Friday, September 20, 2019

When You Live In A Glass House


I'm disgusted. When you live in a glass house, it's not wise to throw stones. But throwing stones is what our politics is all about.

I have no idea how this will effect the outcome of the election.

Image: Business Insider

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

This'll blow over quickly. Trudeau's apologized. By Scheer's own standards, that's done all that's needed.

Cap

Owen Gray said...

Tom Walkom -- in the Toronto Star -- has an interesting column this morning, Cap. He says you have to put Trudeau's behaviour in context. And, when you consider the context, what he did was not racist.

What bothers me, however, is that the incident is yet another example of our gotcha politics. We really are facing serious issues -- for the country and the planet. The Liberals began going after the Conservatives for what they put up on social media. And the Conservatives have responded in kind.

We are running out of time. And we don't have time for this kind of stuff.

Anonymous said...

I agree Owen. What bothers me is that the media refuse to press the three parties on the issues that matter most: climate change, wealth inequality, democratic rot, etc. Instead, they go down the rabbit hole on whatever issues the Libs and Cons bring up to distract voters. I expect that from the corporate media. It's sad to see the CBC follow suit, but I suppose that's inevitable too in an environment where one of those two parties will be their masters.

Cap

Owen Gray said...

It's all an exercise in distraction, Cap. The parties assume that we're all kids with ADHD.

The Mound of Sound said...


The most recent polls show this is a huge issue - for Kinsella, Andrew Scheer and everybody but the voting public.

I've wondered if I would have done blackface twenty years ago. I'm pretty sure I knew then it was something you just didn't do.

I did greyface once. I went full-blown Frankenstein's monster including several pounds of mortician's wax used to build up the massive forehead. I want to apologize to Mary Shelley and all the dead people I may have offended. BTW - my Halloween costume was so good I got first prize.

Owen Gray said...

Anyone who knows the history of minstrel shows knows backface was about a white man playing Step 'n Fetch It, Mound. But these days, history doesn't mean much to a lot of people. History aside, what this comes down to is Trudeau being hoisted on his own petard. He got caught doing what he criticized others for doing. And all of this is a distraction from the real issues.

That said, I'm not sure alot of people know the history behind minstrel shows. I wonder if Trudeau knows that history. And so I'm not sure how this will all shake out.

zoombats said...

I can only remind myself that it is a good thing Peter Sellers is no longer alive and having to appologize for his brown face character of Bakshi in the 1968 film the Apartment. They were such different times. Even Archie Bunker could never have survived the Politically correct world that we now have to navigate. Just saying

Owen Gray said...

We walk on eggshells these days, zoombats.

Anonymous said...

He played Hrundi V. Bakshi in the "The Party" (1968)

- J.

Owen Gray said...

Sellers could get away with it, J. Trudeau can't because, as he himself said, "It's 2015" plus four years.

Trailblazer said...

How times have changed.
This programme took the mickey out of British attitudes toward immigrants but was pulled because it was considered racist !!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpXOpYdGFTk


TB

zoombats said...

"He played Hrundi V. Bakshi in the "The Party" (1968)" Yes you are right, my mistake. I feel that I must apologize for enjoying the film those many years ago but luckily that film and others like it will be buried and left to collect dust like copies of "Tom Sawyer".

Owen Gray said...

Thanks for the clip, TB. Nobody does it like the Brits. But, indeed, the times have changed.

Owen Gray said...

When you have to walk on eggshells, zoombats, you hide your eggs.

the salamander said...

.. we're being dragged ino a cage..
or as the Boss says.. 'we're volunteers, not victims'
Well come seek me in the bush.. aint no volunteer or victim
One might not enjoy slumming carelessly down my trail..
smoking a cigarette, discarding your tin foil burger wrap
Uh that will be the trail I left you on purpose

Kinsella walked into that face first other day
with the classic and tired 'the likes of you'..
That was my payback for backing him
with well earned & deserved
street creds & props for many good works
he and his wife Lisa did at great risk I might add

There are many freaky scary crazies out there
most without 10 % of Kinsella's intellect or energy
none with 1% of a Mound or Michael Harris
but best to be smart.. with a big stick..

diss me baby.. I care not.. ya can't dent me
look up 'water off a duck' .. or the loon

Cheap shots are just that.. be civil or go home
or 'go big or don't go' .. when the situation or opportunity presents
That could be fresh pow pow backside o Whistler
or stupid pompous crap from mr Glib Jason Kenney
I know when to wax my boards.. to ride big mountain
or be one with elk, cross country (bring apples)
I read the tide tables.. have seen some wind
brought corn & raisons for the goats on a few summits
looked after our blisters later..

Haven't we all..
haven't we all .. in some way or other
But hey.. thanks for the lesson or lecture on Canadian Values mr Scheer
Last time you drove a combine ? Nursed a sick calf all Christmas night ?
Sat in a hospital.. halfway to panic ?

No I didn't think so.. short on memory
- short on real life experience mr Scheer

Owen Gray said...

Formal education is good, sal. I've devoted my life to it. But it's life experience -- real life experience -- that humanizes us.