Monsters

Little Harbour, Nova Scotia, 9/4/27 4 AM

I just woke up thinking about Jian Ghomeshi. A very famous CBC (which is like the U.S.’s government radio - NPR) talk/interview/entertainment show host. I can’t think of an American equivalent to Ghomeshi.

He was endlessly fascinating to listen to. So knowledgeable about everything topical from the arts to politics. A great interviewer. Famous. Everyone knew who he was. Up here in Canada.

Yet an unknown, completely unheard of in the U.S. Close neighbors who hardly know each other.

Well that’ not true. Canadians know all about the U.S. Probably more than we do. But Americans don’t know anything at all about Canada. Well not much.

Like I often get asked where Nova Scotia is. My answer? Go up to Maine and turn right.

Ghomeshi was much beloved by his listeners including me. Until it was discovered that he was a monster. That’s what one of the women whom he abused called him. Based on what came out it sure sounded like an accurate description to me.

Where is Ghomeshi today? I have no idea. When his dark secrets became public he was fired and disappeared from sight. After, of course, a complete airing of the story.

Like Stephen Harper. Canada’s former Prime Minister. Whom you never hear of anymore. And yet he ruled Canada, or almost did for I think like 10 years.

And “ruled” is an almost apt description. Rule he did or almost did. An authoritarian in the growingly popular role of world leaders. From Russia to Turkey and Hungary and Poland, the U.S. and even maybe France. Though the charismatic French President’s popularity has recently plummeted to far less than even the U.S. leader’s and in even less time.

How did Harper do it? Almost rule liberal Canada? That is still a mystery to me. The easy explanation is that the opposition to his Conservative party was divided by the two other political parties, the Liberals, and the NDP, But that still doesn’t quite explain it. At least not for me.

Meanwhile, the mystery of the U.S.’s most famous Monster continues. How he got there and remains so popular. Sure I know the polls say he keeps declining. But there is still a loyal (rabid?) 1/3 of Americans who still support him in spite of what appears to be his continuously escalating attempts to outrage.

And sure, I know the explanations, for his dominance. But the all-knowing who make them were mostly (except for a few like Michael Moore) only right in their predictions as they often are: Retrospectively.

Will he be gone and soon forgotten like Canada’s two monsters?

Yes gone, but not forgotten. Unlike our neighbors to the North who are so able to “move on” I think his infamy will lead to his next career as a media potentate. After he makes a deal to resign to escape criminal prosecution and loss of his empire.

But that prediction is no better than any other about the future. Without the accuracy of the know-it-alls who are smart enough to stick to retrospective predictions.

But one thing that I do know. Or think I know.

Canadians are better at dealing with their monsters once discovered.