With all of the important issues facing Canada during this election, the media and more partisan public opinion are doing their collective best to focus on Justin Trudeau’s dressing in blackface 18 or 19 years ago at a party when he was working in British Columbia. Let’s get this part out of the way right off: this was a stupid and insensitive thing to do, as observed by the prime minister in his apology.
I suggest that most of us would cringe at the thought of some things we have done our past, many years ago, being made public and viewed in today’s era of political correctness and greater social awareness; after all, were all young once!
My thoughts on this (non?) “issue” are as follows:
1. We need to be very careful when looking at an action taken in 2001 through the lens of 2019. In 2001 the world was a different place than it is today, and that’s a good thing — we are more socially conscious and aware now.
2. We need to consider the intent, or the lack thereof, of Trudeau’s actions in 2001. We need to allow for a scenario that there was no malicious intent or racist feeling on his part at that time and just maybe he was having fun at a party, period, and there being nothing more serious or intentional on his part than that.
3. “Let he who is without guilt cast the first stone.” I suggest that most of us would cringe at the thought of some things we have done our past, many years ago, being made public and viewed in today’s era of political correctness and greater social awareness; after all, were all young once!
4. I believe there is a great deal of difference in making a dumb mistake like Trudeau did, which may well have not been done with any malicious intent, as opposed to a formal and public speech in the nation’s parliament, for example, clearly and unequivocally liking same-sex marriage to a dog’s tail etc.
5. It is a sad commentary on all of our political parties, the media and the public awareness of the public at large when an incident such as this can be allowed to dominate and overshadow real election issues such as climate change, pharmacare, taxation, environmental regulation/assessment, foreign affairs, the economy, etc.
Can we all please get over this childish fascination with such a non-issue, and focus again on the important matters facing Canada in 2019?
Marvin Barnes
St. John’s
