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.
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.
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.
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.
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
"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".
.. 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
This'll blow over quickly. Trudeau's apologized. By Scheer's own standards, that's done all that's needed.
ReplyDeleteCap
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.
ReplyDeleteWhat 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.
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.
ReplyDeleteCap
It's all an exercise in distraction, Cap. The parties assume that we're all kids with ADHD.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
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.
ReplyDeleteThat 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.
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
ReplyDeleteWe walk on eggshells these days, zoombats.
ReplyDeleteHe played Hrundi V. Bakshi in the "The Party" (1968)
ReplyDelete- J.
Sellers could get away with it, J. Trudeau can't because, as he himself said, "It's 2015" plus four years.
ReplyDeleteHow times have changed.
ReplyDeleteThis 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
"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".
ReplyDeleteThanks for the clip, TB. Nobody does it like the Brits. But, indeed, the times have changed.
ReplyDeleteWhen you have to walk on eggshells, zoombats, you hide your eggs.
ReplyDelete.. we're being dragged ino a cage..
ReplyDeleteor 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
Formal education is good, sal. I've devoted my life to it. But it's life experience -- real life experience -- that humanizes us.
ReplyDelete