Second Thots

Sometimes one has to step back, take pause, and have some "second thots"

Saturday, September 16, 2006

 

Why can Ignatieff say 'ghetto' but Harper can't?


Harper
Ignatieff
So, when Harper says it, it's the end of the world. When Iggy says it, nobody says a word.

Exhibit A: On January 22, 2001, Stephen Harper said, "You’ve got to remember that west of Winnipeg the ridings the Liberals hold are dominated by people who are either recent Asian immigrants or recent migrants from eastern Canada: people who live in ghettoes and who are not integrated into western Canadian society."

Exhibit B: On September 15, 2006, Michael Ignatieff said, "New Canadians do not want to be confined in cultural ghettos. They want to share in the opportunities afforded to all Canadians."

Exhibit C: On January 4, 2006, the Liberal party said, "Mr. Harper is the same man who once referred to recent immigrants as 'people who live in ghettoes'."

Closing Argument: Today, should not the Liberal party (as well as the other usual critics) be equally insulted by the same sentiments, using the same apparently offending language, from both Stephen Harper and Michael Ignatieff?

I rest my case.

You be the judge.


Comments:
Hey now, Harper can say it too.

The man's living at 24 Sussex Drive now.

It obviously didn't kill his political career.

 
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It might not have killed his political career, but it was a comment that was used over and over again as alleged evidence that he wasn't mainstream enough for Canadian society. In fact, if Iggy's allowed to get away with this, my guess is people will still use the comment against Harper.

 
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And as they do it, it will become increasingly apparent to thinking people who are of visible minority backgrounds that the Liberals and their enablers are simply demogogues on the issue, whereas Harper actually gets things done (compensation for the head-tax, etc.).

Once people come to that realization, any such attempts backfire. (I look at my father's friends -- journalists, professors at U of T, etc., and therefore natural Liberal voters -- as my focus group.)

 
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Harper said immigrants live in ghettoes and Iggy said immigrants do not want to live in ghettoes. The two comments are not the same.

 
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In the quotes I posted, I don't see where Harper says he wants immigrants to live in ghettos.

On the other hand, Iggy clearly suggests that people currently do live in ghettos, which is the situation he wants to rectify.

They're both saying the same thing. Yet some people want to yell and scream at only one of them. Why ain't I surprised?

 
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Oops, sorry, I think I should correct myself.

Harper said immigrants lived in Ghettos. Ignatieff clearly implied immigrants lived in ghettos.

I don't see where Harper said immigrants want to live that way.

There, I think I got that right now, I hope.

 
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