deepening climate change is happening and is well beyond deniable theory. While everyone is revulsed by ISIS, few want to be involved in a long term war in the Middle East for the forseeable future. Indigenous rights-- both at the Supreme Court level and the grassroots resistance level-- have gained both traction on Turtle Island and resonance with revolutionary movements in solidarity around the world. With these and many more problems, what is most disturbing is, as mentioned, that the normally robotic Harper is enjoying himself. He is in his moment, his grandiose time in the sun where he can block out all light. His primary targets will not be Muslims. They will be indigenous land defenders, environmentalists, anti-war campaigners working in school rooms to make common cause with pensioners protecting their retirement. Ad infinitum. Arbitrary arrest is already on the books here in Canada, and has been used. This, however, is the moment this particular administration wants to make that normal, to decimate the right of due process and to use these moves to force through an agenda of renewed attack on resistance movements here, and militarized murderous repression abroad. And make no mistake, he is loving every minute. Seems to me that with this move, terror has found its perfect dancing partner.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 20:18:44 +0000
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