Walrus magazine is a Canadian jewel. Insightful and well-written it is always worth reading.
But this month it went very wrong footed in a cartoon "Lessons Learned".
The cartoon showed Michael Ignatieff parachuting into an apparently American college and then taking on the Russian Presidency. It reflects a very unfortunate attitude toward public life.
By suggesting Michael Ignatieff is game to go anywhere for power (especially Russia) the cartoon plays into the idea that people with 'foreign' names, especially if they have worked outside Canada, cannot be truly Canadian.
I know Michael Ignatieff. Outside of Canada he is seen as a leader in international thought and someone whose insight is relied on across the political spectrum. He is a committed Canadian who fell afoul of the politics of personality. He was defeated not on his policies but on a false impression of his person; the very impression repeated by the comic.
The increasing focus on negativity and narrow focus messaging is not a good thing. People like Diefenbaker and Pearson would be crushed in a modern Canadian election; imagine what attack ads could be used on either of those great Canadian leaders.
It may seem pedantic to complain about a cartoon, but popular culture is important, especially when displayed in such a Canadian icon as Walrus.
Michael Ignatieff offered a moderate and sensible option for Canadian voters. Granted he lost, but that is a part of public life. For his pains Michael Ignatieff should be seen as a noble patriot who gave much for his country and not vilified as a scheming foreigner who sought power for unscrupulous reasons.
9 comments:
Don't forget the unapologetic attack by the Conservatives against his family.
It's one thing to attack policies. The dirty attacks the Conservatives and their allies did were something else entirely.
He was branded "the tourist" during the Liberal candidate campaign by Liberals, far before the Conservatives even recognised the man.
When asked if he would again leave Canada if he didn't win, he did not answer. We now see his answer by his actions and Canadians are secure knowing they made the right choice.
If anything I would expect Liberals would be angry at their managers and kingmakers who ignore popular opinion and keep chasing some charismatic leader. Well thought out platforms and predictable policy motivate people, not some messiah.
"By suggesting Michael Ignatieff is game to go anywhere for power (especially Russia) the cartoon plays into the idea that people with 'foreign' names, especially if they have worked outside Canada, cannot be truly Canadian."
"Plays into the idea............?"
Only in your head Morton.
A cartoon is a cartoon.
You don't like a cartoon?
It was hurtful?
You lunatic Marxist.
I wonder what was going through the minds of the high ranking Liberals who went to Harvard to woo Ignatieff in the first place.
They must have assured him it would be a slam dunk. The carton is not just a jab at Ignatieff but the whole corrupt cynical Liberal party. They had to go...
Wow!
Months later, he still gets very nasty comments from Harperites. They`re a mean bunch, really. Never met an educator they didn`t detest, I guess.
I also am dismayed by the ignorance of the 'cartoon' so my comments:
I as well know Michael Ignatieff. He's been one of the exemplary Canadians whose international work - in literature, writings about the Balkans, journalism, screenwriting, and of course academia, I followed over a decade. I was astounded and excited when he returned to run for the Liberal Party.
At that time I met him, we engaged in long discussions and I was deeply moved and inspired by the way he truly listened to my challenging questions and gave deep thought out responses. I was impressed by him in person, and decided to assist him. I joined the Liberal Party - because of him - worked on his campaigns, attended the Montreal Liberal Convention as his delegate and more.
*******
Well, I could write a book about what unfolded over the next years. It was a complex web of timing, people, intentions, politics, and of course Conservative attack ads.
And we know what happened in the end. It's sad to see the ignorami of the Walrus - satirizing under the false propaganda's veil. Apparently they too were duped.
In the end I can say Michael Ignatieff certainly did not come here for a coronation, his motives were noble and genuine. Ignatieff is an extraordinary multi faceted, accomplished, internationally acclaimed, renaissance man. Too bad Canada isn't adult enough yet to recognize it's true treasures and not wish to assassinate them
And while Ignatieff will remain as the exceptional human that he is, and continue to accomplish great works, in the end I do think as hard as he tried, this was not the role for him.
However, during his time as Liberal leader the propaganda and mis information machine generated about Ignatieff was misleading and very disturbing.
We should all be concerned - that we live in such an easily duped, easily miss lead Canada. Perhaps it's more comfortable to go to Tim Horton's and be Canadian but hopefully not run into Margaret Atwood on the way there, whoever Atwood is, eh.
Daria S.
"in literature, writings about the Balkans, journalism, screenwriting, and of course academia, I followed over a decade."
Ignatieff has never run a lemonade stand or a candy store.
How the hell could he run a country?
Wow Daria;
Drink the Kool Aid much?
Ignatieff didn't win the Liberal leadership race. Why? In part because of the disdain many people have in the Liberal party towards the United States. Ignatieff as you know spent a great deal of time there.
It is extraordinarily naive or arrogant for you to blame attack ads.
You must have forgotten about other leaders in the past who had been ridiculed for their religious beliefs or for quotes taken out of context.
Somehow you believe that Ignatieff should have been exempt from the battlefield called politics.
Do you really belive that Canada should only deploy troops when the UN says it is OK? This is just one example of absolutely wacko policies that Ignatieff spouted.
He was a disaster.
Canada is adult enough. What is doubtful is your ability to quit navalgazing and recognize that Ignatieff was the wrong guy at the wrong time in the wrong party.
I thought people saying that Dion's english wouldn't be a problem was one thing but the electability of the parachute professor was even better.
That's what I love about you Liberals. You don't just drink the kool-aid, you binge on it. The word comes down from the leaders and shit suddenly turns into ice cream. It's not a party but some bizzare cult.
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