Grey Poupon

My fishing buddies laughed at me the first couple of years that we bought our food supplies for the camp. I insisted that we buy a Dijon mustard instead of the French’s variety that seemed to be an automatic reflex selection from my shopping partner. By the third year, everyone was reminding me not forget the Grey Poupon. Perhaps we could try the one with the wine base next year?

French’s mustard meets some of the criteria (yellow) for dressing up a hot dog, but if one desires a condiment that adds to the overall enjoyment of a pure beef frankfurter, one requires a high quality mustard. It may seem like a small thing to be critical of the kind of mustard you use when millions of people do not even have the wiener or the bun, but being critical is something to which we all ought to aspire.

Do not confuse being critical with griping. To be critical of something, you must know at least a few salient points about the subject; be able to base your judgment on some learned experience; or know the measures to be applied to evaluate a subject. Back in the bad old days, I recall Professor Sharman trying to instill a sense of criticism in us as we zipped through many books by Canadian authors. The professor may have had a slight bias towards Can Lit since it was his subject, but he reinforced the critical eye and ear that some of our grade school teachers had tried to hammer into us by demanding book reports at short notice.

Those book reports were supposed to teach us to look beyond the obvious, but I do not think it ever sunk in until university and ENG LIT 101. The devices for humour alone were worth at least a lecture. We soon could not read works of ‘potty’ humour or books where ‘exaggeration’ was the only way the writer knew to try for humour. One expects that a book should be free of spelling errors and be properly punctuated, although, the use of the comma still is open for debate. But I soon found that I simply would not read a book that did not meet my critical standards. There are so many good books, so little time.

Criticism of movies or television follows in the same vein. After a few lectures with Tom, you begin looking for the number of breaks the camera takes to get a scene. Can the actor sustain a certain number of frames and carry off the action, drama or comedy that the script (good, bad or ugly) demands? How effective is the lighting? The sound track? At the end of the show were you entertained? Did you learn something or did something reinforce your values? Did you just spend $15 for nothing other than to sit in a theatre?

Maybe your time and money are worth nothing to you and you can watch, read, look and listen without any thoughts buzzing through your mind. I suppose it is all a matter of how you view your stay on this little rock whirling through space and time. But being a little critical of what is happening around you just might heighten your enjoyment of the better things in life. Like Dijon mustard. For only a few pennies, you can greatly enhance your dining pleasure.

Being of a critical nature also causes one to question the actions, or lack thereof, of our politicians. It helps if one has a little background knowledge, either through formal study or through experience before becoming a political critic, but it is a game played by many without training. POL SCI 101 will tell you that ultimately politicians have their own interest first (being reelected), but some do seem to be into the game for more than power, prestige or the money.

In measuring anything with a critical view, we need reference or comparison points. One TV channel is running old Oscar-winning war movies. How does the Bridge on the River Kwai stand up to Platoon, The Deer Hunter, Born on the 4th of July or Full Metal Jacket? When the doctor stands on the bank of the river and sums it all up with one word, ‘Madness!’, the movie and its anti-war message is driven home as few others have done.

If we compare the work of our present mayor and council (as we do especially at budget time) we compare it with reference to past councils, or councils in other towns. We can debate whether they should be looking at the Agencies, Boards and Commissions under a 3% microscope or whether they are getting value for our money at even a higher rate. If we only look at those within that arbitrary range, are we missing opportunities elsewhere? Maybe the only profit-making ABC should be contributing more to the city coffers, thus lowering the pressure on others. Perhaps a more critical look is needed at the cost of capital projects are having on our overall costs.

We may lament about the inherited cost of the rail lands, but without them what would our waterfront be? Without the waterfront, what would the city be? Perhaps council is right in wanting to sell off the Otter Lake property for development. Or maybe a longer-term view, that in a world with explosive population growth, the better option is that the land should be reserved for a park for future generations. Our critical eye may be looking short-term rather than long term, thinking that a few dollars now to fix our infrastructure is more important than a vision yet to unfold.

Likely our past mayors had visions that dictated their decisions, just as our present mayor has his vision for the city. Those visions not only affect the taxes of the day, but the lifestyle of the future generations. It is a little like having French’s mustard on your hot dog or some Grey Poupon Dijon on your tube steak. There is more taste to one than the other. It is sort of like some people referring to our mayor as ‘The little guy who wears the yellow tie’ or, as I prefer, for only a few pennies more, to give him his due with ‘Tit-Jaune’.

Before we dump on our elected officials, whether it be for the Festival, taxes or jousting with the ABCs, let us try for thoughtful criticism. Most often we get what we pay for. Like mustard, maybe a few pennies a day more will add to our living pleasure. If you prefer a splash of French’s on your hot dog, it is your choice. But be adventurous and let your taste buds be the critic. Try a little Grey Poupon next time.