FACE TO FACE: Is it a big deal that Liberal leader Justin Trudeau smoked pot?
Andy, Andy, Andy.
The instrument has not been invented that could measure my indifference to Justin Trudeau's marijuana usage. Who cares?
This tedious gotcha journalism is such a feeble attempt to titillate the public and the reefer madness thing is so three decades ago.
If admitting to "taking a puff of a marijuana cigarette" were any kind of a political litmus test, our politicians would all be either liars or asthmatics.
Baby boomers are the oldest of those wielding political power in Canada, and boomers tried pot when they were young. In fact, I'm not sure anyone who didn't "take a puff of a marijuana cigarette" is sufficiently socially aware to represent us.
Does that mean I want stoners as politicians? Well, I'm not sure.
The prospect of "Honourable Members" becoming "Honourable Dudes" in Parliament rankles a bit. And although a few tokes may serve to mellow a startlingly hawkish foreign policy, the image of a munchies-stricken Stephen Harper and cabinet scarfing down Cheezies at late-night cabinet meetings is ugly.
But come to think of it, perhaps sparking a doob or two might help Premier Christy Clark lighten up on B.C.'s teachers.
And, yes, I know, Andy, pot is illegal.
But so is drinking and driving, padding expense claims, ripping up signed contracts, giving public railroads to friends and other real crimes in which politicians eagerly partake with impunity.
But all of this is moot, anyway, Andy. Don't worry. Trudeau-led stoners won't soon be taking over the reins of Canadian political power. "Stoner" and "successful politician" are mutually exclusive terms. The enterprise and industry required to scrabble one's way to political power is absent when one's most pressing imperative is often an amazing air guitar solo or where that last cookie went.
It will be a long time before parliamentary pins double as roach clips.
Tut-tutting politician's marijuana usage is one of many irrelevancies that dumb down politics, keeping us from discussing those pesky important issues that actually require some analysis.
I'm somewhat ashamed to be a part of it this week, Andy.
And I can answer your next question: The first time, at 21 years old in Amsterdam's Vondelpark, and several times subsequently in my 20s - but I didn't like it at all.
Face to Face columnist Jim Nelson is a retired Tri-City teacher and principal who lives in Port Moody. He has contributed a number of columns on education-related issues to The Tri-City News.
