October 16, 2006
REUTERS/Jim Ross
The Leader of the Freedom March – Gary ‘Martin Luther King Jr.’ McHale
…The Spectator now takes a serious event about Two Tier Justice and makes fun of me. In fact up to this point the only people who were making fun of my size were the Natives. Has the Spectator decided to become the new spokesperson for childish Native behaviour?
The Hamilton Spectator is not just making fun of me – in fact I don’t care what they think about me – but you can see that they show the people of Caledonia following me to the hotdog stand. While the residents live in fear and serious crimes have taken place the Spectator believes it is time to make fun of the people who have been most effected by the terrorist methods of the occupiers. One only needs to read their story beside this photo to see how much they are against people expressing their Free Speech in a Democratic society.
Let’s just see who believes that the Two Tier Justice is a reality in Caledonia. Mayor Trainer has said many times there is a Two Tier System in Caledonia. Toby Barrett stated quite clearly that there is a Two Tier System. The President of OPPA stated back in June that there was a Two Tier System. There have been stories by OPP officers who admit there is a Two Tier System in Caledonia.
But the Spectator doesn’t believe there is so it is okay to make fun of the people who are terrorized without police protection. Maybe the Spectator is trying to get a greater share of the Native market? Maybe they are just upset by our Boycott story?
But one thing is for sure – the People of Caledonia deserve better.
More commentary from a blog that calls itself the voiceofcanada.com:
The Spectator included an editorial cartoon that is a disgusting personal attack on Gary McHale and all the citizens who came out to stand against the evil that is attacking our democracy. The cartoon personally ridicules McHale’s weight as it shows him standing at a hot dog cart, saying “Got any pogos? I’m hungry.” Behind him are a bunch of rednecks in lumber jackets. One holds a pitchfork, another a confederate flag(!).
I spoke to Gary McHale today, and he asked me to pass on his thanks to the Spectator for lowering itself to personal attacks on his weight because it just gave him more credibility and ammunition. As he said, “That’s the best they’ve got? Our justice system is under attack, and the Hamilton Spectator is reduced to personal attacks on me and the people of Caledonia? Indeed; what happened to journalistic integrity? Does the Hamilton Spectator write about the inspiring speeches and brave words of two of the most courageous women I have ever met, AnneMarie VanSickle and Mary-Lou Pratt? No, they decided to pretend that McHale was leading a bunch of rednecks in a lynching party instead of telling the truth: that several thousand average, law abiding citizens came out to peacefully protest against criminals and the inaction of police and their politicians.
If the Hamilton Spectator actually had a reporter there that day they know the truth. Shame on them for not telling it! Our media are supposed to be the watchdogs of democracy; instead the Spectator allowed a silly and unnecessary quarrel to drag them down into the gutter. I can’t tell you how disappointed I am.
P.S. If anyone in Hamilton/Caledonia wants to organize a boycott of the Hamilton Spectator, I would LOVE to write about it and link to it.