An unsolicited apology
Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 11:11PM As I have always said here, you get what you pay for when you read and visit this blog. Largely, you are reading the thoughts and opinions of a politically untrained and opinionated idealist. I don't hide that, and yet my zeal is what gets me in trouble.
Lately I have found much that offends me politically with the province and the existing parties that govern it. But I suspect that has more to do with me focusing in on problems that have probably existed for centuries, and have framed them to my existing reality. I am lucky. Very lucky. I have a family that loves me and a great business that pays for that family to eat. So perhaps when I blog about politics, I do so from a perspective of someone who doesn't feel threatened by what I type.
But, it's that same context that has created the personal disrespect in how I post, when I should be talking about politics, and the policies that offend me. I regret the post where I created a parody "video" of an interview of Danielle Smith (removed). The funny thing is that I actually don't think that she is anything but an intelligent or dynamic person. I made the mistake of politicizing the policies of her party, by parodying her.
Again, I need to be clear. I should have parodied the policies, which in my opinion need to be challenged. I will remain opininated and idealistic, because I believe that these are instrumental in helping create change, but I am sorry that I focused on the individual.
I am also glad that I have friends who can call out my bullshit. I just wish they didn't do it so frequently. but I digress.
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Reader Comments (3)
A nice apology, but I don't know what for. Politics is rough and tumble, downright brutal, and now mean-spirited - just look at the attack ads that the Harper Conservatives sucked onto Stefan Dion. All attack ads are disgusting as well as insulting to the electorate regardless of which party instigates them. Your parody interview of cartoon Danielle Smith was very gentle and did raise questions that should be answered. (For me with the WAP there are too many things that make me go hmmmmm.) Sorry, Chris, but it was hardly Saturday Night Live.
Maybe you feel that you did not keep to the standards you set for yourself and then the apology is owed to yourself. I am pretty sure that Danielle can handle herself in the political ring. We will have to wait and see what campaign strategies emerge from the WAP when the election gets closer and if they use the same ones that seem to work for the Harper Conservatives. One of the issues that the Reform Party,from whence Mr. Harper and many currently sitting MPs started, wanted to address was the lack of civility in the conduct of Parliament and in the conduct of election campaigns - blew that one as well.
Anyway Chris, I enjoy your posts and appreciate your directness in sharing your political journey. You might find Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals" helpful in understanding pragmatic political actions (if you need a label, Alinsky was a non-socialist leftist). There are, I think, a lot of capitalists that are also "progressive" but don't recognize that they are because of dogmatic political labels. These kinds of discussions, although uncomfortable for some people, are important for the dynamics of our democracy.
I used to write regularly for an online magazine, lots of opinion pieces. This was before blogs became common. I don't write anymore, mostly for the reasons you mention - I was starting to feel threatened by what I typed. It does take a certain kind of courage to make strong political statements that invite strong reactions. Although I'm leaning towards agreeing with the first comment: politics is tough and dirty, I also think it never hurts to apologize.
I read and enjoyed your parody Chris, I never took it as a personal attack on Danielle Smith - a lady that I have met and discussed politics with and had the pleasure of introducing to our convention at the AUMA. I took your paraody to be about the party policies, or rather the lack of them, in my unsolicited opion your parody of Ms. Smith drew the attention of the viewer to the issues of the party.
I watch Jon Stewart on The Daily Show as often as I can, unfortunately we don't have that quality of political satire available to us here in Canada. Rick Mercer gets close but not really... Satire and parody does focus ones mind.
I enjoyed your 'video' in the spirit of what I thought you meant, and I continue to enjoy your honest and personal opion of the world of politics in Alberta.
Don't relent... you are inspiring.