Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Our Head of State's Representative is WAY More Bad-Ass than your Head of State

I probably won't be rushing out to buy a seal heart sub any time soon, but good on Michaelle Jean:

The political indigestion over Jean's meal of seal roiled loudest among animal-rights activists, who used the terms "Neanderthal" and "blood lust" yesterday to describe how the Governor General revelled in helping herself to the heart of the dripping carcass.

"It amazes us that a Canadian official would indulge such blood lust. It sounds like she's trying to give Canadians an even more Neanderthal image around the world than they already have," said Dan Mathews, vice-president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Jean was unapologetic, pronouncing her taste of seal heart to be "absolutely delicious," much to the delight of bloggers unaccustomed to such a high-profile public figure committing herself without so much as a hint of squeamishness.

"These are ancient practices that are part of a way of life," Jean said, framing her gutsy gesture as an act of solidarity with the Inuit. "If you can't understand that, you're completely missing the reality of life here."

[...]

That doesn't mean animal-rights activists approve of Inuit seal-hunting traditions. PETA yesterday likened Jean's sampling of seal heart to "taking part in the beating of women in the Middle East because it is part of local practice.

[...]

A spokeswoman for EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas declined to react, saying: "No comment; it's too bizarre to acknowledge."

posted by calgarygrit at 7:35 p.m.

7 Comments:

  • Agree. Actions speak louder than words and our GG made it clear what most Canadians think of the European Seal skin ban. Good on her indeed.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:25 p.m.  

  • Hi CG
    I think the GG dipped her toe / tongue?) a little too close to the political waters with her latest gourmet adventure.
    Surely as the representative of Betty Windsor she should have asked herself: "what Betty would do".
    What really turns my stomach (aside from parasite infected raw seal muscle) is the thought that she had received some "direction" from Steve

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:41 p.m.  

  • Anon-11:41, Correct me if I'm wrong but the tradition is for the GG to stay out of _domestic_ politics.

    Giving the middle heart to Euro-weeenies hardly qualifies as getting too close to political waters.

    Your delusion about her getting direction from Steve makes me wonder if you don't already have worms. As if he or his down-feathered cabal would ever have thought of that.

    Not in a million years, maybe not even two. The only thing they think of during the day is how to move the CPC yokels left of the Liberal party and convince them it's still the right.

    Cheers,
    lance

    By Blogger lance, at 1:21 a.m.  

  • As if it was Steve's idea. He's too busy with all of his Ignatieff tapes.

    By Blogger RGM, at 8:20 a.m.  

  • This GG has shown a willingness to wade into the political waters more than past ones have been (odd, considering a lot of the past ones are former politicians).

    There was the Haiti talk with Obama, and now this (plus, obviously, the coalition decision, but that was thrust upon her). I don't think either of those incidents are domestic in nature, but she might very well one day overstep her bounds.

    But, so far she hasn't.

    By Blogger calgarygrit, at 9:17 a.m.  

  • In my view, she's now become Wonder Woman, Joan of Arc, and Sigourney Weaver all wrapped in one.

    I'm a vegetarian and I think this was fucking awesome.

    By Anonymous Jason, at 9:59 a.m.  

  • "Surely as the representative of Betty Windsor she should have asked herself: "what Betty would do"."
    I assume her majesty would go along with local customs not to be rude. After all, when the Shah drank out of his finger bowl, so did Queen Victoria.

    By Blogger Jacob, at 12:05 p.m.  

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