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Friday October 2, 2020

October 9, 2020 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday October 2, 2020

The decline of the American Empire

July 14, 2020

Whatever went on between Donald Trump and Joe Biden on Tuesday night, it wasn’t a presidential election debate, it was an unpresidential disaster. 

For the TV viewers unlucky enough to have stuck it out through this 90-minute waking nightmare, the experience was like standing in front of a 10-storey fan into which heavy artillery were constantly firing mud. Or like watching two guys wrestle in the gutter over a nickel.

From start to finish it was a high-decibel cacophony of insults, accusations and angry interruptions as the ever-pugnacious President Trump — staying true to brutal form — mocked the intelligence of his Democratic rival, accused Biden of being a stooge for socialists and even attacked his son, Hunter.

May 14, 2020

And while even a saint would have been rattled by Trump’s rude and blistering attacks, it was nonetheless disappointing to hear Biden respond in kind by calling the president a “liar,” a “racist,” and “the worst president American has ever had,” as well as telling him to “shut up, man.”

No matter who you think won this ugly verbal brawl, the losers were clear: the American people and every American ally around the world that still looks to the United States for leadership.

One of the most common responses of the American pundits who watched this dumpster fire was that they were ashamed of what they’d witnessed. That’s a stunning admission in a country known for its patriotism — but it was entirely appropriate.

April 23, 2020

No matter who wins this election, the office of U.S. president has been diminished, for now, shorn of the respect that should be due to the world’s most powerful leader and, in turn, to the world’s most powerful economic and military nation. 

How can this supposed beacon of democracy continue to shine when the democratic process of choosing its highest official is debased in this way, its light heaped with dirt? And how can the widening fractures in the U.S. on racial, economic and political lines be brought together when Trump, who might still be elected for another four years, not only treats his opponents with contempt but refuses in a public debate to denounce white supremacists? “Stand back and stand by,” was his bizarre and troubling message to one of these groups, the Proud Boys.

April 29, 2020

No wonder the dismay over this debate, as well as the state of disunion it signifies, spread far beyond the U.S. “There is a consensus in Europe that this is getting out of hand, and this debate is an indicator of the bad shape of the American democracy,” observed Ulrich Speck, an analyst with the German Marshall Fund in Berlin.

“European leaders must (be) thinking, ‘The American leadership is over,’” concluded Nicole Bacharan, a political analyst living in France, adding that authoritarian leaders such as Russia’s Vladimir Putin “must be telling themselves … they can do everything because the U.S. isn’t a leader anymore.”

The gleeful reaction in China, the emerging powerhouse that is challenging America’s global dominance, was also instructive. “Such a chaos at the top of U.S. politics reflects division, anxiety of U.S. society and the accelerating loss of advantage of the U.S. political system,” said Hu Xijin, editor of the Global Times, a Chinese Communist Party propaganda sheet.

Pandemic Times

The relative decline of the U.S., and its global economic and military empire, had been observed before Trump’s rise. His presidency has accelerated this decline and even if it is reversible it will take years to do so.

For Canada, which remains America’s closest neighbour and ally, the debate should serve as a reminder of this sad reality. (Hamilton Spectator Editorial) 

 

Posted in: International, USA Tagged: 2020-32, America, American exceptionalism, burial, coffin, Democracy, freedom, liberty, Pandemic Times, tombstone, USA

Friday July 12, 2019

July 19, 2019 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday July 12, 2019

Legault backs Education Minister’s comment, says Malala Yousafzai ‘couldn’t teach’ in Quebec with head scarf

Quebec Premier François Legault says Malala Yousafzai, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and renowned advocate for girls’ education, would not be allowed to teach in his province unless she removed her head scarf, saying his Education Minister did not make a mistake when he made that assertion.

Jean-François Roberge, Quebec’s Education Minister, faced a barrage of criticism over the weekend that made headlines as far as Britain and the Middle East, after tweeting a picture of himself with Ms. Yousafzai after they met in France, saying that they discussed education and international development.

Mr. Roberge was asked in a Twitter exchange with a journalist named Salim Nadim Valji whether Ms. Yousafzai, who wears an Islamic head scarf, could teach in his province, which has banned religious symbols in the public sector. Mr. Roberge said it would be an honour for Quebec to have Ms. Yousafzai teach, but that in Quebec, “as in France … as well as in other open and tolerant countries, teachers can’t wear religious signs while performing their duties.”

Quebec’s legislature adopted Bill 21 last month, which bans public sector workers – whether they are teachers, judges or police officers – from being able to work if they wear a religious symbol, such as a turban, a head scarf, or a kippa. The Canadian Human Rights Commission said months before the bill became law that it targets people for their religious beliefs and would limit people’s opportunities to participate in society.

October 11, 2014

Ms. Yousafzai was born in the Swat region of Pakistan, where she became an advocate for girls’ education. She was shot in the head by the Taliban at the age of 15 while she was on the bus home from school. She survived the attack and, in 2014, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in supporting young girls’ right to education.

The activist, now 21, runs the Malala Fund, which raises money to help girls around the world access education. Since 2018, she has been studying philosophy, politics and economics at the University of Oxford.

Mr. Roberge’s response prompted outrage on social media. Liberal MP Omar Alghabra tweeted that, “No government should ever tell a woman how to dress.”

Speaking with reporters in Quebec on Monday, Mr. Legault was asked whether Mr. Roberge made a mistake and the Quebec Premier made it clear that he does not believe he did. (Globe & Mail) 

 

Posted in: International, Quebec Tagged: 2019-25, Bill 21, dupatta, education, Francois Legault, freedom, head scarf, Malala Yousfzai, Quebec, religion, secularism, teaching

Friday June 26, 2015

June 25, 2015 by Graeme MacKay

Friday June 26, 2015Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday June 26, 2015

The Kathleen Wynne documentary that no one is allowed to see

The Toronto Star is lifting the veil on the political drama that no one is allowed to see.

It is a one-hour documentary ‎entitled, Premier: The Unscripted Kathleen Wynne‎, that was supposed to air on TVOntario earlier this month — before it was yanked.

The fly-on-the-wall account depicts Wynne under siege during February’s Sudbury byelection scandal, lashing out at the press for being “out to get” her, and discussing the toll of being Canada’s second most powerful leader.

Wynne complains the media “just seem obsessed” with the story.

“That’s what makes me so mad,” she fumes.

[slideshow_deploy id=’4298’]

She also dispenses campaign advice to a wide-eyed federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and, with help from spouse Jane Rounthwaite, artfully smacks down a Progressive Conservative MPP for homophobic comments.

Indeed, some of the film’s most illuminating moments are of Wynne and Rounthwaite in their Toronto home.

Their marriage is one of loving, equal partners who share a puckish sense of humour, a passion for politics, and a quaint affinity for the 1950s sit-com I Love Lucy.

But the behind-the-scenes portrait — filmed as the Liberals crafted the budget while coping with a police investigation into allegations a former candidate was bribed not to run in the Sudbury byelection — may never be broadcast.

That’s because the premier and her officials won’t sign release forms, the director and editor quit the project in protest in May, and TVO is demanding a refund on its $114,075 investment from the executive producer.

The Star viewed a copy of the film complete with titles and moody background music. (Continued: Hamilton Spectator)


The Art of the Possible by Peter Raymont, National Film Board of Canada

 

Posted in: Ontario Tagged: censorship, documentary, expression, freedom, Kathleen Wynne, Ontario, Public Relations, TVO

Friday March 13, 2015

March 12, 2015 by Graeme MacKay

Friday March 13, 2015Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday March 13, 2015

Niqab debate important for Canadians, religious freedoms, ambassador says

Canada’s ambassador for religious freedoms says he thinks it’s important that Canadians are having a debate about the place of the niqab in society.

Andrew Bennett says his office doesn’t get involved in domestic political issues; its mandate is to advocate for religious freedoms abroad.

But Bennett says he’s aware how fraught the issue of the niqab can be and that it’s important for Canadians to have a say.

The Conservative government’s decision to appeal a Federal Court ruling allowing a woman to have her face covered by a niqab while reciting the oath of citizenship has sparked a heated debate about religious rights in Canada.

The government argues Canadian values are at stake while the opposition says to ban the niqab goes against those very same values.

Bennett says he thinks the fact that Parliament is having what he calls a robust debate on the subject is wonderful and proof Canadian institutions are functioning.

Wednesday March 11, 2015Bennett spoke to The Canadian Press on Wednesday on the sidelines of a conference on religious freedoms in Ottawa. That same day, federal Conservatives were scrambling to clarify that their aversion to Muslim women wearing the niqab applies strictly to citizenship ceremonies.

But they struggled to explain why wearing the face-covering veil is no big deal in other spheres of life, including the federal public service, if — as Prime Minister Stephen Harper maintains — it’s contrary to Canadian values and “rooted in a culture that is anti-women.”

“That is what the prime minister said and that is a point of view that one can hold,” said Treasury Board President Tony Clement, who is responsible for federal civil service. (Source: Globe & Mail)


Social Media

Posted (with much negative reaction) at Yahoo News Canada.

 

Canadians debate the place of the niqab in western society #cdnpoli #niqab http://t.co/xalFrBxaLm pic.twitter.com/OFWlFgQEXa

— Graeme MacKay (@mackaycartoons) March 12, 2015

 

 

Posted in: Canada, International Tagged: beard, citizenship, culture, face covering, freedom, Niqab, religious, sunglasses, texting, tolerance, veil

Friday January 9 2015

January 9, 2015 by Graeme MacKay

Friday January 9 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, the Hamilton Spectator – Friday January 9 2015

Bill Cosby urges fans “to remain calm” if Ontario shows disrupted

Embattled comedian Bill Cosby is worried about protesters disrupting the three shows he has scheduled in Ontario this week as his international tour rolls on despite growing allegations of sexual assault.

Cosby issued a statement Tuesday urging people who attend his performances to remain calm if a show is interrupted and to “not confront the person making the disruption.”

The 77-year-old comedian is set to perform in Kitchener on Wednesday night, London on Thursday and Hamilton on Friday.

In Hamilton, protests are planned Friday at Hamilton Place. The Women’s Abuse Working Group says they will organize a “peaceful gathering”outside the theatre.

Claus Wagner, acting media relations officer for Hamilton Police, said officers will be keeping an eye on the protest to ensure everything goes smoothly. He couldn’t say yet how many officers may be needed.

He said charges will be laid if necessary but more likely protesters will be moved away to calm down if things get a little heated.

“We always allow people to protest peacefully,” he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Premier Kathleen Wynne said she would not attend any of Cosby’s shows in Ontario because of the “very serious” allegations of sexual assault the comedian is facing.

Wynne says she would not go to any of his performances until the allegations against Cosby have been sorted out.

Since November, at least 15 women have come forward with claims Cosby sexually assaulted them decades ago — with some saying he drugged them before he assaulted them.

Cosby, who starred as Dr. Cliff Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” from 1984 to 1992, has never been criminally charged in connection with any of the allegations, and through his lawyer he has denied them.

At least 10 shows on Cosby’s current tour were cancelled or postponed because of the scandal, but his appearances in the three Ontario cities will proceed, despite local opposition. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Posted in: Hamilton Tagged: Bill Cosby, Charlie Hebdo, expression, freedom, Hamilton, Place, violence, women
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