REST IN PEACE, JOHN TURNER.

Above:  The Flag of Canada

Image in the Public Domain

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John Turner (1929-2020) did this weekend.  He was an attorney, a cabinet minister in the 1960s and 1970s, the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada (1984-1990), the Prime Minister of Canada (1984), and the leader of the opposition (1984-1990).  Turner was a dedicated public servant and a devout Roman Catholic.  He understood the difference between the personal and the political.  Turner stood by his principles without demonizing those who disagreed with him.

Tributes have come from across the political spectrum.  Some of the kindest words have been those of a longtime friend and political opponent, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who defeated Turner in the federal elections of 1984 and 1988.  According to Mulroney, Turner eschewed the politics of personal destruction.  Also, as Mulroney recalled, Turner had no malice toward anyone.  Mulroney had plenty of policy disagreements with Turner, whom he always respected and admired.  And Turner carried himself with dignity in public and private life.

That lack of malice was a great personal and political virtue.

I live in a politically polarized society in which malice is ubiquitous.  Many politicians demonstrate malice daily.  Many of their supporters (a host of them conventionally pious) applaud them for their malice.  We need more simple decency in political life.  We can start by demanding it of politicians for whom we vote.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 COMMON ERA

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