Within the context of his generation, Lester “Mike” Pearson was a distinctly Canadian man. The 14th Prime Minister of Canada, he was a small and unimposing guy. He wasn’t the type of leader that Hollywood makes epic action movies about, loosely based on his life.
No, he was a compromise kind of guy. He held together a minority parliament and, before that, he used his leadership position in safe, boring Canada to negotiate an end to the Suez Canal crisis of 1957 -- Won the Nobel Peace prize for that little trick.
Canadians have never been as universally nice as the stereotypes suggest, but there was something to the idea that, as a Canadian, Pearson was better positioned than most to find a solution to the problem. We are a country born from a compromise, rather than a bullet, after all.
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Flash-forward to today and the crisis of corruption at CONCACAF and FIFA. As is often the case in modern world history, the English and the Americans are making the most noise, and, it must be said, appear to be on the side of the angels. They also appear to be up against it. Cries of racism, or misguided privilege, are beginning to trickle out. Those who they are fighting are closing ranks and look like a powerful body.
Where does Canada stand in this battle? You would hope it’s with the good guys, but it’s hard to say right now since they aren’t saying much (although Dominique Maestracci was quoted today, letting a British journalist in on what went down).
It’s often said that Canada is a minnow in world football. That’s likely overstating it. Minnows don’t host World Cups. Emerging nations and middle powers get the odd shot at some of those lesser events though and that’s exactly what Canada is. So, the table has been set for Maestracci and the CSA to channel their inner Mike Pearson and demonstrate some true leadership.
As stated, the English and Americans are the one’s sticking their necks out. So, they are compromised. Canada, however, could play a broker role here, particularly within CONCACAF. If the end game is to stamp out corruption, then that must start with a softening of attitudes and a finding of a middle ground. If the aggressors continue to throw everyone under the bus that’s going to create a situation where defensiveness is the default position by those accused. As stated, it’s good that the aggressors are aggressive, but we must also remember the end game here – to reach out to the fair-minded and shake out those that are corrupt.
Think of it as a good cop, bad cop type of thing. Canada, by virtue of not being American or British (while being close enough to understand them), its wealth and its just-powerful-enough-without-being-intimidating-to-the-truly-powerless-ness could be that good cop here.
We’d all love to see Sepp Blatter ousted, but most would settle for Jack Warner to go down. Ideally, a re-vote on 2018/22 would take place, but at the very least those that accepted bribes should be held accountable. These are the type of compromises that we could live with. But, the English and Americans are going to need allies – less aggressive, but effective allies – to get anything accomplished.
It would go against form, but maybe the domestic reform pressures are having an impact on the CSA. Maybe they are feeling frisky and willing to do the right thing.
Maybe they are ready to Be Like Mike.
We can only hope.