Ghost of a flea

Law and order

I was recently described by a friend as a "red Tory", something that has become a term of abuse for some in the new Conservative party looking for any explanation except their own party policies to blame for the inexplicable reluctance of central Canada to support them. Another friend countered that I was definitely "blue", something I took as a compliment despite my opposition to the party platform and dismay with much of what passes for conservatism in Canada.

I believe a recent prank against Tom Cruise illustrates something important about misplaced priorities. I have spent some time poking fun at Cruise lately and for the same reasons most others have done so. There is a false note in his public appearances that suggests his revelations about his life and character are meant to provoke and manipulate. Or such is my impression.

Poking fun is one thing. But when a representative of quasi-public broadcaster squirted water in Cruise' face in Leicester Square there was nothing funny about it.

I hope Cruise pursues this rather than ignoring bad behaviour as so many public figures have chosen to do. A "protester" recently dumped red paint on the hands of Canadian foreign minister, Pierre Pettigrew. While initially charged with two serious offenses he is now only to face action on one relatively minor offense. This from someone who had (apparently temporarily) been expelled from Concordia for prior bad behaviour. How is it we have chosen to condone this sort of thing? And why are any of us are surprised that it should continue when there are no consequences for doing so beyond free publicity and a cheap laugh at the expense of someone in the public eye?

There are many "progressives" who will claim to have been assaulted if someone makes a remark in their presence which troubles their conscience but who think it is a world of hilarity when an elected official, or anyone who has in fact accomplished something, is made a figure of fun at the hands of an actual assault. There is nothing surprising in this. Only another sad example of what now passes for a once noble aspiration of the left to find dignity in people's lives no matter their station or situation.

What I find harder to understand is the mean spiritedness that has increasingly come to pass itself off as conservatism. I was watching Joyce Meyer this morning as I pottered around getting up. Her theme was "The Battle for Your Future" and she made her usual sound performance and spirited engagement with scripture. One moment that struck me could have been mistaken for a digression but I believe was at the heart of her argument. She stopped to chastise her audience, telling them to treat local hotel employees and restaurant workers with respect. She asked people to consider the consequences of trashing their hotel rooms, even skipping out on the bill, as people who had come to town as part of a Christian tour. Someone might reasonably say, I am not going to explore the God you claim to follow if that is an example of the behaviour a "Christian" sets. She went on to ask if this sort of bad behaviour was the result of misplaced priorities, of too much doctrine and too little demand that we treat each other with respect. Quite right.

Now, I understand I am confusing two groups of people here: charismatic Christians and conservatives in Canada. But the two groups have in common an aspiration to a higher standard of behaviour and have a common duty to set an example of such behaviour. This is especially the case for two groups of people who are often critical of the behaviour of others. But it is as much the rhetoric and behaviour of some Conservatives and their advocates on "the internet" that has turned me away from supporting the federal party as it is party policy. I expect obnoxious pranks and simple assault from that part of the left that has lost the ability to make a coherent argument let alone win people to their cause with reason. Despite increasing evidence to the contrary, I still expect better of people claiming to be conservative.

I am not a member of the party and barring some serious revision of the party's direction I will not be supporting the Conservatives in the next election. But if it is conservative to insist that a public assault on a man in no position to defend himself should be met with draconian intolerance then I still fit the bill. I thought there was something about law and order conservatives were meant to support. I am thinking it is time to become more confrontational about the face of conservatism that has decided generalized contempt for public officials, the judiciary and the law is a replacement for sound party policy. Of too much doctrine and too little of the respect we claim to expect from others.

Update: This is disappointing. Tom Cruise is reportedly not going to press charges. More stalkerazzi bad behaviour to follow.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at June 21, 2005 09:26 AM

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There are many "progressives" who will claim to have been assaulted if someone makes a remark in their presence which troubles their conscience but who think it is a world of hilarity when an elected official, or anyone who... [Read More]

Tracked on June 22, 2005 01:20 AM

Comments

Posted by: Andrew Ian Dodge at June 22, 2005 05:18 AM

Posted by: Ghost of a flea at June 22, 2005 08:21 AM