I learned a lesson and no longer repeat nasty material I am holding up to ridicule.
That's what is happening in the story below:
EDMONTON - Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff says comments he wrote about Ukrainians 15 years ago have been misinterpreted by the federal Conservatives.
He told reporters after a town hall meeting in Edmonton on Tuesday night that some of the terminology he used was derogatory, but said it was done in an "ironic" manner to describe some of the prejudices about Ukrainian people.
Earlier this month, Treasury Board President Vic Toews sent a pamphlet to constituents in his riding of Provencher, southeast of Winnipeg.
The pamphlet contained excerpts from Ignatieff's 1993 book Blood and Belonging, in which Ignatieff referred to Ukrainians as "little Russians."
Ignatieff also wrote that Ukrainian independence would for some conjure up images of "phoney cossacks in cloaks and boots, nasty anti-Semites."
The same words angered some members of Toronto's Ukrainian community in 2005, when Ignatieff first ran for office. They protested outside party headquarters in Toronto.
Ignatieff said at the time that his comments had been taken out of context.
On Tuesday, he said he has always "felt the deepest affection and respect" for Ukrainian people.
"I used those terms - and they are derogatory terms, with which I wish to disassociate myself - I use them in an ironic manner to describe some of the illusions and prejudices that people have about Ukrainians, and they're wrong," Ignatieff said.
"I've never believed them, I've never supported them, I reject them absolutely. Because some of my own family ancestors are buried in the Ukraine, I owe the fact that those graves have been protected and honoured to anonymous Ukrainians. And that means a great deal to me emotionally."
About 550 people turned out for the town hall meeting, which Ignatieff said was encouraging.
James Morton
1100-5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
416 225 2777
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