Memoirs? Payback Time!
Life is tough. We get through it through sheer grit and determination. Sometimes with grace and ability, as well sometimes not. Some of us, while gritting teeth against perceived enmity and personal roadblocks spend the eternity of their dreary days writing little memory-notes to themselves, to ensure they will not forget. As though they would. Some of us nurse grievances, wait for the day to come when all hell can be unleashed and then perhaps the dark mantel of their soul-destroying resentment and anger will dissipate.
Um, not likely. That person likely thrives on the adversity of perceived enmity, polishes it in his mind like a gem, turns it over to observe it from every possible angle, burnishes it a bit here, a bit there, embellishes its meaning, gloats over the eventual, inevitable pay-back. That poor, dark, shrivelled soul. So what? There are plenty of people like that around and about. They're bullies at heart themselves, and they embrace all others whose take on life reflects theirs. An old-boy network of misanthropes.
Hey, did you hear? Former Canadian Ambassador to the United States, and big-wig with the Department of Foreign Affairs (called External Affairs with this glad lad began his career), Allan Gotlieb, has penned and published his very own, very special, very personal diary! It's titled, surprise, surprise, "The Washington Diaries, 1981 - 89". Run right out and get your copy. He's dishing dirt.
Isn't that so very professional? Isn't that the epitome of honourable? Mr. Gotlieb rubbed shoulders with the wise and unwise, the political and social luminaries of his day, and he has opinions. Rub this man the wrong way and you'll regret it. He seeths long and hard, hasn't hesitated at all to tarnish reputations in the telling of his charming little tale of suffrance and diplomatic duty.
We learn of the high contempt in which he held those who held political power over him. The gentle regard he felt for those whose presence on the world stage and more particularly the North American stage presented no hardship or difficulties to him personally. Ah, the measure of the man is not that complex; make nice or you're my enemy.
He reveals nothing particularly new about Canada-U.S. relations, but is obviously relishing the freedom to divulge his great distaste for a department he once served and which once served him so very well. He does, however, reveal himself to be a fusty, dusty, nasty little man.
Somehow that's no big surprise. We have had glimpses of this personality from time to time through the loving prism of his wife Sondra, his helpmeet and partner in the grand world of political society and monied ease. Two of a kind, too bad.
Um, not likely. That person likely thrives on the adversity of perceived enmity, polishes it in his mind like a gem, turns it over to observe it from every possible angle, burnishes it a bit here, a bit there, embellishes its meaning, gloats over the eventual, inevitable pay-back. That poor, dark, shrivelled soul. So what? There are plenty of people like that around and about. They're bullies at heart themselves, and they embrace all others whose take on life reflects theirs. An old-boy network of misanthropes.
Hey, did you hear? Former Canadian Ambassador to the United States, and big-wig with the Department of Foreign Affairs (called External Affairs with this glad lad began his career), Allan Gotlieb, has penned and published his very own, very special, very personal diary! It's titled, surprise, surprise, "The Washington Diaries, 1981 - 89". Run right out and get your copy. He's dishing dirt.
Isn't that so very professional? Isn't that the epitome of honourable? Mr. Gotlieb rubbed shoulders with the wise and unwise, the political and social luminaries of his day, and he has opinions. Rub this man the wrong way and you'll regret it. He seeths long and hard, hasn't hesitated at all to tarnish reputations in the telling of his charming little tale of suffrance and diplomatic duty.
We learn of the high contempt in which he held those who held political power over him. The gentle regard he felt for those whose presence on the world stage and more particularly the North American stage presented no hardship or difficulties to him personally. Ah, the measure of the man is not that complex; make nice or you're my enemy.
He reveals nothing particularly new about Canada-U.S. relations, but is obviously relishing the freedom to divulge his great distaste for a department he once served and which once served him so very well. He does, however, reveal himself to be a fusty, dusty, nasty little man.
Somehow that's no big surprise. We have had glimpses of this personality from time to time through the loving prism of his wife Sondra, his helpmeet and partner in the grand world of political society and monied ease. Two of a kind, too bad.
posted by Pieface @ 6:03 PM
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