Ignatieff has rashly either instigated or supported the Quebec motion to recognize Quebec as a "nation". Ignatieff, having taken on the garb of constitutional fixer, has unleashed a firestorm amongst Liberals, raised expectations amongst some, thrown oil on the separatist fires in that province, and annoyed to no end everyone else who feels that they, too, are worthy of being a "nation". He has spoken loudly about the step to enshrine the word "nation", but very softly added that it will be of no legal significance. Apart from the totally negative patronizing flavour this softly added caveat has brought to his proposal, it seems nobody really knows what the heck he is proposing.
All this brings to mind a wonderful, and appropriate, passage from Manchester's book on Krupp:
"Wilhelmine Kultur's emphasis on masculinity had produced a generation of perverts ... During one party ... General Count Dietrich von Hulsen-Haeseler, the chief of the Reich's military cabinet, appeared in front of the Kaiser dressed in a pink ballet skirt and rose wreath. The general's ramrod back dipped low in a swanlike bow; then he whirled away in a graceful dance as the assembled officer corps sighed passionately in admiration. Hulsen-Haeseler circled the floor, returned to the imperial presence for his farewell bow, and then, to Wilhelm's horror, dropped dead of a heart attack. Rigor mortis had set in before his brother officers realized that it would be improper to bury him in the skirt. They had a terrible time stuffing the stiff corpse into a dress uniform. Still, everyone had to agree that he had "danced beautifully."" From The Arms of Krupp 1587-1968 by William Manchester, 1981, page 260.
Like the dancing general, Ignatieff has donned the tutu of constitutional reform.
Like the general, he faces a similar (political) fate.
The Cat thinks it is not too late for Ignatieff to strip himself of his ill-advised constitutional tutu by publicly stating now that he has reconsidered the matter, and will not be supporting the motion at the convention.
The Cat's advice to Ignatieff is simple: throw away that tutu. Stick to things you know about, and which are less embarrassing. After all, remember the general ...
