August XXIXth, MMXII
Hon. Jeff Johnson, MLA, Minister of Education, Progressive Conservative, Athabasca-Sturgeon-RedH2O
Dear Jeff:
As we are IX (9) weeks from electing either a new United States President in Governor Mitt Romney, Republican-Massachusetts, or re-electing President Barack Obama, Democrat-Illinois, its great IV students II see the democratic process in full swing. Starting with the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida this week & the Democratic National Convention next week in Charlotte, North Carolina. Even though the candidates IV the II main party's are generally chosen months in advance & the conventions seem like "window dressing", its good for politically minded students II watch them so they can learn from the candidates on how they intend their own & their party's agenda forward II make America inII their vision of how it should be over the next IV years of a Presidential term of office, or 1,461 days.
Students also need II journey back in time & watch the feature film from Turner Classic Movies (TCM): "Summer Under The Stars Festival" with its feature star of the day, Academy Award (TM) Winner Ava Gardner. Its about an attempted military overthrow of a legitimately elected civilian government & U.S. President. Double Academy Award (TM) Winner Fredric March plays the President, while Academy Award (TM) Winner Burt Lancaster plays the IV Star Air Force General plotting the takeover, just b/c he disagrees with the President's signing of a nuclear arms reduction treaty with the Soviet Union.
Lined up II help stop the overthrow is a loyal Marine Colonel, Academy Award (TM) Winner Kirk Douglas & a slightly boozy, but loyal Senior Senator from Georgia, Academy Award (TM) Winner Edmond G. O'Brien. These folks work with the President & his officials II ensure the overthrow doesn't trake place & that the continuity of governance is uninterrupted by the behind-the scenes power struggle. The military there has II learn that decisions are made by the President & the U.S. Congress, who are democratically elected. The President is military Commander-In-Chief, but he is a civilian, this gives him the distinction of being able II analyze big decisions from a distance & ensure his Generals & Admirals are following his orders b/c thats why he & the Houses of Congress were elected.
The same thing applies here in The Dominion Of Canada. The Chief Of Defense Staff, Canadian Armed Forces might have military strength & knowledge, but he can't abuse that power b/c he is kept in check by the triumvate of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Second, her regal representative here, His Excellency The Right Honourable The Governor General David Johnston, & then the final piece, The Right Honourable Stephen J. Harper, P.C., M.P. Mr. Harper as Prime Minister makes sure that our military is respectful of its surroundings in its assignments & that it is prepared to make sure our borders are protected with ground, sea, & land forces, but that civilians have oversight over them so they do not go out of control.
Election Fever Catch It,
Rory
Source: Www.Tcm.Com. Turner Classic Movies "Summer Under The Stars Festival": XXIV (24) Hour(s) Tribute II Ava Gardner.
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