Wednesday, June 2, 2010

A point about discrimination

Ezra Levant makes an interesting point about discrimination in Canada, but I'm not sure that he quite goes far enough to make the point. Of course, he was being published in a national newspaper, and as such, it's not savvy for the paper to publish the analogy which REALLY should have hit home, so I'll give it a shot from my little pedestal here.

Mr. Levant points out:

A reporter asked Mr. Duceppe if he wasn't being "a little Mc-Carthyite"; Mr. Duceppe brushed off the accusation and went further: Opus Dei members should not be allowed to participate in political life--even as volunteers --if they identify "as a group."

Stop for a moment and try that sentence out again, substituting the words "gay" or "Jewish" for "Opus Dei members." Jews shouldn't be allowed in politics if they "identify as a group." Sikhs shouldn't be allowed in politics "if they identify as a group." How does it feel?

Now, Mr. Levant chooses two of the largest groups of people who might be directly discriminated against with that analogy. Let's try it again while substituting something that might hit a little bit closer to home for Mr. Duceppe, if not below the belt:

Stop for a moment and try that sentence out again, substituting the words "francophone" or "Quebecois" for "Opus Dei members." Quebecois shouldn't be allowed in politics if they "identify as a group." Francophones shouldn't be allowed in politics "if they identify as a group." How does it feel?
There. That's better. Perhaps Mr. Duceppe would like that analogy better.

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