So there I am in Timothy’s on Scarth Street in Regina, getting my morning cinnamon bun. Each day this particular coffee shop asks a trivia question; if you’re one of the first 10 people to get the correct answer, you win a gift certificate for a free cup of coffee. The answer to the previous day’s question is posted along with the current question.
Yesterday’s question was, “How many times in his 20-minute inauguration speech did George W. Bush use the word ‘freedom’?” I’d actually seen the number somewhere, so took a guess (23), but didn’t win. Today I looked up to see what the correct number was (27), only to be greeted with this additional comment: “Now the real question: who’s the bigger idiot, Bush or his idiot speechwriters?”
No doubt whichever of the young ladies behind the counter wrote that thought she was being terribly insightful and humorous. But what I read between the lines was, “Freedom? We don’t need no stinkin’ freedom. We’re young Canadians! We couldn’t care less about freedom! Freedom is a crock! Freedom is a lie! Give us our Medicare and a chance to make juvenile comments about Americans and we’re happy. Promote freedom in other countries? Let them worry about themselves. Canadian Idol, that’s what’s important. Oh, yeah, and hockey. And beer. Freedom is a myth. It sure ain’t worth dying or fighting for.”
Oh yeah? Talk to your grandparents, children. Especially if Grandpa had anything to do with this.
Then consider how these students responded to Bush’s speech.
And then the next time you feel inclined to sneer at freedom, and those who call for its spread, think again.
