Monday, October 14, 2013

Rogue Page Brigette DePape Still a CBC Darlin'

With a new throne speech about to drop, the Ceeb looks back admiringly at the adventures of Brigette DePape, the Harper-hating page with the unibraid and the head full of steam whose "protest" derailed the last throne speech:
The most memorable moment in the last throne speech came when a young woman walked into the centre of the plush red Senate chamber filled with dignitaries and elected officials and held up a handmade sign that read "Stop Harper." 
Brigette DePape, who had worked as a page in the Senate for a year, was then quickly hauled away by the House of Commons' sergeant-at-arms. 
"I remember I was terrified," she said, recalling that moment on June 3, 2011, in an interview with CBC News from Vancouver last week. 
"[Prime Minister Stephen] Harper is sitting right to my left and then there's the Governor General, and then there are all the politicians, and I am so afraid. I am afraid about losing my job, I am afraid about what my parents are going to say back home in Winnipeg, and I am afraid about getting arrested." 
On Wednesday, Canadians will see the first throne speech since the one DePape tried to interrupt with her protest. CBC News will carry it live at 4:30 p.m. ET. 
DePape was one of 15 university students every year who suit up in a black uniform — with matching bow-tie — and serve as a Senate page, fetching coffee and documents at committee meetings and running messages between senators during Senate sittings.
Two years ago DePape was finishing up university and unhappy with the result of the election one month before. She was nearly finished her year as a page, and decided to use the chance to express her opposition to Harper. 
DePape says she summoned the courage — many would say gall — by thinking about people affected by climate change, residential school experiences and job losses, all areas where she says the government is failing to do enough. 
"And to think of their strength in the face of the Harper government, to continue to wake up another day and to get through it, and to provide for their families, those are the people who gave me strength to stand and walk where the pages are not supposed to walk [in the middle of the Senate floor], and to hold up the "Stop Harper" sign," DePape said...
If Obama had a daughter, she'd look just like Brigette.

Or maybe not look like her so much as think like her.

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