18 July 2000

Thoughts for a Weekend - THE COMMENTARY

By Joseph Planta

There’s a lot going this weekend. Peace is unsettled in Northern Ireland, Peace is being negotiated in the Middle East and in our own Province we saw the end of one of the most interesting sessions of the Legislature. The weekend began on Friday morning when Joy Macphail stunned British Columbians with her defiant resignation from Premier Glen Clark’s weakening cabinet. We all sensed descent in the NDP caucus and defiance was imminent. Ms. Macphail’s resignation is one of the first public outbursts of dissatisfactions by our government caucus. They’ve managed to hold off their anger and feelings for the leader for almost 6 months now, but they, like the rest of us are dissatisfied. I must commend Macphail for showing her strength against the leader, and how she finally lets Glen Clark know that he as the leader of the NDP will certainly send that party in political oblivion once an election takes place.

And the weekend has also been marred by tragedy and a sense of hope. You all know the story by now, John Kennedy Jr.’s plane is missing and on this late Saturday evening that I’m writing this, he and his wife are still missing. Again, the Kennedy’s have met another rallying point of tragedy and from the Americans and those around the world, a sense of hope. Perhaps they could still be found, perhaps not. At this late hour, I side with the latter. The Kennedy’s are the closest thing they’ve got for royalty, And watching the television coverage, as tributes and remembrances are pouring in, I am reminded about the way this event is gathering many to television sets holding vigil. Vigil, much like that 2 summers ago with the death of Princess Diana. It also proves that as far as we are from Massachusetts, we are concerned and would like to know the latest and have an avenue to get the latest information, television (Although it’s choice du jour to use the Internet.) It was President Kennedy who wanted America to get to the moon first in the early sixties. He fueled a nations to desire to do it by the end of that decade, and they did in 1969. Exactly 30 years ago tonight. I know their celebrations at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida are dampened by the disappearance of the son of the man who inspired their work which they are celebrating this weekend. And Americans and Canadians did bound in front of television sets then to hear about Armstrong’s small step that leapt our society into what it is today. It comes full circle doesn’t it?

Again the connection with the coverage on television, it was in 1963 we were touched by the little boy saluting his slain father, little John Kennedy Jr. Today and tonight, we watch and hope for that little boy, who’s now missing off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard.

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An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .