I’ve been waiting for a coon’s age to use that phrase. For the non-Tennesseeans among us, who do not belong to that Volunteer category, a translation is perhaps in order. (Even allowing for the fact that for many la lingue des grenouilles is official in Canada). In as few words as I can muster - the translation comes off best as - do not apologize - because any apology comes under scrutiny.

Truthfully, people that apologize should not be scrutinized. That is, if their chagrin for a faux pas - and why else do we feel the need to say sorry? - is genuine. The French felt differently, at a different time. One must recall Marie Antionette and the events that led to the storming of the Bastille, still a powerful image in many minds, to understand why that expression was coined. Fact is, at leat to this ink-stained scrivener, that most of humanity is victim to that self-same syndrome, one of fearing to aplogize for fear of being misunderstood. Some bipeds make a career of the above. Hey, Ronald Reagan even made it to the White House. Times are different though, and as fast as one can mutter plus ça change, rien ça change, the realization dawns that apologists, bromide spouters, such as those that govern most of the free, Western world, have no truck. They end up apologizing, they end up making excuses, they end up concocting far fetched fabrications. And those inbred volunteers who knee-jerk at the nightly news slot believe them. That partially explains why the apologists get re-elected to positions of power, be it in parliaments , congresses or unions.

It may not take a clairvoyant to understand where the fat boy is headed. In this age of openness, Nixonian - or should one say authoritarian - behaviour is unforgiveable.

We have this in Canada, to my chagrin. A political system that allows Liberals, for a perceived lack of alternative, run roughshod over the country. Even exposure of wrongdoings by M. Chrétien are not enough to change the status quo.

One recalls Robert Stanfield’s brief attempts to overturn this hegemony. One can speculate, that perhaps this country would have been a better place to liv in today, had he succeeded. But party allegiances can also be dangerous. Monsieur Mulroney’s blatant disregard for tabled, existing law, as chronicled by Stevie Cameron, is but one example. And he got away with it, much like Chrétien today is able to do.

Both Brian and Jean were and are masters of pointing fingers. Need we say qui accuse again? Here one finally gets to the real point, why the public distrusts politicians. Not a new phenomenon, judging by pictorial depictions from cave drawings to the launch of “Punch”. Yet: they are a necessary evil. Someone must run the country, city, or borough, and there are many candidates who are willing to sacrifice themselves for the chance to feed at the public trough. The fittest and ablest candidates most often turn down the chance to serve the commonwealth, leaving the door open for who would otherwise be also-rans.

Here I am reminded of the tragicomic situation in Estonia only a decade ago, where buffoons ran for parliament under the Royalist Banner, hoping to be Kings. As well, the mayor of Otepää, a place dear to many hearts made public noises about seceeding from the Republic and becoming a Hanseatic town, with the accompanying free trade zone benefits. I had the pleasure of meeting that young man before he became hizzoner. I must admit that his zeal was infectious, even if politically we did not see eye to eye. Those were the times though, and I can hardly fault positive zealotry.

What I can fault, and why these lines have seen light of day are the no-minds who cannot see through the web of deception, lies and just plain simple horse#^&@. As a reminder, there was once a Sun King, who said apres moi la deluge. In other words - who cares what happens tomorrow.

This attitude has taken root among politicians everywhere. (Slobodan Milosevic holds himself, for example, above a United Nations tribunal. Is this acceptable?)

Temptation leads one down a narrow path. Especially in politics. Drawing and quartering those elected is not the sure answer, but in days like these it is an awfully tempting option. Needless to say, the Sun King’s legacy was a revolution - is this what the disaffected will adopt?

Let us hope that this is not the case, and that the revolving doors at Queen’s Park, Pennsylvania Avenue, and Toompea will be selective and admit only those who do not protect their personal interests but those of the entire weal that they have b een elected to govern.

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