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The view from on high

Before going on to further meditations, an explanation is owed to readers regarding the new publishing rhythm for the Citizen and what it will mean for content from yours truly.
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Before going on to further meditations, an explanation is owed to readers regarding the new publishing rhythm for the Citizen and what it will mean for content from yours truly. In days of yore, Right of Centre fell on Wednesday, with a submission deadline of Tuesday at 2 p.m. That, and the fact that few holidays could move this space, gave me ample opportunity to comment on current events in all but real time, which influenced my style as well as my choice of topics.

Now the deadline is Friday, but the column is not actually published until the following Thursday. In case anyone was unclear on this point, a lot can happen in the days between my last keystroke and the printing or posting of those musings. Thus, I must comment in a way that can stand a week-long onslaught of the news cycle, which will require a more philosophical and historical approach regarding current events. Please be patient as I navigate these new realities.

In the meantime, editor-in-chief Neil Godbout unintentionally suggested a great first theme, given the freedom from constraints allotted by the new format, when he said: "see it as an opportunity to discuss things from 30,000 feet rather than get stuck in the weeds every week."

Here then are some thoughts about our ascent to nine kilometres above Earth as well as what views might be available by remaining there for the foreseeable future. The first thing to say is buckle your seatbelts ,comrades, because unlike previous melees in the muck of full contact ideology, we'll be flying over enemy territory and catching a lot of flak. Luckily, with a full week to write, old foes will now face an even greater amount of indiscriminate, explosive truths.

It must also be noted that plenty of smoking and smouldering is welcome on board, but the sanctimonious will be granted a free, mid-flight descent via silk parachute. This country has issues that it refuses to recognize or address - those in league with such cognitive dissonance are welcome to make asses of themselves in the comments and anywhere else, practicing for their ruinous final exam with the Almighty. But ignorance will not be treated as strength here.

Indeed, the acts and omissions that continue to cripple Canada will be easily observable from our plane of pontification, up in the wild blue yonder. No issue is too taboo: from abortion, the Indian Act, military procurement, political chicanery, quislings at city hall, workers rights, all the way to whatever topic starts with "Z" (zealots of Gaia?), anything will be discussed to make up for the lack of inflight entertainment. More conventional topics will be mentioned begrudgingly.

Such pugilism is nothing new, but by the grace of Godbout, the mass of these pieces will cleave to that most important of the physical laws - inertia. From our vantage point on high, we can honestly hope to observe the first realignment of peoples and powers, or the asteroid that will smash the mentalities and facilities holding this country back from true greatness. Perhaps this is the real advantage of being 5.5 miles in the sky: signs earthly and astrological are clearer.

Thus, the new format at the Citizen actually offers a chance for those who care about our community, dominion, and world to demand reform in a far more articulate manner. Clearly, a different vehicle is necessary if we hope to maintain a humane existence; I fully intend to join in on that final boarding call, by highlighting what methods have been proven and can work again.