August 17, 2005

WHAT WOULD DESERVE THE N-WORD?:

A repugnant, divisive suggestion (ROYSON JAMES, 8/17/05, Toronto Star)

If Toronto city Councillor Michael Thompson is trying to make a name for himself, he certainly has. Around city hall yesterday, the rookie politician was being called Uncle Tomson.

When it comes to name-calling, that's as offensive as it gets for a black man. And yet, this black man has brought it on himself.

By advocating that police target and stop young black men in neighbourhoods plagued by gun violence, and search them for guns, the rookie councillor has made an ass of himself.

"It's offensive, rude," said criminal lawyer Aston Hall, reacting at a conference of black law enforcement officers. "Whoever thought of that is a complete idiot."

Complete or not, Thompson wasn't backing down yesterday.

"I'm fed up with the violence that's taking place," he said. "We need a drastic hammer on the situation. Is it offensive to some? Absolutely.... As a black city councillor, it's for me to speak out."


His idea was so racist he deserves to be called an Uncle Tom?

Posted by Orrin Judd at August 17, 2005 12:00 AM
Comments
By advocating that police target and stop young black men in neighbourhoods plagued by gun violence, and search them for guns, the rookie councillor has made an ass of himself.

If being in the company of people like Rudy Giuliani and Bill Bratton makes one an ass, then I can only assume that being labeled an ass is a compliment in Canada.

Posted by: Michael Herdegen at August 17, 2005 10:44 AM

This is the Toronto Star - Canada's equivalent to the Guardian. This is the same paper that devoted weeks of coverage to the number of minorities on the Blue Jays baseball team, claiming that there weren't enough. Considering how few blacks and his panics live in this city, those that did play for the team were actually overrepresented - if one wants to play the racial numbers game.

Liberals - you can never please them, which is why Canada is quickly drifting into third-world status.

Posted by: obc at August 17, 2005 11:55 AM
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