We should hate the fact that Justin Trudeau's home was broken into. We should be thankful the intruder wasn't interested in physical attacks or even theft. He left a note. How Canadian is that! The note we understand, was a hate message, which leaves everyone more than a little unsettled, especially the Trudeau family. It was a reminder their fate could have been worse.
What concerns me is that Canadians might undergo a knee-jerk reaction to this latest intrusion, and we'll overreact with demands for new policy, protection legislation and national rules regarding the need to shield our primary politicians.
In all due respect to the Trudeau family, I hope that isn't the case.
I love the fact we Canadians still get the opportunity to press the flesh of our premier politicians, including premiers.
Brad Wall gets to drive to work unmolested by crazies and wonks. He doesn't require a bodyguard. He just needs some guy who can pull him away from an insistent admirer or somebody who won't let up on a certain subject. Otherwise he's a free range premier.
A few years ago Stevie Wonder, that Harper boy visited Estevan. The security detail in place that day was the harshest I have ever witnessed that involved association with a Canadian prime minister. But still, there wasn't a feeling of remoteness. He got to shake a few selected hands and exchange pleasantries with supporters. The unwashed media, however, was kept at a safe distance, in a mini-corral I believe if my memory serves me well. They do the same with us when the Queen visits. We may not be terrorists, but we have a tendency to ask too many questions that don't begin with "what is your favourite colour?" So access is limited to distant verbal exchanges, unless you are an Ottawa-based reporter working for a television network. Then you get one personal chat a year around Christmas.
I loved the fact I rode an elevator in the Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon with John Diefenbaker and shared a joke. I also loved the fact he took his dog for a walk every morning from 24 Sussex without an RCMP escort. None necessary.
I laughed at the exchange I had with Joe Clark who was trying to get on a tour bus, and how a local farmer in central Saskatchewan insisted on barging in and having me take a picture of him with Joe on the bus steps. I later sent him (the farmer Joe wasn't that interested in that particular Kodak moment) the picture and he liked it so much, he asked for 37 more. Those were the days when black and white pictures were printed and developed from negatives. I charged him $100 and he gladly paid. Joe hadn't minded the intrusion, neither did his security detail.
Jean Chretien got to apply a chokehold on a crowd dodger who bothered him on his campaign trail. His wife also bonked an intruder on the head with an Inuit carving when the guy made his way past the security at 24 Sussex and skulked around the PM's residence. Again, there didn't seem to be any threat to life and limb, it was just some drunk Canadian guy wanting a fresh brewskie and a visit.
Paul Martin, before becoming PM, hung around Estevan for awhile, too. No problem gaining access to him for a back slap and some joke sharing. Schmoozing is what they do best, when allowed.
I don't think President Obama gets to do much of that kind of thing. That's regretful. That's why I hope we don't knee-jerk the Trudeau incident.
