writers write books now or they dont write at all. articles are too brief and usually can be summed up in the space of a tweet, quoting a legal case, naming a film or a pithy saying.
Democracy SHOULD be just clicking on your opinion. It should NOT necessarily mean getting ANGRY enough to physically protest all day and evoke National Security. Facebook makes us all safer...plus in cold Canadian Winters, who wants to stand outside to protest?
This 'debate' was full of mushyness in itself - a lot of crossed arms and 'I/we know better' attitude.
Crickshank was quite nice though, imo.
Also, I gotta say, bringing in BOTH Suzuki and Gore and claiming to show all sides is so very lame. If you're going to claim that, bring in some of the scientists afterward who have opposing views - they do exist.
Canadians are bound to be moderate, though. Quality of life and ease of access to basic necessities in this country give most of us, I think, a feeling of complacency.
The Libs held parliament for over a decade despite failing to come through on their great promise of removing the GST.
Conservatives are being disagreed with left and right by public opinion and yet citizens aren't taking them out of power.
-lose the bread (easier access to food and personal care)
-lose the circus (easier access to entertainment and luxury)
We'd sure get 'engaged' quickly enough.
What I'm actually worried about is how so many (Gen X onward), for the most part, don't know HOW to positively be engaged in a good debate in a bad situation. We know how to do it when things are good, but...
The entertainment industry has no problem infiltrating cable news media with their fluff pieces, so light political debates should be featured regularly on some cultural programs. The Hour and the Q could be the ones who break that barrier. Good post.
Canadian writers, spokespeople, community folkies & activists offer incredibly vibrant, intellectual, passionate, fact-based & so forth... voices for all the world to explore and share of. What may be lacking is an apathy in a huge portion of Canadians to actually venture outside of their comfort zones, so as to find those of whom I listed above. Obviously there are many other reasons for any living person's apathy, yet to claim that Canada is mushy is quite ignorant of the facts & misleading.
It's not *just* apathy. These people are often boring, discussing in their closed communities about intellectual topics, giving off the feeling of 'Canadian elitism'. I'm talking about mostly people -25 here though, the ones most impacted by mass entertainment culture.
What I'm trying to say is that there is the, say 10% of more-or-less well informed Canadians who have intellectual pursuits and debate freely with one another, then there is the 90% who just follow whatever is in front of them in the media discourse (usually done by the 10%).
If the 10% want to make a true difference, there NEEDS to be a true reaching out and I suppose 'enlightenment' of the Canadian populace. As long as we have our entertainment distractions and the 10% have the pseudo-elitist attitude, I dunno how that's even possible.
yes...from what you have listed, I do side with your analysis of this. I, too, wonder if elitism sometimes acts more like a stumbling block than a mechanism that offers a worldly view of one's surroundings. Thanks for your comments.
All they need is either an innate humility, or a true humbling experience. In fact, that's all what everyone need, imo.
That's why I liked Crickshank more in this video. He's not taking himself too seriously, but also wants to get his thoughts across. Wente came off as preaching (as well intentioned as she may be), and Rubick came off as pretentious. That's no way to debate, but as I recall, everything in my education (just highschool and a little university) tells us to debate this way. Lame.
Wenter is your typical intolerant right-winger, "pull shit out of one's own asshole and throw it against the wall and hopefully some will stick".
wovokanarchy 1 year ago
writers write books now or they dont write at all. articles are too brief and usually can be summed up in the space of a tweet, quoting a legal case, naming a film or a pithy saying.
DavidEdwardSchnell 2 years ago
Democracy SHOULD be just clicking on your opinion. It should NOT necessarily mean getting ANGRY enough to physically protest all day and evoke National Security. Facebook makes us all safer...plus in cold Canadian Winters, who wants to stand outside to protest?
s2macdon 2 years ago
This 'debate' was full of mushyness in itself - a lot of crossed arms and 'I/we know better' attitude.
Crickshank was quite nice though, imo.
Also, I gotta say, bringing in BOTH Suzuki and Gore and claiming to show all sides is so very lame. If you're going to claim that, bring in some of the scientists afterward who have opposing views - they do exist.
SwobyJ 2 years ago
Canadians are bound to be moderate, though. Quality of life and ease of access to basic necessities in this country give most of us, I think, a feeling of complacency.
The Libs held parliament for over a decade despite failing to come through on their great promise of removing the GST.
Conservatives are being disagreed with left and right by public opinion and yet citizens aren't taking them out of power.
We just don't care enough to be bothered.
variousletters 2 years ago
Yup, as soon as we:
-lose the bread (easier access to food and personal care)
-lose the circus (easier access to entertainment and luxury)
We'd sure get 'engaged' quickly enough.
What I'm actually worried about is how so many (Gen X onward), for the most part, don't know HOW to positively be engaged in a good debate in a bad situation. We know how to do it when things are good, but...
SwobyJ 2 years ago
The entertainment industry has no problem infiltrating cable news media with their fluff pieces, so light political debates should be featured regularly on some cultural programs. The Hour and the Q could be the ones who break that barrier. Good post.
blackacadian 2 years ago 2
Mr Ghomeshi should practice his french.
KlipKultur4 2 years ago
Yeah what is with all that twitching? The interview is dull and mushy Canadian. Jian's twitching it the best part! Look at him go!
1976Machiavel 2 years ago
I hate you, it's all I can look at now
Sorcoral 2 years ago 2
Canadian writers, spokespeople, community folkies & activists offer incredibly vibrant, intellectual, passionate, fact-based & so forth... voices for all the world to explore and share of. What may be lacking is an apathy in a huge portion of Canadians to actually venture outside of their comfort zones, so as to find those of whom I listed above. Obviously there are many other reasons for any living person's apathy, yet to claim that Canada is mushy is quite ignorant of the facts & misleading.
thedeeliciousplum 2 years ago
It's not *just* apathy. These people are often boring, discussing in their closed communities about intellectual topics, giving off the feeling of 'Canadian elitism'. I'm talking about mostly people -25 here though, the ones most impacted by mass entertainment culture.
SwobyJ 2 years ago
What I'm trying to say is that there is the, say 10% of more-or-less well informed Canadians who have intellectual pursuits and debate freely with one another, then there is the 90% who just follow whatever is in front of them in the media discourse (usually done by the 10%).
SwobyJ 2 years ago
If the 10% want to make a true difference, there NEEDS to be a true reaching out and I suppose 'enlightenment' of the Canadian populace. As long as we have our entertainment distractions and the 10% have the pseudo-elitist attitude, I dunno how that's even possible.
SwobyJ 2 years ago
yes...from what you have listed, I do side with your analysis of this. I, too, wonder if elitism sometimes acts more like a stumbling block than a mechanism that offers a worldly view of one's surroundings. Thanks for your comments.
thedeeliciousplum 2 years ago
All they need is either an innate humility, or a true humbling experience. In fact, that's all what everyone need, imo.
That's why I liked Crickshank more in this video. He's not taking himself too seriously, but also wants to get his thoughts across. Wente came off as preaching (as well intentioned as she may be), and Rubick came off as pretentious. That's no way to debate, but as I recall, everything in my education (just highschool and a little university) tells us to debate this way. Lame.
SwobyJ 2 years ago
Great interview. Good back and forth.
Jian seems a bit twitchie though.
whammylancer 2 years ago
Maybe he needs to pee.
SwobyJ 2 years ago