Let's make some things clear: racism is not a problem particular to one country, culture or group of people. Sadly, it exists everywhere. It is a human failing very much like cruelty or ignorance. However, some cultures and countries are better at recognising bigotry and stamping out it in what ways it can be. North American countries are among those.
Secondly, racism does not only exist in vulgar displays of intolerance. It exists in things like affirmative action programs, acts and attitudes that regard certain ethnic or racial groups as too child-like to adapt to the norms and expectations of the modern world. When one assumes that someone needs a hand-out because of their skin colour or because someone ripped off someone else two hundred years ago, one is engaging in (consciously or otherwise) racism of lowered expectations. Treat people like adults and racism and those who benefit from race-baiting go away.
Thirdly, speaking plainly is often the best way of imparting the truth. Apologising for doing so does not ameliorate matters nor does it endear the race-baiting among us to one.
As Mr. Stockwell Day has now discovered:
Mr. Day's "appalling" comments:
No one will ever let this go.
We have long since passed the point where nuanced views can be entertained. It's group-think and Two Minutes Hate now.
Secondly, racism does not only exist in vulgar displays of intolerance. It exists in things like affirmative action programs, acts and attitudes that regard certain ethnic or racial groups as too child-like to adapt to the norms and expectations of the modern world. When one assumes that someone needs a hand-out because of their skin colour or because someone ripped off someone else two hundred years ago, one is engaging in (consciously or otherwise) racism of lowered expectations. Treat people like adults and racism and those who benefit from race-baiting go away.
Thirdly, speaking plainly is often the best way of imparting the truth. Apologising for doing so does not ameliorate matters nor does it endear the race-baiting among us to one.
As Mr. Stockwell Day has now discovered:
Stockwell Day was on a CBC Power & Politics panel Tuesday discussing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s response to protests over the police killing of George Floyd, a black man in the U.S.
Day said systemic racism was not an issue in Canada and compared people’s experiences of racism here to him being mocked for wearing glasses as a child.
Wednesday afternoon, Telus released a statement announcing it had accepted Day’s resignation from the board.
Mr. Day's "appalling" comments:
On Power & Politics, Day said that he rejected “the prime minister insinuating that all Canadians are somehow racist because our system is systemically racist.”
“The Canadian system is built and every day functions to defend the rights of minorities, and it should, and we celebrate that,” he said.
Day said that while there are a “few idiot racists” in Canada, he believes most Canadians are not racist.
No one will ever let this go.
We have long since passed the point where nuanced views can be entertained. It's group-think and Two Minutes Hate now.
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