Conrad Black had some interesting opinions on Canada
a few days after his induction into the British House of Lords and new permanent residence in London, at a November 2001 speech to the Vancouver-based Fraser Institute: “[Leaving Canada has been] my gesture against the condition Irving Layton described 35 years ago as the Canadian political and intellectual communities’ tendency to regard ‘cowardice as wisdom, philistinism as Olympian serenity and the spitefulness of the weak as moral indignation. Surely we, or as I must now say, with some regret, you, can do better than this.”
On the anti-Americanism of the Canadian media (ibid): “Canada’s media should have done a more efficient job than they have of informing Canadians of [the Americans’) exemplary competitive performance. Instead, Canadian media have tended to focus excessively on perceived American shortcomings.”
As did his counsel Edward Greenspan
Edward Greenspan used to enjoy telling people that if his family had moved just a bit farther south when they landed in Niagara Falls, Ont., he could have become a big-time American lawyer.
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Now they both can’t wait to get back home. Black hopes to regain citizenship ( I for one hope he doesn’t) and in Mr. Greenspan’s words;
But today, as he prepares for a final showdown with David Radler, the prosecution’s key witness, Mr. Greenspan is no longer rosy-eyed about the U.S. legal system. In fact, his experience here has made him appreciate the Canadian judicial system even more.
“This has been a fascinating experience. I’ll never forget it,” he said.
“But I think this case has made me appreciate just how magnificent our system is.
“Being in the same town as [Mr. Darrow] is a pretty exciting thing,” he added. “But winning is what it’s about, and coming home is what it’s about.”
When asked about emulating Mr. Darrow, he replied: “I’m getting it out of my system.”
Word to the wise Mr. Harper sometimes the grass looks greener on the other side because it’s been spray painted.
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