An editorial in today’s Globe and Mail (July 22) criticizes the federal government for failing to give its full attention to the COVID crisis because of all the time and energy it is spending on the WE scandal. It compares the government to “a severely distracted driver, with one eye on the fly it introduced into the car, and one hand groping for something to smother it with.” While clucking its editorial tongue, it’s a pity that the Globe didn’t own up to the role played by it, and all the media, who have been obsessed with the WE issue for many weeks, dredging up every story and angle possible to keep the scandal alive.
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Recently I was contemplating all of the bad news stories that dominate the airways. As if the pandemic and racial strife weren’t worrying enough, I have read within the last few months about concerns that dangerous feral hogs might head south from Canada and that killer bees were heading north. Africa is dealing with an infestation of locusts, and there is now a report about swarms of flying ants 50 miles wide spotted over the south coast of the U.K. Apparently these swarms appear when males and new queens leave the nest to mate and all do it on the same day – rather like the annual trek of college kids to Florida on spring break (but I digress). In any event, all of this doom and gloom reminded me of a hit by the Kingston Trio from over 60 years ago.
Wayne is quoted as saying “life is tough; it’s tougher if you’re stupid.” Little did he know how prophetic that would be. It is hard to believe that we could face anything more dire than the COVID-19 pandemic that is increasingly out of control in the U.S. and in other countries such as Brazil and South Africa. But with each passing day I see more evidence that the biggest threat to the future is the appalling stupidity of large segments of the population. A distrust of mainstream media, a devotion to celebrity culture, extreme religious beliefs, and a fascination with conspiracy theories have combined to create a toxic witch’s brew in which people embrace the most ridiculous and harmful views while also steadfastly refusing to contemplate any alternatives and attacking those who dare espouse them. Let me begin by emphasizing that I deplore the racial discrimination that has long existed – and still does – against blacks, Natives, and other minorities. I also agree with efforts to overcome this discrimination and to ensure decent living conditions for all – regardless of their ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other identifier that has served as a basis for discrimination. However, I can’t help wondering if we are becoming overly focused on symbolism rather than substance in our efforts to redress wrongs. I am especially concerned about the increasing insistence that statues, buildings, streets, or any other edifices identified with the names of historical figures must be renamed because those individuals reflected and perpetuated the discrimination of their eras. |
AuthorC. Richard Tindal, Ph.D is a retired Professor of Government. He taught for 30 years at St. Lawrence College, Kingston and was an occasional Visiting Professor at Queen's University. He has also written and consulted extensively about government. Archives
October 2023
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