Michael Harris on the Morgentaler award

My friend Michael Harris has a great column on the Morgentaler award. Michael and I don't always agree about things, but he is one person who respects the idea of civility in the public square and agreeing to disagree without personal attacks, even permitting friendship across various divides. I respect his journalistic integrity. I also think he's got his hand on a populist pulse in Canada.

He writes:

I usually don't get worked up about who gets what in the world of public honours. Awards are usually conferred by narcissistic elites gazing into the vanity mirror of their own values and proceeding to reward the like-minded.

The Order of Canada, (along with sea trunks of honorary degrees, blue ribbons, and other proof of pedigree) is generally reserved for PLTs -- People Like Themselves. It's not exactly a blessing from the Pope, but it's not a coupon for a free Big Mac either. Think of the Order of Canada as a group hug from the Establishment. How else could Peter Mansbridge have been snowflaked and Andrew McIntosh ignored? It certainly wasn't about journalism.

By elevating Henry Morgentaler, Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin and Co. have performed a majestic belly flop. They have bestowed a national honour on a mere personal favourite. They have also reminded us that the soft underbelly of the Establishment in Canada continues to be liberal, smugly self-satisfied, and contemptuous of those lacking in cultural evolution.

Meanwhile, the dumb old country doesn't want to give a group hug to Dr. Morgentaler.