Editorials - Feb. 16, 2024

Once upon a time, when manners prevailed and politics were slightly less polarizing, it was considered an honour to host a celebrity, a person of note or even a politician. Heck, a business that was lucky enough to get a visit from a Premier or the Prime Minister could consider the free publicity a blessing to their bottom line. That time seems to have passed. Cue the anger that the mere presence of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau instills in so many angry citizens, that a humble brewery in Bowmanville has been dealing instead with the backlash after being asked to host an event for Robert Rock, a local Liberal candidate running in an upcoming by-election. Trudeau stopped by to support the candidate, in what would normally be a celebrated endorsement.

 

The owner of The Brewer’s Pantry was overwhelmed with negative reviews, hateful comments and endless offensive e-mails and phone calls after simply posting a photo of Trudeau and Rock in the establishment. Fortunately, the backlash was met with an outpouring of support from customers, friends and even strangers to try to offset the damage.

 

No one is asking you to support the Prime Minister if you are opposed to his policies, but taking your hatred out on a small business that just happened to be the venue for an event is crossing a line. This business is probably just beginning to recover from the pandemic and to receive hundreds of negative reviews from people who have never even done business with it could do irreparable damage. The backlash that The Brewer’s Pantry had to endure was immature, mean-spirited and incredibly rude and, in the end, has accomplished nothing for the keyboard warriors who mounted the nasty campaign. – DS

At a time when interest in municipal politics has hit rock bottom and interest in being a municipal politician is even lower, some character traits are slipping in under the radar because, frankly, nobody cares.

 

People with all kinds of unsavory characteristics are finding their way into office because people aren’t bothering to vote and many of those who do bother don’t read up on candidates or attending meetings to discern problematic candidates from good ones. On that note, we direct our attention to Pickering, where Councillor Lisa Robinson recently penned a piece for a newspaper calling for, among other things, Black History Month to be cancelled. Her opinions have been widely criticized as racist by residents and some fellow councillors. The controversy has accomplished something, though, as it’s shown residents (and voters) the kinds of ideas that Robinson espouses.

 

Locally, in recent years, there have been candidates for both council and school board seats whose opinions are questionable at best, making it clear that they would push an agenda, rather than represent. Knowing the difference between these candidates and those who have the community’s best interests at heart takes some work and, with the help of your friends in the media, you can make informed decisions.

 

The best thing people can do is listen to candidates when they speak on issues of interest. They tend to reveal themselves to you. – SL 

The oft-repeated saying “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer” is sometimes attributed to Sun Tzu - a military philosopher of the Eastern Zhou Period credited with writing The Art of War. Others say the phrase was actually coined by Niccolo Machiavelli - a 16th century Florentine philosopher known for penning (a different) The Art of War. Yet another faction feels the quote’s rightful attribution belongs to mafia kingpin Michael Corleone, a fictional character from Mario Puzo’s seminal saga, The Godfather. Regardless of the quotation’s authentic origin, contemplating its implications grows increasingly relevant to residents of member-states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), including Canada, ahead of a consequential American election.

 

Recently, a leading contender in the race for the White House said that he would “encourage” Russia to do “whatever the hell they wanted” to any NATO nation deemed delinquent in achieving its commitments to the mutual defence organization. This candidate is well-known for outlandish rabble-rousing and inflammatory, controversial and uncouth statements - occasionally, his words are vaguely threatening; other times, overtly threatening. He has many supporters and many detractors. In November, he could be elected president. It’s happened before.

 

Notwithstanding some bumps along the road and the War of 1812, Canada - the “True North, strong and free” - has enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship with its neighbours (or ‘neighbors’ for American readers) to the south. This friendship is founded in shared democratic ideals and has endured decades of threats levied against it by our neighbours (or ‘сосед’ for Russian readers) to the north. With the election nine months out, right now is an opportunity for Canadians to consider which nations are our friends and which are our enemies. Come November, it may no longer be possible to tell them apart. – SBS