Dear Editor,
Two words of the week – C-A-P-I-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N. A ten-dollar word meaning: “You got pushed, you got shoved, and instead of pushing back, you bent over and said, ‘Thank you, sir, may I have another?’” In plain English? Surrender. Throwing in the towel. Same in hockey as it is in politics: when the goon drops the gloves, and instead of fighting, you skate to the bench and cry into your Gatorade. Elbows in just let’em win.
And that other one –Carney – C-A-R-N-E-Y. No, not the carnival barker screaming about the bearded lady. In Canadian political jargon, it’s what you call someone who smiles and hustles and sells you the sideshow as if it’s the main event. “Step right up, folks, and watch your leader fold like a cheap lawn chair!” It’s a cousin to appeasement, Chamberlain’s great contribution to world history: kissing Hitler’s ring and calling it diplomacy.
And now – fast forward – Canada’s own newly minted PM, lining up for the dunk tank. Donald Trump comes strutting into the midway, belly hanging over the belt, hair like a raccoon that lost a fight with a leaf blower. He snarls: “Fair trade? Forget it.” And what do we do? We don’t throw the ball. We hand him the prize.
“Retaliatory tariffs a problem Mr. Trump?”
“No problemo.. they’re gone…can we talk?”
That, my friends… is capitulation.
My father, who served in the navy in WWII, would say: Never forget Churchill’s famous line – “We shall never surrender!” – which sounded good because Churchill had a cigar, a bulldog face, and zero patience for Nazi bull. Compare that to today’s leaders, who couldn’t stand up to a schoolyard wedgie, never mind a trade bully.
You think Trump’s gonna cut a fair deal with Canada? That guy wouldn’t cut you a fair slice of pizza if you paid for the pie.
So here’s the deal: when your prime minister starts spelling “appeasement” with a capital “C,” as in Capitulation, remember – this isn’t leadership. It’s political contortionism. Political pretzel making. And the only people cheering are the bullies.
David Wood,
Mildmay
