The wrong kind of flag "waiving"...Part 1 - by Apollo

Happy holidays and Seasons` Greetings to everyone from the 2 Wise Men. It has been quite a year and we hope that everyone has a prosperous and happy 2005.

You generally hope for things to calm down a bit during the holiday season and for there to be less drama overall, both in and outside of the sports world. We`ll give only a short word on events transpiring this week. Wongoz and I can probably agree on wishing best of luck to the Canadian National Junior Team, (and the German team while we`re at it), Shaq and Kobe to have a safe game, Peyton Manning, and for the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers to have short memories when Jermaine O`Neal returns to the court.

Beyond sports though, best of luck especially to the voters of Ukraine, who go back to the polls tomorrow. It is always interesting to see the different rights, or lack thereof, that are enjoyed between different countries, and how those who have more rights seem to be able to so easily forget how fortunate they are. This past week, Danny Williams, provincial premier for the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador decided to lower all Canadian flags from public buildings in his province. Recently, talks have broken down between the province and the federal government over the division of revenues, particularly lucrative oil and gas revenues that Newfoundland currently enjoys from off-shore drilling operations. In protest, Williams took down the flag. In response, Canadian prime minster Paul Martin issued a statement correctly stating that the national flag should not be reduced to a political prop.

Now, forget for the moment the legitimacy of Williams' claim. Forget as well that governments since the beginning of time have used national emblems for political gain. The origins of the flag itself probably is due more to politics anyway. Forget also that over the years the tenuous scheme of transfer payments from the federal government to the provinces has both benefitted Newfoundland and hurt it at different times. I'm sure there are plenty of Canadians who would rather not send any money to the maritime provinces for fisheries subsidies just as there are many Newfoundlanders who agree with their premier and want to keep as much oil money as possible. Forget even that the very definition of Canadian pseduo-socialism is that we all contribute something, usually tax dollars, including provincial oil revenues, to ensuring that our fellow Canadians coast-to-coast-to-coast all have equal access to federal and provincial services and programs.

Quite simply, taking down the Canadian flag to make any kind of statement is ridiculous and juvenille. Most Canadians probably don't care, but it flies in the face of people across the world who would receive far worse a punishment for trying to attempt the same stunt in their own countries. The five seconds of publicity and grandstanding that this move has gotten Williams is nothing compared to the ill will and head shaking that his province has now earned as a result of his actions. If we as the 2 Wise Men had a thumbs up, thumbs down section to our site, he would certainly be receiving my thumbs down for this move. It's perfectly fine to be upset or frustrated with the federal government. Entire careers are made on doing just that. But there's a difference between voicing that displeasure and conducting yourself with class and political dignity (if such a thing even exists) and Williams and anyone in his government who endorses this flag strategy need to be educated on that.