Might Shatner Boldly Lead Canada As Governor? 318
just fiddling around writes "Now that Michaëlle Jean is approaching the end of her customary five-year post as Governor General of Canada, the rumor mill has started on who Prime Minister Steven Harper will propose to the Queen in her stead. According to the CBC, the short list includes Captain Kirk, actor William Shatner. It seems that acting can lead to the highest offices in places other than California."
Not just CA (Score:3, Interesting)
It seems that acting can lead to the highest offices in places other than California."
Like... the United States [whitehouse.gov] (which isn't entirely composed of California, in spite of rumors)?
Re:IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED? (Score:5, Interesting)
You...pitted...us...againsteachother. You...wanted...me..todoyourbidding. You...want...me...tobeyourgovernor. Well...I...WON'T...DO...IT!
One of the funniest things I saw on the 'net recently was to describe that style of speaking as Shatneritis.
But what is interesting is that Adam West used the same style of speech in the Batman TV series, (and according to Burt Ward did so in order to get more camera time on himself). Perhaps West and Shatner were twins separated at birth?
Re:As a Canadian (Score:5, Interesting)
This is actually a pretty good choice. As a Canadian, I'm more than happy for Kirk to be the guy schmoozing on behalf of my country.
Re:As a Canadian (Score:3, Interesting)
Yes and no. I've talked to a few constitutional scholars about this, and they seem to be of the opinion that the powers are still real, but probably can only be used once; if the GG pulls the trigger and tells the Premine Minister to bite it, or dissolves Parliament without a request, or something of that ilk, the Supreme Court would likely support her, and then the provincial and federal governments would all get together and amend the Constitution to prevent it from happening again. Whether the public would get into an uproar would have more to do with what the specific issue was. Many people in Canada still support the "monarchy" side of "constitutional monarchy" and would love to see the Prime Minister get his comeuppance from the Queen's Representative.
Re:IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED? (Score:3, Interesting)
KHAAANADA.com [khaaan.com]
Re:IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED? (Score:5, Interesting)
Also, ST was a very low-budget show and they didn't have the money for retakes.
Nevertheless, William Shatner has already turned down the idea. There was a FB group a while ago, and he contacted us to say that while he was flattered, he felt that he was not qualified to represent Canada in such a respected and honoured position.
I would look it up, but FB is blocked at work.
Re:IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:if there's nothing you'd fight for (Score:3, Interesting)
Canadians have a long history of fighting for what we believe in. We have had troops in most major conflicts over the last 100 years (WWI, WWI, Korea), and we've had peace keeping soldiers in every place that the UN has ever needed them. We have people in Afghanistan, and have lost quite a few soldiers. We're not afraid to fight for what we believe in.
We just don't define our national identity in a way that we understand, let alone in a way that makes sense to someone else. :-P
In terms of the whole Queen thing, it's complicated, and really hard to explain. Some Canadians are of British descent and have historical attachments and fondness. Some are of French descent, and therefore resent the Queen as a symbol of subjugation. Depending on where in the country you live, there might be a particular ethnic tilt in the population since the late comers had to go further West, so in the middle you get a lot of Ukrainian descended people. By the time you get out to the left coast, you get a lot more Asians who have less historical investment in the monarchy and are probably somewhat indifferent. Of course, all of the above is grossly simplified. :-P
We variously have people who want us to return to the monarchy, people who want to get rid of it altogether, and people who don't give a crap. Within my lifetime, we've "officially" gotten the reins to or own Constitution and the like.
The Queen plays less of a role in our identities as Canadians and what that means than you think it might. It's both ever present (the money, and in the wording of government since everything is the "crown" or the "Queen"), and completely not there for the most part in that on a daily basis, I think about the Queen's relationship to us almost none at all.
We just have a less clearly defined national identity than you might expect. And there's not really any one common thing you can point to and say "A Canadian is ".