Rose21April 23, 2009 08:55 EST

Hmm — first time visitor to the Walrus site. I went from reading a lament about our Canadian identity — and what's needed to foster this — to Politics 101 with the pic of Obama. Really, the picture sends entirely the wrong message — maybe you intendeded it as a comment on our current Prime Minister, but I think that in a subtle way it speaks to the issue of Canadian identity, and as such, I think it is in very poor taste.

BC in NapaneeMay 02, 2009 21:33 EST

On the other hand, Rose, perhaps that photo of Harper’s face being blocked out by Obama’s waving hand is simply a fortuitously graphic representation of a political reality.

Through Obama’s other wave – the Obama-mania that swept over the land to the South – and for that matter, in large part, according to the polls, over our nation and much of the rest of the world, as well – many of us have come to realize what a short-sighted, would-be neo-con, bully we have in Ottawa. Harper tries to pass himself off in the rôle of saviour of Canada, but does nothing toward that end if it does not suit his and his cronies’ [usually financial] purposes.

Although he [reportedly] had the intellectual savvy to lead the nation, Harper has been so bound by his political and religious dogma that he has fallen into the shadow cast by Obama's words and actions ... a shadow from under which he has yet to indicate having the political and moral wherewithal to move ... B.