They Can’t Stop Spinning
Even when it doesn’t matter.
Recently an Ottawa botany professor has suggested that the Bank of Canada erred by using a Norwegian species of maple tree as the basis for the leaf on the new $20 bill. The Norwegian maple is an invasive species in eastern Canada. It also appears it was the inspiration for the maple leaf on the $20 bill.
None of which matters, except that the Bank of Canada promptly trotted out a spokesman to issue the following denial:
“We created an image for the bank note that represents a stylized Canadian maple leaf, if you will, so that it wouldn’t represent any specific species, specifically not the Norway maple.”
Sheesh. Governments aren’t exactly truth-prone at the best of times, but the Conservative rot has evidently spread so far that even a minor, trivial, and irrelevant goof-up in the design of the new currency is a threat that must be quelled through dubious piffle.
In a dispute over the proper identification of a maple leaf, I’m afraid I have to side with the professor of botany over the government PR flack.
It’s not the inspiration for the leaf symbol that matters. It’s that on such a trivial, insignificant, and piffling matter, when it could easily have said “sorry, that’s our bad, but the Norway maple really does live in Canada now, even if it isn’t native” — no, instead, the government’s first instinct was to lie.
Tweet
the salamander horde
Here’s a maple leaf ..
I picked it up off the sidewalk in Canada .. I guess because it spoke to me .. its color was so vibrant ..
OK .. I picked it up because my DNA told me to and I am always OK with psych stuff in my head like that.. so I photographed it .. tried to ‘capture’ it …
You’ve been such a great Canadian.. I thought I would try to step up in a small way.. and watch your back.. give you a maple leaf that was true.. real .. believed in..
Here’s a maple leaf .. for you .. you deserve it.. and more
http://tod.aminus3.com/image/2009-10-26.html
Beijing York
That is such a lovely gift, salamander. You’re a poet and an artist.
SE, that is their consistent MO – lie and deflect criticism. I think compulsive liars eventually get to a state where they can’t stop lying even if it doesn’t matter (ie. nothing to gain or hide). The Harper Regime seem to suffer from a series of psychological pathogens.
Holly Stick
Good for the botany professor. He probably has tenure and so cannot be easily gagged by the HarperCons
Sixth Estate
I certainly hope he does.
Anon
Actually, I would beg to differ that it does matter what goes on our money.
To all those people who suggest that it does not matter whether it is a truly native maple, what if we replaced the image of the Queen with,say, Pretty Woman Julia Robarts who would presumably be more visually attractive to many men,or Robart Redford,for the ladies? Or, if you prefer a monarch, what about the Queen of Holland? Or what about using a picture of the British Parliament instead of our own?
I think you see my point. However,I do wholeheartedly agree with your point about how this government handles supposedly trivial mistakes.
trevorus
money should just say ‘bank’ and the numerical denomination on it. stop beautifying that garbage for what it’s not.
Go Leafs
The BoC spinmeisters are still amateurs. Here’s how the pros at the PMO would have responded:
“Where’s the problem? This country was founded by invasive European species. If it weren’t for them, we’d all be living in tents like those lazy, good-for-nuthin’ native red maples.”
Sixth Estate
That or,
“The maple leaf design was prepared by an inexperienced staff member. We’re currently working with the production staff to clear up any misunderstandings.”